Global research uncovers new, threatening ecological impacts from neonicotinoid pesticides
The Task Force on Systemic Pesticides’ 2017 assessment of neonics
reveals new risks to biodiversity and ecosystems
OTTAWA, CANADA — Neonicotinoid pesticides pose severe threats to ecosystems worldwide, according to new information contained in an
update to the world’s most comprehensive scientific review of the ecological impacts of systemic pesticides.
The Task Force on Systemic Pesticides (TFSP) released the second edition of its Worldwide Integrated Assessment of the Effects of Systemic Pesticides on Biodiversity and Ecosystems today in Ottawa, Canada. It synthesizes more than 500 studies since 2014, including some industry-sponsored studies.
The review also considered fipronil, a closely related systemic pesticide used in Europe.
Neonics are toxic even at very low doses. They are water soluble and very persistent (i.e., do not readily degrade) in
soil, resulting in sustained and chronic exposure in terrestrial and aquatic environments. Extensive and routine
application of neonics in agriculture is causing large-scale environmental contamination and a significant threat to
biodiversity.
Neonics, which are linked to the steep decline of bees also have the potential to contaminate our food systems. A
closely related systemic pesticide, fipronil, is currently at the center of a growing food safety scandal in Europe
after high levels of the toxic insecticide were detected in egg products sold in 15 EU states, plus Switzerland and Hong
Kong. Millions of eggs have been recalled from shops and warehouses across Europe out of concerns that contaminated eggs
pose a serious safety risk to consumers.
The updated assessment confirms that neonics have major impacts and represent a worldwide threat to biodiversity,
ecosystems and ecosystem services. First introduced in the 1990s, neonics are now the most widely used insecticides in
the world. Agricultural applications include seed treatments, soil treatments, foliar sprays and turf products. Neonics
are also used in forestry, flea treatments for pets and domestic and commercial lawn-care products.
“Today’s findings reiterate the need to stop massive uses of systemic pesticides, including most urgently their
prophylactic use in seed treatment,” said Jean-Marc Bonmatin, research scientist at France’s Centre National de la
Recherche Scientifique and TFSP vice-chair. “The use of these pesticides runs contrary to environmentally sustainable
agricultural practices. It provides no real benefit to farmers, decreases soil quality, hurts biodiversity and
contaminates water, air and food. There is no longer any reason to continue down this path of destruction.”
The report is composed of three papers reviewing new data on the mode of action, metabolism, toxicity and environmental
contamination of neonicotinoids and fipronil; the lethal and sublethal effects of neonicotinoids and fipronil on
organisms and their impacts on ecosystems; and the efficacy of neonicotinoids and fipronil in agriculture and
alternative approaches to pest control.
“Only a tiny fraction of pesticide use serves its purpose to fight pests. Most simply contaminates the environment with
extensive damage to non-target organisms,” said Faisal Moola, an adjunct professor of ecology at the University of
Toronto.
In 2013, the European Union imposed a moratorium on certain uses of imidacloprid, clothianidin and thiamethoxam on
bee-attractive crops, and is now considering a proposal to extend this moratorium. France’s new biodiversity law
includes a provision to ban all neonics starting in September 2018.
“Overall, the global experiment with neonics is emerging as a clear example of pest-control failure,” Bonmatin said.
“Governments around the world must follow the lead of countries like France to ban neonics and move toward sustainable,
integrated pest management models, without delay.”
The TFSP’s 2017 update will be published in a forthcoming edition of the scientific journal Environmental Science and Pollution Research.
ENDS