Inert’ ingredients in pesticides may be more toxic to bees than scientists thought

 Inert’ ingredients in pesticides may be more toxic to bees than scientists thought

"Study Reveals Surprising Impact of Pesticide Inert Ingredients on Bee Memory"

1. Bee Importance and Stresses:

• Bees contribute significantly to global agriculture by pollinating over a third of the world's crops, estimated to be worth billions of dollars.
• Bees face various stresses, including pathogens, parasites, loss of habitat, air pollution, and climate-driven weather extremes.

2. Inert Ingredients in Pesticides:

• Pesticides consist of active and inert ingredients. Active ingredients target specific pests, while inert ingredients include various components such as emulsifiers, solvents, carriers, and fragrances.
• The study focused on the fungicide Pristine, investigating the impact of both its active and inert ingredients on honeybees.

3. Study Findings:

• Exposing honeybees to Pristine's entire formulation impaired their memory, whereas exposure to the isolated active ingredients did not.
• This suggests that the inert ingredients were responsible for the pesticide's toxicity to bees, either due to their inherent toxicity or their interaction with active ingredients.

4. Inert Ingredients Misnomer:

• The term "inert" is a misnomer, as these ingredients may not be inactive or nontoxic. Some inerts, such as adjuvants, play roles in extending a pesticide's shelf life or improving its efficacy.

5. Pesticide Regulation Challenges:

• Pesticide regulation under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) involves testing active ingredients' toxicity for bees, but knowledge gaps exist regarding sublethal and chronic effects.
• The "inert" label is due to trade secrets, hindering transparency and understanding of these ingredients' safety.

6. Sublethal Effects and Synergism:

• Sublethal effects of pesticides, not causing immediate death but impacting behavior and survival, are inadequately studied.
• Inert ingredients, even if individually nontoxic, can contribute to synergistic toxicity when combined with active ingredients or other inerts.

7. Proposed Changes for Bee Health:

• The article suggests three key changes: testing whole pesticide formulations, identifying inerts on product labels, and conducting more research on long-term sublethal effects.
• Proposals aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of pesticide impacts on bees and improve regulatory approaches.

8. Regulatory Challenges and Advocacy:

• Proposed changes would require congressional action, presenting political challenges due to increased regulatory burdens on the chemical industry.
• Despite challenges, rising concerns about bee declines and the importance of bees in agriculture advocate for a precautionary approach to pesticide regulation.

#Pesticides, #BeeHealth, #InertIngredients, #EnvironmentalRegulation