study: top insecticide is devastating aquatic insects, threatening environmental stability

[xchrom]

http://www.nationofchange.org/study-top-insecticide-devastating-aquatic-insects-threatening-environmental-stability-1367675033

The European Union recently announced that it was taking action against neonicotinoid pesticides after research linked the usage of the insecticides to bee deaths and subsequent environmental implications, but a newly released study says that the top insecticide is damaging more than just bees.

In addition to calling for swifter and greater action on behalf of the EU commission that has declared a 2 year restriction on neonicotinoids found in pesticides, which the new study authors actually allows for around 20,000 tons of bug repellent chemical to be used for livestock bug repellent, Dr Jeroen van der Sluijs of the Utrecht University says that allowing aquatic insects like snails and dragonflies to die at record numbers will ultimately challenge environmental stability at large through an assault on the food chain.

***SNIP

It all starts with the application of the insecticide onto crops, or in some cases use as a bug repellent for livestock and pets (which is a truly horrible idea). Even the ditch water found in fields treated with the insecticide was found to be an effective pesticide. In other words, the concerning insecticide is still powerful in eliminating insects even after a significant amount of dilution. As research head Dr Jeroen van der Sluijs explained:

“We are risking far too much to combat a few insect pests that might threaten agriculture. The pollution was so bad in some places that the ditch water in fields could have been used as an effective pesticide.”

[Triana]

1. They'll never ban the stuff in the U.S. because corprat profits must grow unimpeded

at any cost to human life and the environment. That, and Monsanto runs the FDA here.