Pesticide Hazards

EU approves total ban on insecticides harming bees

Neonicotinoid insecticides are implicated in dramatic losses of bee pollinator colonies, and the European Union has voted to ban the three primary ones effective the end of 2018. Eighteen member states, including France, Germany, Italy, and the UK, voted in favor. “Authorizing neonicotinoids a quarter of a century ago was a mistake and led to […]

Glyphosate study shows negative effects to microbiome at “safe” dosage

A new global study examined the impact on rats of the EPA’s acceptable daily dietary exposure level of the herbicide glyphosate, and found health impacts related to sexual development, genotoxicity, and the intestinal microbiome. The level of 1-1.75 mg per kg of bodyweight per day was the concentration given to the rats over three months. […]

Weedkiller found in granola and crackers, internal FDA emails show

Scientists with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have detected a weedkiller linked to cancer in a wide range of food products, according to emails obtained through a freedom of information request. The FDA has been testing food samples for residues of glyphosate, the main ingredient in Roundup herbicide, for two years but has not […]

These Farmers Switched to Organic After Pesticides Made Their Families Sick

Some farmers transition to organic production to earn premium prices. Others switch to make their farms more sustainable. But for some farmers, transitioning to organic is a necessary way to protect their family’s health—and even save their lives. Blaine Schmaltz, who farms in Rugby, North Dakota, is a good example. One day in 1993, Schmaltz […]

Portable pesticide sensors for produce coming soon

In the wake of weak monitoring of pesticides by the FDA and USDA, a University of Texas Dallas professor has built an inexpensive handheld device to test pesticide levels. Shalini Prasad’s tool will allow consumers, grocers, organic certifiers and growers to soon be able to check for pesticides on produce themselves. When a swab is […]