Pesticides

Synergistic action of pesticide “cocktails” is escalating bee mortality

A meta-analysis of 90 studies found that bees are dying in greater numbers from the overall synergistic effect between multiple anthropogenic stressors—including agrochemicals, nutritional stressors, and/or parasites. Impacts of these stressors individually were already taking a toll on bee populations; but strong evidence of synergy when bees are exposed to multiple agrochemicals at field-realistic levels […]

Glyphosate-free labeling of foods increasing rapidly

Glyphosate-free labeling is one of the fastest growing certifications in the U.S., according to Henry Rowlands, director of the Detox Project. The toxic chemical can show up even in organic foods, due to drift or fraud. One Degree Organic Foods, a British Columbia-based manufacturer of organic bread, granola, and grain items, has put the Bio-Checked […]

Consumer groups demand Home Depot and Lowe’s end sales of cancer-linked Roundup  

The two largest U.S. home and garden retailers were the focus of a campaign by over 100 consumer and environmental groups to halt sales of the weedkiller Roundup and other glyphosate products. Over 157,000 petition signatures were sent last year from members of Friends of the Earth, Center for Food Safety, SumOfUs, Beyond Pesticides, and […]

Pesticides cause decline in a quarter of known bee species since 1990

An alarming report from Argentina has found that the number of observed bee species has dramatically dropped since the 1990s. Heavy use of pesticides is one of the likely causes of the decline. Eduardo Zattara and Marcelo Aizen at the National University of Comahue found a quarter fewer species reported between 2006 and 2015, compared […]

Glyphosate levels rising in blood of Florida manatees, threatening survival

Exposure to glyphosate, the world’s most popular herbicide, is increasing concentration of the chemical in the plasma of Florida manatees, noted a recent study in Environment International. Glyphosate was discovered in the plasma of 55% of the sampled animals; levels have increased in the last decade. The weedkiller is sprayed on sugarcane fields and on […]