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hatrack

(59,436 posts)
Thu May 2, 2013, 07:33 AM May 2013

Imidacloprid Linked To Massive Losses Of Dragonflies, Snails, Other Invertebrates In 11-Year Study

EDIT

The research, published in the peer-reviewed journal PLOS One, found that 70% less invertebrate species were found in water polluted with the insecticide compared to clean water. There were also far fewer individuals of each species in the polluted water. "This is the first study to show this happens in the field," van der Sluijs said. As well as killing mayflies, midges and molluscs, the pollution could have a knock-on effect on birds such as swallows that rely on flying insects for food, he added.

"Bee-harming pesticides are now leaking into water where they are affecting wildlife," said Friends of the Earth's Paul de Zylva. "This study shows safety levels for chemicals are being routinely breached. Apart from not being properly tested for their risk to bees and other wildlife, pesticides are being used significantly above safe levels and without proper enforcement."

EDIT

The research combined results from wildlife and water pollution surveys at 700 sites across the Netherlands conducted between 1998 and 2009. It found a very strong correlation between high levels of imidacloprid pollution and low numbers of invertebrates. In water exceeding the Dutch national pollution limit, just 17 species were found on average, whereas 52 species were found in cleaner water.

Van der Sluijs said it was highly likely the insecticide was causing the invertebrate die-offs, because imidacloprid was already known to be acutely toxic to these species and is by far the greatest pollutant in the waters. "Of all the chemicals, it is one of the prime suspects and when you look at the level of exceedence - often 100 times above national limits - it is suspect number one," he said. The scientists found several cases of extreme pollution, with imidacloprid levels 25,000 times the limit. "The water contained so much insecticide that it could actually be used directly as a lice-control pesticide," van der Sluijs said. "A bee or bumblebee drinking that water would die within a day." The extreme cases were all found close to greenhouses, in which imidacloprid is addded to the water used to water the plants.

EDIT

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/may/01/study-links-insecticide-invertebrate-die-off

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Imidacloprid Linked To Massive Losses Of Dragonflies, Snails, Other Invertebrates In 11-Year Study (Original Post) hatrack May 2013 OP
I'm so happy to know that the dragonflies will be swarming BlueToTheBone May 2013 #1

BlueToTheBone

(3,747 posts)
1. I'm so happy to know that the dragonflies will be swarming
Thu May 2, 2013, 08:12 AM
May 2013

my meadows again this year...no poisons on our land!

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