Hi tejek; Re: "I defer to the scientists who are studying the problem.";
Sure. Defer away. But don't pick and choose which scientists you defer to.
From the US EPA website, the EPA response to the petition to ban clothianidin (a neonicotinide insecticide that huge numbers of idiots petitioned them to ban):
...
The EPA has reviewed the information provided, and there are data supporting the presence of clothianidin and other neonicotinoid insecticides in plant tissues including pollen, nectar and guttation water on plants grown from clothianidin-treated seed. The levels of clothianidin in pollen and nectar typically seen in the field are, however, generally below the levels at which sublethal effects reportedly happen and lethal effects occur. Thus, the data do not suggest that bees are regularly exposed to levels of clothianidin in pollen and nectar that could result in the sort of imminent, population level impacts necessary to support an imminent hazard finding.
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In addition, the pesticide residue analyses from national surveys of commercial bee colonies indicate that colonies that were eventually determined to have succumbed to CCD did not contain elevated levels of neonicotinoids including clothianidin, nor do colonies in the areas of the U.S. where the most treated corn seed is planted appear to succumb to CCD at a higher rate than other colonies. Finally, any effects that we have seen in the field as a result of clothianidin uses, the incidents discussed in section D below, do not correspond with the charcteristics of CCD. Thus, at this time, the agency is not aware of any data that demonstrate exposure to clothianidin results in effects on honey bee colonies consistent with those associated with CCD.
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However, these studies do not show a dose-response effect and the effects observed seem to be limited to individual bees, not entire colonies. Furthermore, these effects were typically seen at concentrations above those that would be expected in the environment or would be likely to be observed in pollen and nectar from the most widespread use patterns for clothianidin and other neonicotinoids.
...
Agricultural Losses and Ecological Impacts
The petitioners do not cite and we are not aware of any evidence of agricultural decline or declines in honey production as a result of losses to pollinators, nor do the petitioners provide evidence of imminent ecological damage. The EPA sees no evidence that clothianidin is having the sort of harm asserted by petitioners or that it is likely to have such harm in the near future such that it presents an imminent hazard.
epa.gov
My response to the crap research you presented is similar to what the EPA said two years ago to previous research. The levels were unrealistic and the results did not match CCD. Instead of flying off, the bees died inside the colony and were pushed out by the survivors. So they ended up with a bee collection under the hive instead of the classic CCD symptom of an empty hive.
And the EPA agrees with me that there has been no harm to agriculture (from lack of pollination) or honey production. In other words, the official US EPA position is that there is no beepocalypse. Science shows that it's a lefty fantasy.
-- Carl |
