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Subject: Corn Seed Pesticide Kills Bees
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To readers,
Sierra Club's Genetic Engineering Action Team has been following the 
connection between the honeybee demise and exposure to corn seeds 
coated with neonicotinoids.
Included here is info about the latest research.
Laurel Hopwood, Chair, Sierra Club Genetic Engineering Action Team


CATCH THE BUZZ  - Corn Seed Pesticide Kills Bees
Corn Seed Treatment As Lethal As It Gets For Honey Bees All Season 
Long, And Long After The Season Is Gone. It Just Keeps On Killing.
by Alan Harman
(EDITED)

Frightening new research shows honey bees are being exposed to deadly 
neonicotinoid insecticides and several other agricultural pesticides 
throughout their foraging period. The research, published in the 
scientific journal PLoS One says extremely high levels of 
clothianidin and thiamethoxam were found in planter exhaust material 
produced during the planting of treated maize seed. The work, which 
could raise new questions about the long-term survival of the honey 
bee, was conducted by Christian H. Krupke of the Department of 
Entomology at Purdue University, Brian D. Eitzer of the Department of 
Analytical Chemistry at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment 
Station and Krispn Given of Purdue.

"Neonicotinoids  were found in the soil of each field we sampled, 
including  unplanted fields," they report. Dandelions visited by 
foraging bees growing near these fields were found to contain 
neonicotinoids as well. "This indicates deposition of neonicotinoids 
on the flowers, uptake by the root system, or both. Dead bees 
collected near hive entrances during the spring sampling period were 
found to contain clothianidin as well."

"These results have implications for a wide range of large-scale 
annual cropping systems that utilize neonicotinoid seed treatments," 
the report says. The research was funded by grants from the North 
American Pollinator Protection Campaign and the Managed Pollinator 
Coordinated Agricultural Project.

Neonicotinoids are persistent. The new report says the half-lives of 
these compounds in aerobic soil conditions can vary widely, but are 
best measured in months - 148 - 1,155 days for clothianidin.

Among the largest single uses of these compounds is application to 
maize seed. Production of maize for food, feed and ethanol production 
represents the largest single use of arable land in North America, 
reaching a record 
88,216,620 acres in 2010 and is expected to increase.  All of the 
maize seed planted in North America except for 0.2% used in organic 
production is coated with neonicotinoid insecticides.

Two major compounds are used - clothianidin and thiamethoxam, with 
the latter metabolized to clothianidin in the insect. The application 
rates for these compounds range from 0.25 to 1.25 mg/kernel. These 
compounds are highly toxic to honey bees - a single kernel contains 
several orders of magnitude of active ingredient more than the 
published LD50 values for honey bees - defined as the amount of 
material that will kill 50% of exposed individuals.
In fact, the amount of clothianidin on a single maize seed at the 
rate of 0.5 mg/kernel contains enough active ingredient to kill more 
than 80,000 honey bees.

The results prompted researchers to carry out more experiments to 
determine how honey bees may be gaining exposure to clothianidin and 
other pesticides commonly applied to either maize seed or to plants 
later in the season. They collected samples from a variety of 
potential exposure routes near agricultural fields and analyzed them 
to determine whether pesticides were present. They sampled soils, 
pollen both collected by honey bees and directly from plants, 
dandelion flowers, and dead and healthy bees. They even checked waste 
products produced during the planting of treated seed. Maize seed is 
sewn with tractor-drawn planters that use a forced air/vacuum system 
and a perforated disc to pick up individual seeds and drop them into 
the planting furrow at the selected spacing. Maize kernels treated 
with neonicotinoids and other compounds such as fungicides do not 
flow readily and may stick to one another, causing uneven plant 
spacing. To overcome this, talc (a mineral composed of hydrated 
magnesium silicate) is added to seed boxes to reduce friction and 
stickiness and ensure the smooth flow of seed. Much of the talc is 
exhausted during planting, either down with the seed or behind the 
planter and into the air using an exhaust fan. Researchers sampled 
the waste talc after planting to determine whether this material was 
contaminated with pesticides abraded from treated seeds. The waste is 
a mixture of the talc that has been in contact with treated maize 
kernels and minute pieces of the seeds.

"Soil collected from areas near our test site revealed that 
neonicotinoid insecticide residues were present in all samples 
tested, with clothianidin occurring in each field sampled ...  These 
results demonstrate that honey bees living and foraging near 
agricultural fields are exposed to neonicotinoids and other 
pesticides through multiple mechanisms throughout the spring and 
summer ... We show that bees living in these environments will forage 
for maize pollen and transport pollen containing neonicotinoids to 
the hive."

The results also showed clothianidin present in the surface soil of 
fields long after treated seed has been planted. "All soil samples we 
collected contained clothianidin, even in cases where no treated seed 
had been planted for two growing seasons," the report says.

During the spring planting period, dust that arises from this soil 
may land on flowers frequented by bees, or possibly on the insects 
themselves. Of potentially greater concern are the very high levels 
of neonicotinoids and fungicides found in the talc that has been 
exposed to treated seed. "The large areas being planted with 
neonicotinoid treated seeds, combined with the high persistence of 
these materials and the mobility of disturbed soil and talc dust, 
carry potential for effects over an area that may exceed the 
boundaries of the production fields themselves."

Later in the season, when planting is largely complete, the 
researchers found bees collect maize pollen that contains 
translocated neonicotinoids and other pesticides from seed. 
Translocation of neonicotinoids into pollen has previously been 
reported for maize grown from imidacloprid-treated seed, but the 
researchers say the degree to which honey bees in their study 
gathered maize pollen was surprising. "The finding that bee-collected 
pollen contained neonicotinoids is of particular concern because of 
the risks to newly-emerged nurse bees, which must feed upon pollen 
reserves in the hive immediately following emergence," they say.

"Lethal levels of insecticides in pollen are an obvious concern, but 
sub-lethal levels are also worthy of study as even slight behavioral 
effects may impact how affected bees carry out important tasks such 
as brood rearing, orientation and communication."  Also potentially 
important are the three fungicides found in bee-collected pollen 
samples - trifloxystrobin and azoxystrobin and propiconazole. 
Azoxystrobin and trifloxystrobin are frequently used in maize seed 
treatments as protectants and all three are widely applied to maize 
in North America, even in the absence of disease symptoms. These 
findings have implications both for honey bees located near these 
crops year-round, but also for migratory colonies such as almonds and 
other fruit and nut crops, the report says.

To read the study, click here:
http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0029268

To read our actions on the honeybee demise, click these five sites:
http://www.sierraclub.org/biotech/whatsnew/whatsnew_2009-11-10.asp
Want to eat? Save the honeybee!
http://www.sierraclub.org/biotech/whatsnew/whatsnew_2009-11-09a.asp
Sierra Club comments on a "neonic" insecticide
http://www.sierraclub.org/biotech/whatsnew/whatsnew_2008-07-30.asp
Sierra Club urges EPA to suspend nicotinyl insecticides
http://www.sierraclub.org/biotech/whatsnew/whatsnew_2007-04-07.asp
USDA, Lobbyists and Bees
http://www.sierraclub.org/biotech/whatsnew/whatsnew_2007-03-21.asp
GE and bee Colony Collapse Disorder -- science needed!

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<html><head><style type="text/css"><!--
blockquote, dl, ul, ol, li { padding-top: 0 ; padding-bottom: 0 }
 --></style><title>Corn Seed Pesticide Kills Bees</title></head><body>
<div>To readers,</div>
<div>Sierra Club's Genetic Engineering Action Team has been following
the connection between the honeybee demise and exposure to corn seeds
coated with neonicotinoids.</div>
<div>Included here is info about the latest research.</div>
<div>Laurel Hopwood, Chair, Sierra Club Genetic Engineering Action
Team<br>
</div>
<div><br>
CATCH THE BUZZ&nbsp; - Corn Seed Pesticide Kills Bees<br>
Corn Seed Treatment As Lethal As It Gets For Honey Bees All Season
Long, And Long After The Season Is Gone. It Just Keeps On Killing.<br>
by Alan Harman<br>
(EDITED)<br>
<br>
Frightening new research shows honey bees are being exposed to deadly
neonicotinoid insecticides and several other agricultural pesticides
throughout their foraging period. The research, published in the
scientific journal PLoS One says extremely high levels of clothianidin
and thiamethoxam were found in planter exhaust material produced
during the planting of treated maize seed. The work, which could raise
new questions about the long-term survival of the honey bee, was
conducted by Christian H. Krupke of the Department of Entomology at
Purdue University, Brian D. Eitzer of the Department of Analytical
Chemistry at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station and
Krispn Given of Purdue.<br>
<br>
&quot;Neonicotinoids &nbsp;were found in the soil of each field we
sampled, including &nbsp;unplanted fields,&quot; they report.
Dandelions visited by foraging bees growing near these fields were
found to contain neonicotinoids as well. "This indicates deposition
of neonicotinoids on the flowers, uptake by the root system, or both.
Dead bees collected near hive entrances during the spring sampling
period were found to contain clothianidin as well."<br>
<br>
"These results have implications for a wide range of large-scale
annual cropping systems that utilize neonicotinoid seed treatments,"
the report says. The research was funded by grants from the North
American Pollinator Protection Campaign and the Managed Pollinator
Coordinated Agricultural Project.<br>
<br>
Neonicotinoids are persistent. The new report says the half-lives of
these compounds in aerobic soil conditions can vary widely, but are
best measured in months - 148 - 1,155 days for clothianidin.<br>
<br>
Among the largest single uses of these compounds is application to
maize seed. Production of maize for food, feed and ethanol production
represents the largest single use of arable land in North America,
reaching a record&nbsp;<br>
88,216,620 acres in 2010 and is expected to increase. &nbsp;All of the
maize seed planted in North America except for 0.2% used in organic
production is coated with neonicotinoid insecticides.<br>
<br>
Two major compounds are used - clothianidin and thiamethoxam, with
the latter metabolized to clothianidin in the insect. The application
rates for these compounds range from 0.25 to 1.25 mg/kernel. These
compounds are highly toxic to honey bees - a single kernel contains
several orders of magnitude of active ingredient more than the
published LD50 values for honey bees - defined as the amount of
material that will kill 50% of exposed individuals.<br>
In fact, the amount of clothianidin on a single maize seed at the rate
of 0.5 mg/kernel contains enough active ingredient to kill more than
80,000 honey bees.<br>
<br>
The results prompted researchers to carry out more experiments to
determine how honey bees may be gaining exposure to clothianidin and
other pesticides commonly applied to either maize seed or to plants
later in the season. They collected samples from a variety of
potential exposure routes near agricultural fields and analyzed them
to determine whether pesticides were present. They sampled soils,
pollen both collected by honey bees and directly from plants,
dandelion flowers, and dead and healthy bees. They even checked waste
products produced during the planting of treated seed. Maize seed is
sewn with tractor-drawn planters that use a forced air/vacuum system
and a perforated disc to pick up individual seeds and drop them into
the planting furrow at the selected spacing. Maize kernels treated
with neonicotinoids and other compounds such as fungicides do not flow
readily and may stick to one another, causing uneven plant spacing. To
overcome this, talc (a mineral composed of hydrated magnesium
silicate) is added to seed boxes to reduce friction and stickiness and
ensure the smooth flow of seed. Much of the talc is exhausted during
planting, either down with the seed or behind the planter and into the
air using an exhaust fan. Researchers sampled the waste talc after
planting to determine whether this material was contaminated with
pesticides abraded from treated seeds. The waste is a mixture of the
talc that has been in contact with treated maize kernels and minute
pieces of the seeds.</div>
<div><br>
"Soil collected from areas near our test site revealed that
neonicotinoid insecticide residues were present in all samples tested,
with clothianidin occurring in each field sampled ...&nbsp; These
results demonstrate that honey bees living and foraging near
agricultural fields are exposed to neonicotinoids and other pesticides
through multiple mechanisms throughout the spring and summer ... We
show that bees living in these environments will forage for maize
pollen and transport pollen containing neonicotinoids to the
hive.&quot;<br>
<br>
The results also showed clothianidin present in the surface soil of
fields long after treated seed has been planted. "All soil samples
we collected contained clothianidin, even in cases where no treated
seed had been planted for two growing seasons," the report says.<br>
<br>
During the spring planting period, dust that arises from this soil may
land on flowers frequented by bees, or possibly on the insects
themselves. Of potentially greater concern are the very high levels of
neonicotinoids and fungicides found in the talc that has been exposed
to treated seed. "The large areas being planted with neonicotinoid
treated seeds, combined with the high persistence of these materials
and the mobility of disturbed soil and talc dust, carry potential for
effects over an area that may exceed the boundaries of the production
fields themselves."<br>
<br>
Later in the season, when planting is largely complete, the
researchers found bees collect maize pollen that contains translocated
neonicotinoids and other pesticides from seed. Translocation of
neonicotinoids into pollen has previously been reported for maize
grown from imidacloprid-treated seed, but the researchers say the
degree to which honey bees in their study gathered maize pollen was
surprising. "The finding that bee-collected pollen contained
neonicotinoids is of particular concern because of the risks to
newly-emerged nurse bees, which must feed upon pollen reserves in the
hive immediately following emergence," they say.<br>
<br>
"Lethal levels of insecticides in pollen are an obvious concern, but
sub-lethal levels are also worthy of study as even slight behavioral
effects may impact how affected bees carry out important tasks such as
brood rearing, orientation and communication." &nbsp;Also
potentially important are the three fungicides found in bee-collected
pollen samples - trifloxystrobin and azoxystrobin and propiconazole.
Azoxystrobin and trifloxystrobin are frequently used in maize seed
treatments as protectants and all three are widely applied to maize in
North America, even in the absence of disease symptoms. These findings
have implications both for honey bees located near these crops
year-round, but also for migratory colonies such as almonds and other
fruit and nut crops, the report says.<br>
<br>
To read the study, click here:<br>
http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.00<span
></span>29268<br>
</div>
<div>To read our actions on the honeybee demise, click these five
sites:</div>
<div
>http://www.sierraclub.org/biotech/whatsnew/whatsnew_2009-11-10.asp</div
>
<div>Want to eat? Save the honeybee!</div>
<div
>http://www.sierraclub.org/biotech/whatsnew/whatsnew_2009-11-09a.asp</div
>
<div><font face="Verdana">Sierra Club comments on a &quot;neonic&quot;
insecticide</font></div>
<div
>http://www.sierraclub.org/biotech/whatsnew/whatsnew_2008-07-30.asp<br
>
Sierra Club urges EPA to suspend nicotinyl insecticides</div>
<div
>http://www.sierraclub.org/biotech/whatsnew/whatsnew_2007-04-07.asp<br
>
USDA, Lobbyists and Bees</div>
<div
>http://www.sierraclub.org/biotech/whatsnew/whatsnew_2007-03-21.asp</div
>
<div>GE and bee Colony Collapse Disorder -- science needed!</div>
</body>
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To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see:
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