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Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:55:07 -0800
From: "GMWatch" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: GMW: Entire food chain found contaminated
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New research should nail the coffin lid shut on a toxic bee-killing pesti=
cide
Sierra Club, January 10, 2012
http://www.sierraclub.org/biotech/whatsnew/whatsnew_2012-01-10.asp

Entire food chain found to be contaminated, from soil to pollen to dead b=
ees

Contact Laurel Hopwood, 216-371-9779 (EST)Tom Theobald 303-652-2266  (MST=
)
Neil Carman, PhD. 512-288-5772 / cell 512-663-9594 (CST)

The Sierra Club, with over 1.3 million members and supporters, calls on t=
he U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to immediately suspend the =
registration of the insecticide clothianidin, based on new scientific evi=
dence of extensive contamination in bees and soil.

Last week (January 3, 2012) scientists at Purdue University documented ma=
jor adverse impacts from clothianidin, used as a seed treatment in corn, =
on honey bee health.	The results showed clothianidin present in foraging =
areas long after treated seed has been planted.=20

The study raises questions about the long term survival of this major pol=
linator.

"This research should nail the coffin lid shut on clothianidin", says Lau=
rel Hopwood, Sierra Club's Chairwoman of the Genetic Engineering Action T=
eam. "Despite numerous attempts by the beekeeping industry and conservati=
on organizations to persuade the EPA to ban clothianidin, the EPA has fai=
led to protect the food supply for the American people."

Tom Theobald, a founding member of the Boulder County Beekeeper's Associa=
tion explains, "In 2010, I got hold of an EPA document revealing that the=
 agency has been allowing the widespread use of this bee-toxic pesticide,=
 against evidence that it's highly toxic to bees. Clothianidin has failed=
 to meet the requirements for registration. It's continued use is in viol=
ation of the law."

Upon learning of the EPA's failures, the National Honey Bee Advisory Boar=
d, the American Beekeeping Federation	and The American Honey Producer's A=
ssociation urged the agency in a 12/8/2010 letter to cancel the registrat=
ion of this pesticide. Yet despite the fact that clothianidin had failed =
a critical life cycle study which was required for registration, the agen=
cy responded in a 2/18/2011 letter stating "At this time, we are not awar=
e of any data that reasonably demonstrates that bee colonies are subject =
to elevated losses due to chronic exposure to this pesticide. EPA does no=
t intend at this time to initiate suspension or cancellation actions agai=
nst the registered uses of clothianidin. If scientific information shows =
a particular pesticide is posing unreasonable risk to pollinators, we sta=
nd ready to take the necessary regulatory action."

Neil Carman, PhD, scientific advisor to Sierra Club, is troubled by EPA's=
 complacency. "A huge shoe has dropped. U.S. researchers have documented =
major adverse impacts from clothianidin seed treatments in corn on honey =
bee health." Carman further explains "Because of the vital role played by=
 honey bees in crop pollination, honey bee demise threatens the productio=
n of crops that produce one-third of American diets, including nearly 100=
 fruits and vegetables. The value of crops pollinated by bees exceeds $15=
 billion in the U.S. alone."

Hopwood exclaims, "The time is now for EPA to quit dodging the illusion o=
f oversight and instead, cancel this bee- killing pesticide.  If we trave=
l too far down our current path, we could create conditions in our food s=
ystem much like those that brought down the financial system."

................................................................
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