Systemic Pesticides,
The Environment and Bees
Below is a Question And Answer Session with scientist, Dr henk Tennekes.
Dr Henk Tennekes is a researcher at the Experimental Toxicology Services in Zutphen, the Netherlands.
He has combined his own research using the Druckrey–Küpfmüller equation, as well as statistical evidence to measure the impact of systemic pesticides (such as neonicotinoids).
He was one of the first scientist to bravely campaign and raise concerns
regarding the impact of neonicotinoids, not only on bees, but also on
birds.
Systemic pesticides are used in large quantities in the UK, in the USA and in other countries in Europe, on agricultural land, and may also be sprayed by some councils, and on some golf courses.
They are even contained in many garden pesticides, as well as some compost brands for killing vine weevils.
Neonicotinoid pesticides fall into the category of systemic pesticides.
A link to his scientific paper published in Toxicology can be found at the bottom of this page.
He has also written a book. It is well worth a read - see my review with a link to his book: (opens a new window)
A Disaster in the Making.
I contacted Dr Tennekes, and he agreed to answer some questions to be published on this website.
BuzzAboutBees: You used the Druckrey–Küpfmüller equation in your
research. This sounds very complicated, so what, in simple terms, does
it tell us, and why is it useful?
Dr
Tennekes: The Druckrey-Küpfmüller equation tells us that very low doses
or concentrations of some compounds can have devastating effects in the
long run.
BuzzAboutBees: You have spoken about the ‘mobility’ and
‘persistence’ of systemic pesticides in soil. Indeed, neonicotinoids
are a type of systemic pesticide, and original product data sheets
published by the US Environment Protection Agency do indeed refer to
these characteristics. But what, in simple terms and in practice, does
this mean and why should the public be concerned?
Dr
Tennekes: Soil acts as a major sink for bulk of the pesticides used in
agriculture and public health programs. Pesticides may cause problems
when they seep out of storage or are washed out of the soil into
waterways and groundwater. The chemicals are then diffused through the
environment and may affect marine and bird life. Systemic insecticides
are prone to cause such problems because not only are they soluble in
water and mobile in soil, they are also not easily degraded in soil and
water, i.e. they persist in soil and water, and aquatic and terrestrial
organisms may be chronically exposed to these substances.
BuzzAboutBees: You refer to the leaching properties of
systemic pesticides, and indeed, warnings of potential ground water
contamination appeared in original US EPA neonicotinoid Fact Sheets. So
it would seem then, that unintended water contamination could occur
without our being able to control it, or perhaps even being aware of it?
Dr Tennekes: Yes
BuzzAboutBees: According to your research, is this a possibility?
Dr Tennekes: Yes
BuzzAboutBees: And if so, is this something that those responsible for waterways and human water provision (from spring and for tap water), should be concerned about?
BuzzAboutBees: It is claimed, that if correctly used, systemic
pesticides are not a problem for bees and other non-target insects.
What, according to your evidence, is your view of this, and can the
effects of these pesticides simply be controlled by using small doses?
Dr
Tennekes: No, they can’t. The damage to insects is cumulative and there
may not even be a safe level of exposure. Even minute quantities will
have devastating effects in the long run.
BuzzAboutBees: Not only are insects important for
pollination, but birds and bats need them for food. In your research,
you show that birds depending on insects for food have declined rapidly
since the 1990s (and various statistics also indicate declines in bats)
– of course, neonicotinoid pesticides have been available and in use
since 1991. Did this decline actually accelerate significantly during
that time period (in comparison with other time periods)? What kinds
of percentage decreases did you observe – could you provide a few
examples?
Dr Tennekes: An
alarming example is the steep decline of ground-nesting birds in Saxony
since 1993-1996, i.e. after the re-unification of Germany when ‘modern’
farming practices were introduced:
The decline of ground-nesting farmland bird populations (breeding pairs) in Saxony since the mid 1990s:
| Species | 1993-1996 | 2004-2007 | Comment |
| Grey Partridge Perdix perdix |
1,500-3,000 | 300-400 | The effects of pesticides on arthropods important in chick diet were identified as a major causal factor in the decline of the Grey Partridge |
| Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus |
900-1,600 | 500-800 | Chicks require ground-dwelling prey such as ground beetles (Carabidae) and earthworms (Lumbricidae) on the surface |
| Whinchat Saxicola rubetra |
2,500-5,000 | 1,500-2,500 | The decline of the Whinchat was shown to be related a decrease in the availability of nestling food affecting parents’ foraging efficiency and reproductive success |
| Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe |
600-1,000 | 350-600 | Diet based chiefly on insects, also spiders, molluscs, and other small invertebrates, supplemented by berries. Normally locates prey visually, chiefly on ground or in low vegetation |
| Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis |
2,500-5,000 | 1,500-2,500 | Diet based on invertebrates, with some plant seeds in autumn and winter. Feeds almost exclusively on ground, walking at steady rate picking invertebrates from leaves and plant stems |
| Crested Lark Galerida cristata |
500-800 | 250-400 | Diet is mainly based on plant material and fewer invertebrates in winter. Most food taken from on or below ground surface. Digs with blows of bill to left and right. Will take insects by aerial-pursuit and stripping wings off before eating body. |
BuzzAboutBees: Interestingly, some scientists believe that
pesticide exposure increases susceptibility to various diseases, such as
nosema in bats and bees. Do you know anything about the work of other
scientists in this area, and what they are concluding?
Dr
Tennekes: It has been demonstrated that the interaction between the
microsporidia Nosema and a neonicotinoid (imidacloprid) significantly
weakened honeybees. The conclusion is that interaction between an
infectious organism and a chemical can also threaten pollinators.
BuzzAboutBees: I am concerned that the regulatory approval systems for pesticides do not take account of:
- -
The cumulative effects of tiny doses of pesticide on beneficial insects
over time, that may not immediately kill, but will inevitably do so;
- The combined impact of combinations of chemicals used in the system, such as fertilizers, pesticides, weedkillers and fungicides, and how they might affect the tiny bodies of insects – from butterflies to bees and ladybirds;
- The resulting broader impact on the wider environment of killing insects, such as the percentage declines that might be expected on various species through the food chain;
- The uncontrollable and unknown effects, such as unintended water contamination as described above.
Whilst
it may be an impractical nuisance and even impossible for commercial
organisations to supply such information, nevertheless, without it, it
feels like we are conducting experiments on the environment that
sustains us, without knowing what the outcome might be.
What would
your view be of the points above, and what changes, if any, do you think
need to be made to the pesticides approval procedure?
Dr
Tennekes: More attention has to be paid to chronic effects of
pesticides in the environment on aquatic and terrestrial organisms.
Monitoring whether or not pesticides or their degradation products leach
to groundwater under actual field conditions when applied in the
prescribed manner is vital. In cases where a pesticide or its
degradation products leach to groundwater the monitoring results
generated should provide a basis for reassessment of the substance by
the regulatory authorities. Such programmes are already in place in
Denmark since 1998.
Link to my review of Henk Tennekes' book
Read my review of Henk's book, link to his book and scientific report.
Link to Pesticides Bibliography
Link to more studies concerning systemic pesticides and their impact on
bees and the environment. Here you will also beable to download the
study by Dr Tennekes that was published in Toxicologist.
Additionally,
there is a report by the invertebrates conservation charity, Buglife,
that summarises a number of research studies concerning neonicotinoids
and Fipronil, another systemic pesticide.
More studies
More evidence looking at neonicotinoids. Summaries of some key
independent scientific papers looking at the impact of these systemic
pesticides.
Pssst ... spread the word!
