A recent study found that bumblebee queens' ability to reproduce and survive is hindered by a lack of sugar in their diets. Queens' fat bodies fail to produce essential enzymes required for metabolism and detoxification from pesticides, leading to reduced lifespans and population decline.
Researchers used a virtual flight simulator to compare the effects of two pesticides on locusts, finding that the newer sulfoxamine pesticide does not impair motion detection ability at low dosages. The study suggests that the pesticide may be safer than current neonicotinoid options for agriculture use.
A new smartphone app, MAESTRO*, can recognize locusts and grasshopper pests through camera images and record GPS locations. The app aims to enable targeted pesticide delivery to prevent swarms from spreading and devastating crops. Researchers gathered over 3,500 locust images to train the system.
A recent investigation by the Environmental Working Group found that the EPA has failed to apply an extra margin of safety to legal limits for pesticides in food, putting children at risk. The study examined 47 non-organophosphate pesticides and found that only five cases had the required tenfold safety factor applied.
Exposure to pesticide atrazine alters wasps' gut microbiome, conferring resistance that is inherited across successive generations. The altered microbiome also increases tolerance to other pesticides like glyphosate.
Firefly beetles are threatened by habitat loss and artificial light, with pesticides posing additional problems. The authors propose four primary goals to improve firefly prospects: preserving suitable habitats, controlling light pollution, reducing insecticide use, and developing sustainable tourism guidelines.
Researchers have identified 10 compounds with insecticidal activity produced by symbiotic microbes in a traditional Chinese medicinal plant, potentially leading to new natural pesticides. The substances were strongly toxic to aphids and moderately toxic to spider mites.
The proposal aims to implement a holistic, integrated systems-based approach to pesticide regulation, considering dynamic agroecological factors. Current ERA guidelines are decades old and based on assumptions that misrepresent modern ecological systems.
A new study by New York University researchers reveals that flame retardants and pesticides are now the leading causes of IQ loss in children, outweighing heavy metals. The study found that over 1 million children suffered from intellectual disability between 2001 and 2016 due to exposure to these toxic chemicals.
A recent study found a 50% increase in total mortality and three-fold increase in heart disease deaths in individuals with high 3-PBA levels, a metabolite of pyrethroids. The study's findings challenge the assumption that these insecticides are safe, particularly for vulnerable populations.
A new study by University of California, Berkeley, identified a core microbiome in commercial tomatoes that is robust and stable. The researchers used experimental evolution to select for microbes that best survived on the plants, resulting in a healthy plant microbiome.
The EU Water Framework Directive needs further development to address the complex mixtures of pesticides, medicines, and industrial chemicals in European waters. Researchers have developed new concepts and tools to monitor and reduce exposure to these substances.
Researchers at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ have developed a model that can predict the effects of toxicants on sensitive individuals and species at very low concentrations. The model takes into account the interaction between toxicant concentration, individual sensitivity, and environmental stress.
A study found that higher-income households are more likely to irrigate, fertilize, and use pesticides in their yards. Neighborly pressure may also play a role, with those knowing more neighbors more likely to engage in these practices.
Researchers found that bariatric weight-loss surgery can release toxic chemicals like PCBs and organochlorine pesticides stored in fat into the bloodstream. Patients born before 1976 showed higher levels of these compounds due to greater exposure to environmental toxins.
Researchers discovered eight SDHI pesticide molecules harming earthworms, bees, and human cells by blocking succinate dehydrogenase activity. The study found these pesticides induce oxidative stress in human cells, leading to cell death, threatening human health.
Scientists warn of excessive pesticide use in Australian waterways and the Great Barrier Reef, threatening aquatic plants and animals. Pesticide regulation has been deemed ineffective, but local efforts to reduce pollution show promise.
Certain species of resident bacteria can produce enzymes to break down fungal cell walls, protecting plant roots. The discovery represents a big step forward for developing sustainable crop production systems with fewer pesticides.
A study by Masumi Yamamuro and colleagues found that neonicotinoid pesticide use led to a 83% decrease in average springtime zooplankton biomass, causing the collapse of two commercial fisheries on Lake Shinji. The impact was felt throughout the aquatic food chain, with smelt harvests plummeting from 240 tons to 22 tons in just one year.
A study involving over 100 researchers demonstrates that biodiversity enhances pollination and biological pest control, leading to increased crop yields. Higher agricultural biodiversity also reduces the reliance on pesticides, promoting sustainable agriculture.
A Princeton researcher found that pesticide companies lobby for stricter regulations on less profitable products, allowing them to clear the way for more expensive alternatives. This practice has significant economic and public health implications.
A new interdisciplinary study points to overexposure to pesticides as a likely cause for neurological symptoms among Canadian diplomats residing in Havana, Cuba in 2016. The research used advanced brain imaging tools and found changes in the brain that occurred during time in Havana.
A study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that on-the-job pesticide exposure raised the risk of heart disease and stroke in Japanese American men. After 34 years of follow-up, no significant link was found between pesticide exposure and cardiovascular disease.
New research at the University of Saskatchewan reveals that neonicotinoid pesticides can cause weight loss and delayed migration in wild birds, threatening their survival. Birds exposed to these insecticides suffered significant negative consequences, including appetite suppression and longer stopover times.
A new study using advanced brain imaging reveals how prenatal exposure to organophosphates affects brain activity in teenagers. Teens with higher levels of exposure showed altered brain activity while performing tasks requiring executive control and linguistic working memory.
Research reveals that prenatal organophosphate exposure is associated with decreased brain activity in adolescents, particularly in regions related to cognitive and language functions. The study also identifies sex-dependent differences in brain activation patterns following OP exposure.
Researchers found that 36% of squash bees are chronically exposed to lethal doses of clothianidin in soil, exceeding the acceptable threshold of 5%. This risk is applicable to many other wild bee species in Canada, highlighting the need for new approaches to protect pollinators and crops simultaneously.
Brooklyn Bioscience, a NYU Tandon startup, has developed an engineered enzyme to detoxify organophosphates from crops, including cannabis, wine grapes, and tea. The technology provides a low-cost, efficient solution for breaking down OPs into benign products.
Recent studies reveal that pesticide adjuvants, commonly added to plant protection products, can be toxic to honey bees. Adjuvants increase mortality rates, reduce colony size, and impair brooding when co-applied with neonicotinoids, highlighting the need for environmental safety assessments.
Researchers at Boyce Thompson Institute discovered that ascaroside compounds from nematodes can protect rice, wheat, corn, and soybeans from numerous pathogens. The compounds helped increase resistance against bacterial, fungal, viral, and oomycete pathogens in major crops.
Researchers developed a new method to monitor neonicotinoids in living plants, allowing for spatial and temporal tracking of the insecticides. This probe could help pinpoint where and when bees are exposed to pesticides, informing efforts to protect pollinator populations.
A recent study reveals that global agriculture is shifting towards monocultures, threatening food security and the livelihoods of millions. The majority of the world's fastest-growing crops rely on pollinators, which are under threat due to pesticides and habitat loss.
Adolescents exposed to high levels of pesticides are at increased risk of depression, according to a new study. The study found that lower levels of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, which measure pesticide exposure, were associated with more symptoms of depression in teens.
A study by FEFU ecologist Vasiliy Tsygankov reveals a significant decrease in pesticide concentrations in Russian Far Eastern mussels, suggesting a shift in the environmental situation. Pesticides accumulate in marine organisms' fat tissue and can lead to biomagnification, causing poisoning and genetic changes.
Agricultural pesticides reduced aquatic insect biodiversity but increased mosquito density, particularly for the pesticide-resistant Wyeomyia abebala. Pesticide use led to the loss of predators, allowing these mosquitoes to colonize habitats without competitors.
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen are working on a six-year collaborative project to develop more resilient crops using beneficial microorganisms. The goal is to create crops that can thrive in an environmentally friendly manner, reducing the need for pesticides and fertilizers.
A recent study published in Environmental Health found that the US uses voluntary mechanisms for pesticide cancellations, leading to a delayed ban on harmful pesticides compared to the EU, Brazil, and China. The study identified nearly all pesticide cancellations in the US as being done voluntarily by the industry.
Scientists have developed a strategy to determine organic food authenticity by analyzing the metabolites generated within plants when pesticides break down. The technique involves identifying and screening the metabolites of seven common pesticides using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry.
Researchers found that a nonlethal dose of insecticide curtailed the lives of bees by up to 50% and altered the behavior of worker bees when combined with a fungicide, potentially jeopardizing colony survival. The study suggests that the impact of pesticides on bees could be worse than previously thought.
A study published in Environmental Research found higher blood pressure and pesticide exposures in children associated with a heightened pesticide spraying period around the Mother's Day flower harvest. Children examined sooner after the harvest had higher pesticide exposures and higher systolic and diastolic blood pressures.
Researchers discovered a plant virus capable of delivering pesticide molecules deep into the soil, targeting pests like nematodes. The breakthrough could help farmers reduce pesticide use and minimize environmental harm.
The UK's pesticide regulation is under threat after a change in EU powers led to the removal of a blanket ban on Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs). The new legislation gives UK ministers more power to amend and revoke laws, weakening enforcement arrangements and the requirement for scientific advice.
A new European study found that families with a higher socioeconomic position are at a greater risk of exposure to environmental chemical contaminants. Pregnant women and their children from more affluent backgrounds had higher levels of pollutants such as PFAS, mercury, and pesticides in their bodies.
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that climate change may be contributing to a mysterious epidemic of chronic kidney disease among agricultural workers. The researchers found that heat exposure and heavy labor are common factors in the disease, which is also linked to toxins such as glyphosate and lead.
A CABI-led project has helped China reduce its reliance on harmful pesticides by developing cutting-edge data and models to predict crop pest spread and severity. The £1.6m STFC Newton Agri-Tech Fund-financed project has left a lasting legacy in promoting sustainable controls and biopesticide use.
A new study has found cocaine, pharmaceuticals and pesticides in UK river wildlife, highlighting the presence of 'invisible' chemical pollution that poses a risk to wildlife health. The study detected illicit drugs and banned pesticides in freshwater shrimp, revealing a surprising occurrence in smaller rural catchments.
Researchers from Hong Kong Baptist University have invented a new method that can detect target molecules in pharmaceuticals and pesticides in just five minutes. This breakthrough could lead to the production of higher quality medicinal drugs with no side effects.
A University of Guelph study found that neonicotinoid pesticides, like clothianidin, can reduce honey bees' grooming behaviour when infected with varroa mites. This makes bees more susceptible to disease and death. The research highlights the importance of reducing stressors on bee colonies.
A recent study found that pesticide cocktails can harm honey bees, reducing their survival and causing abnormal behavior. The research, led by the University of California San Diego, showed that combining Sivanto with a common fungicide can synergistically harm bee behavior and survival, depending on seasonality and bee age.
Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan found that even tiny amounts of neonicotinoid pesticides can severely impact flying insects' motion detection abilities. The study's results suggest that very low doses of these widely-used neurotoxins can profoundly affect a flying insect's ability to detect movement, making it crucial for...
A study of 29 waterways in 10 countries revealed more than 100 pesticides, including 24 unlicensed for EU use. The highest levels were found in a Belgian canal with 70 pesticides, contaminating every screened river and canal.
Researchers have developed a drone-based system to spot treat weeds, reducing the risk of pesticide drift. The system uses AI-powered imaging and neural networks to identify weeds and deliver targeted pesticides.
Researchers at the University of New Hampshire have made a patent-pending discovery that certain enzymes in roundworms behave differently than in humans, with amino acids potentially playing a key role. The findings advance scientific efforts to develop new pesticides to manage parasitic nematodes and reduce crop damage.
Recent advances in plant seed microbiomes have revealed distinct compositions and beneficial bacteria within seed endophytes. This study provides a basis for developing sustainable alternative inputs in agriculture, such as fertilizers and pesticides.
Research finds a modest association between prenatal and infant pesticide exposure and an increased risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The study supports efforts to prevent exposure during pregnancy to protect brain development.
Researchers found that chronic exposure to realistic soil concentrations of imidacloprid affects solitary bees' mass, immature development speed, and adult longevity. Ground-nesting bee species are more susceptible to pesticide effects due to their smaller nest sizes and prolonged underground stays.
Research found that combining insecticide thiacloprid with fungicide tebuconazole increases toxic effects on parasitoid wasps, potentially harming ecosystems. This synergy is a concern for agroecosystems and should influence pesticide risk assessment.
Research led by Queen Mary University of London finds that pesticides affect genes in bumblebees, leading to changes in gene activity levels. The study highlights the need for improved regulation on neonicotinoid pesticides to protect pollinator health and ecosystem stability.
A Michigan State University researcher is investigating the role of pesticides in olfactory impairment and their relevance to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Researchers will assess over 2,200 farmers using a standard smell test and conduct home visits to evaluate cognitive function and motor symptoms.
Scientists at Newcastle University have identified limonene as the main component responsible for keeping tomato whiteflies away from plants. The study found that marigolds release limonene, a chemical that repels whiteflies without harming them.