http://www.ombwatch.org/article/arti.../1/1?TopicID=1

headline:

EPA Withholds Pesticide Information While Bees Die

A conservation organization has sued the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) for failing to release information about a pesticide
linked to dramatic declines in honeybee populations. The pesticide was
approved on the condition that the manufacturer study the effects of
the chemical on the bee species. The EPA has received the studies but
refuses to release them to the public, even though a Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) request was filed.

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), which made the FOIA
request, sued EPA on Aug. 18 for withholding the information. The
pesticide, known as clothianidin and sold under the brand name Poncho,
is in a class of chemicals linked to collapses of thousands of bee
colonies.
Honeybees have been declining for several years in the United States,
including a die-off of 36 percent between September 2007 and March
2008. The problem is referred to as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD),
and it is characterized by the disappearance of all adult worker bees
in a hive while the queen and immature bees and honey remain. The
result is the destruction of the entire hive. Exact causes are
unknown. Recent evidence suggests certain pesticides may be
contributing to the rapid decline in bee populations.

The collapse of managed bee colonies could be disastrous for US
agriculture. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that the
production of one-third of the nation's food is dependent on
pollination by honeybees. Pollination is responsible for $15 billion
in added crop value, particularly for specialty crops such as almonds
and other nuts, berries, fruits, and vegetables.

Clothianidin is a neonicotinoid, a chemical that attacks the nervous
system of insects, leading to paralysis and death, among other
effects. The use of clothianidin is currently suspended in France and
Germany because of links between use of the chemical and collapses of
honeybee colonies.

Since 1999, France has suspended use of similar pesticides in the same
class of chemicals. For instance, another neonicotinoid, IMD, has been
the subject of numerous controversies in Europe because of its
connection to CCD. French research has found that exposure to even
tiny amounts of IMD can disorient bees, which could explain the
failure of the insects to return to colonies after flying off on
foraging trips. Bayer CropScience, the manufacturer, has repeatedly
suggested that other non-manmade causes are behind CCD. Sales of IMD
were €556 million in 2007 (about U.S. $784 million), making it the
company's top seller among pesticides.

An EPA fact sheet from 2003 states clothianidin is potentially toxic
to honeybees, as well as other pollinators, through residues in nectar
and pollen. Bayer maintains that clothianidin does not pose long-term
risks to bees.

NRDC scientists sought the clothianidin studies for several reasons.
First, they want to discover what information the studies contain
about the neurotoxin's effects on bees. Secondly, there are concerns
surrounding the quality of the study and the standards by which it was
designed. NRDC hopes to learn what EPA required of the company and
whether the company's response meets those requirements. Finally, they
want to learn what else the agency considered and examine how EPA
evaluated the information when it decided to leave the pesticide on
the market.

Little research has been conducted examining the effects of sublethal
dose exposures on bees. It is possible the industry studies contain
new information in this area. Existing research, as well as much
anecdotal evidence, has convinced French and German agricultural
authorities to suspend use of clothianidin until evidence of its
safety to bees is established. Despite having the same facts before
them, the EPA has not taken similar precautions.

Instead, the EPA has repeatedly used "emergency exemption provisions"
under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
to approve use of clothianidin in five states. The agency has also
used the emergency provisions to approve use of IMD 163 times in 26
states. These emergency exemptions are intended to allow unregistered
use of pesticides for a limited time if EPA determines that an
emergency condition exists. The Sierra Club is urging EPA to suspend
use of neonicotinoids until sublethal doses are shown to be safe for
bees. ... (cont)

http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/con...9/s2352955.htm

Bee dysentery concern in Tasmania
Tuesday, 02/09/2008
A new strain of a serious bee disease has just been identified in
Tasmania.
The island state already has the European strain of nosema, but this
week the more serious Asian strain was confirmed.
It's also been found in mainland Australia.
President of the Tasmanian Beekeepers Association, Julian Woolfhagen,
says the disease can cause whole hives to collapse in the space of a
week, and it's unlikely beekeepers can get rid of it.
"It's impossible, I think at this stage. It may well have been here
for some period of time, in which case it may well have gotten into
the feral bee population."

On Sep 9, 10:55 am, chatnoir wrote:
http://www.ombwatch.org/article/arti.../1/1?TopicID=1

headline:

EPA Withholds Pesticide Information While Bees Die

A conservation organization has sued the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) for failing to release information about a pesticide
linked to dramatic declines in honeybee populations. The pesticide was
approved on the condition that the manufacturer study the effects of
the chemical on the bee species. The EPA has received the studies but
refuses to release them to the public, even though a Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) request was filed.

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), which made the FOIA
request, sued EPA on Aug. 18 for withholding the information. The
pesticide, known as clothianidin and sold under the brand name Poncho,
is in a class of chemicals linked to collapses of thousands of bee
colonies.
Honeybees have been declining for several years in the United States,
including a die-off of 36 percent between September 2007 and March
2008. The problem is referred to as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD),
and it is characterized by the disappearance of all adult worker bees
in a hive while the queen and immature bees and honey remain. The
result is the destruction of the entire hive. Exact causes are
unknown. Recent evidence suggests certain pesticides may be
contributing to the rapid decline in bee populations.

The collapse of managed bee colonies could be disastrous for US
agriculture. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that the
production of one-third of the nation's food is dependent on
pollination by honeybees. Pollination is responsible for $15 billion
in added crop value, particularly for specialty crops such as almonds
and other nuts, berries, fruits, and vegetables.

Clothianidin is a neonicotinoid, a chemical that attacks the nervous
system of insects, leading to paralysis and death, among other
effects. The use of clothianidin is currently suspended in France and
Germany because of links between use of the chemical and collapses of
honeybee colonies.

Since 1999, France has suspended use of similar pesticides in the same
class of chemicals. For instance, another neonicotinoid, IMD, has been
the subject of numerous controversies in Europe because of its
connection to CCD. French research has found that exposure to even
tiny amounts of IMD can disorient bees, which could explain the
failure of the insects to return to colonies after flying off on
foraging trips. Bayer CropScience, the manufacturer, has repeatedly
suggested that other non-manmade causes are behind CCD. Sales of IMD
were €556 million in 2007 (about U.S. $784 million), making it the
company's top seller among pesticides.

An EPA fact sheet from 2003 states clothianidin is potentially toxic
to honeybees, as well as other pollinators, through residues in nectar
and pollen. Bayer maintains that clothianidin does not pose long-term
risks to bees.

NRDC scientists sought the clothianidin studies for several reasons.
First, they want to discover what information the studies contain
about the neurotoxin's effects on bees. Secondly, there are concerns
surrounding the quality of the study and the standards by which it was
designed. NRDC hopes to learn what EPA required of the company and
whether the company's response meets those requirements. Finally, they
want to learn what else the agency considered and examine how EPA
evaluated the information when it decided to leave the pesticide on
the market.

Little research has been conducted examining the effects of sublethal
dose exposures on bees. It is possible the industry studies contain
new information in this area. Existing research, as well as much
anecdotal evidence, has convinced French and German agricultural
authorities to suspend use of clothianidin until evidence of its
safety to bees is established. Despite having the same facts before
them, the EPA has not taken similar precautions.

Instead, the EPA has repeatedly used "emergency exemption provisions"
under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
to approve use of clothianidin in five states. The agency has also
used the emergency provisions to approve use of IMD 163 times in 26
states. These emergency exemptions are intended to allow unregistered
use of pesticides for a limited time if EPA determines that an
emergency condition exists. The Sierra Club is urging EPA to suspend
use of neonicotinoids until sublethal doses are shown to be safe for
bees. ... (cont)

What else do you expect from the Environmental Pollution Agency?
The Bush Administration routinely appoints, as titular heads of
important
agencies like the EPA, FCC, SCE, and all the rest of the alphabet
soup,
saboteurs who do exactly the opposite of the oath they took.
his has been studied by reputable authors who have published the
results,
but are the voters listening? Or do they plan to play the race card,
fail to
elect a smart and well-informed candidate, but instead opt for four
-- or eight -- more
years of the same. Maybe worse, if we end up with a crazed
female Jesus freak instead of the current male one.



http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/con...9/s2352955.htm

Bee dysentery concern in Tasmania
Tuesday, 02/09/2008
A new strain of a serious bee disease has just been identified in
Tasmania.
The island state already has the European strain of nosema, but this
week the more serious Asian strain was confirmed.
It's also been found in mainland Australia.
President of the Tasmanian Beekeepers Association, Julian Woolfhagen,
says the disease can cause whole hives to collapse in the space of a
week, and it's unlikely beekeepers can get rid of it.
"It's impossible, I think at this stage. It may well have been here
for some period of time, in which case it may well have gotten into
the feral bee population."

You would think Big Ag would want to protect that $15 billion in added
crop value.

But maybe the pesticide manufacturere are making more than that with
their formula for bee death.

But that's how these guys work: Now they've opened up a whole new
area to make money. They will have to invent a chemical that can
pollinate crops like bees. Then we will hear that bees are bad for the
environemnt so they can spray more chemicals!

I suppose I should feel like a complete idiot for planting native
plants and flowers that help bees.