EMBARGOED TO: 1801 HRS EDT 23 JUNE 2014

MEDIABRIEFINGNOTES

WORLDWIDEINTEGRATEDASSESSMENTONSYSTEMICPESTICIDES

Concernabouttheimpactofsystemicpesticidesonavarietyofbeneficialspecieshasbeen
growingoverthelast20years.Whileattentionhasmainlyfocusedontheeconomically
importanthoneybee,scientistsandothershavealsoregisteredgrowingalarmaboutthe
declineinmanyotherinsectspecies.
Themainfocusofthisconcernhasbeenthegroupofchemicalscalledneonicotinoids
(neonics),whichwereintroducedaspesticidestoagricultureinthe1990sandhavenow
becomewidespread.Althoughafewrestrictionshavebeenputinplace,forexample,bythe
EuropeanCommissiononbehalfofEUmemberstates,,governmentshavewaveredover
whetherthescienceisconclusiveenoughtoindicateaction.
TheWorldwideIntegratedAssessment(WIA)undertakenbytheTaskForceonSystemic
Pesticidessetouttoprovideacomprehensive,independentanalysisofthesechemicalsand
theirimpactonecosystemsandbiodiversity,inordertoinformappropriateactioninthe
future.
ThefindingswillbepublishedinthepeerreviewedJournalEnvironmentalScienceand
PollutionResearchinSummer2014.
WIA
Thisisthefirstmetaanalysistobeundertakenontwogroupsofsystemicinsecticides,
neonicsandfipronil,andthefirsttimethatalltherelevantinformationfromstudiesallover
theworldhasbeenpulledtogetherinoneplace.
Someaspectsofthisanalysishavebeenbroadlyacknowledgedbefore(e.g.risksto
honeybees),butsomehavenot(e.g.riskstobirds,earthworms,otherpollinatorsand
aquaticinvertebrates).
Individualstudieshavefocussedonimpactsonparticularorganisms,habitatsorlocations
(e.g.beesinFrance,waterwaysintheNetherlands,birdsintheUS)andrelativelyfewhave
specificallyfocusedonbiodiversityandecosystemimpacts,sothisanalysismovesour
understandingforwardinamuchmoreholisticandextensiveway.
Wheretheavailabledataenablethis,theanalysisextendsconsiderationoftherisksbeyond
individualspeciesandgroups,towholecommunitiesandecosystemprocesses.
Undertakenby29independentscientistsfromnumerousdisciplines,theWIAconsidered
over800peerreviewedpublications.
KEYFINDINGS
Harm
Neonicspersistparticularlyinsoilformonthsandinsomecasesyearsand
accumulate.Thiseffectivelyincreasestheirtoxicitybyincreasingthedurationof
exposureofnontargetspecies.

Themetabolitiesofneonics(thecompoundswhichtheybreakdowninto)areoften
asormoretoxicthattheactiveingredients.

Theclassicmeasurementsusedtoassessthetoxicityofapesticide(shorttermlab
toxicityresults)arenoteffectiveforsystemicpesticidesandconcealtheirtrue
impact.Theytypicallyonlymeasuredirectacuteeffectsratherthanchroniceffects
viamultipleroutesofexposure.Inthecaseofacuteeffectsalone,someneonicsare
atleast5,000to10,000timesmoretoxictobeesthanDDT.

Theeffectsofexposuretoneonicsrangefrominstantandlethaltochronic.Even
longtermexposureatlow(nonlethal)levelscanbeharmful.Theyarenervepoisons
andthechronicdamagecausedcaninclude:impairedsenseofsmellormemory;
reducedfecundity;alteredfeedingbehaviourandreducedfoodintakeincluding
reducedforaginginbees;alteredtunnelingbehaviourinearthworms;difficultyin
flightandincreasedsusceptibilitytodisease.
Ecosystems
Neonicsimpactallspeciesthatchewaplant,sipitssap,drinkitsnectar,eatits
pollenorfruitandtheseimpactscascadethroughanecosystemweakeningits
stability.

Thecombinationofpersistence(overmonthsoryears)andsolubilityinwaterhas
ledtolargescalecontaminationof,andthepotentialforaccumulationin,soilsand
sediments,groundandsurfacewaterandtreatedandnontreatedvegetation.

Inadditiontocontaminatingnontargetspeciesthroughdirectexposure(e.g.insects
consumingnectarfromtreatedplants),thechemicalsarealsofoundinvarying
concentrationsoutsidetreatedareas.Theyrunoffintosurroundingsoilandaquatic
habitatseasily.Thispollutedwater,alongwiththedustcreatedduringthedrillingof
treatedseeds,cancontaminatewildplantsgrowinginagriculturalfieldmarginsand
hedgerowsprovidingthepotentialformajorimpactsonabroadrangeofnontarget
herbivorousinvertebrateslivinginornearfarmland.

Thisprovidesmultipleroutesforchronicandacuteexposureofnontargetspecies.
Organismsinhabitingfarmlandarebeingchronicallyexposedandsoareaquatic
organismslivingdownstreamoffarmland,includinginhabitantsofriparianzones,
estuarineandcoastalmarinesystems.

Thelargescalebioavailabilityoftheseinsecticidesintheglobalenvironmentat
levelsthatareknowntocauselethalandsublethaleffectsonawiderangeof
terrestrial,aquaticandsoilbeneficialmicroorganisms,invertebratesand
vertebrates,posesriskstoecosystemfunctioningandservicesprovidedby
terrestrialandaquaticecosystemsincludingsoilandfreshwaterfunctionssuchas
litterbreakdownandnutrientcycling,foodproduction,biologicalpestcontrol,and
pollinationservices.
Species
Neonicsandfipronilhaveimpactsthatextendfarbeyondtheintendedcrop,plant
andpestspecies.

Theyarecausingsignificantdamageandposeaseriesriskofharmtoawiderange
ofbeneficialinvertebratespeciesinsoil,vegetation,aquaticandmarinehabitats
andareaffectingecosystemservicesasaresult.

Thereisalackofresearchintotheimpactonvertebratespeciesthoughthe
assessmentrevealedsublethalimpactsofconcernacrossarangeofspecies
includingbirds.

Theriskofharmoccursatfieldexposurelevels(i.e.theamountsusedinagriculture)
andlower.

Itisclearthatpresentdaylevelsofpollutionwithneonicsresultingfromauthorized
uses,frequentlyexceedlowestobservedadverseeffectconcentrationsforawide
rangeofnontargetspeciesandarethuslikelytohavelargescaleandwideranging
negativebiologicalandecologicalimpacts.

Theevidenceisalsoclearthatneonicsposeaseriousriskofharmtohoneybeesand
otherpollinators.

Inbees,fieldrealisticconcentrationsadverselyaffectindividualnavigation,learning,
foodcollection,longevity,resistancetodiseaseandfecundity.Forbumblebees,
irrefutablecolonyleveleffectshavebeenfound,withexposedcoloniesgrowing
moreslowlyandproducingsignificantlyfewerqueens.Fieldstudieswithfreeflying
beecolonieshaveproveddifficulttoperform,becausecontrolcoloniesinvariably
becomecontaminatedwithneonicotinoids,acleardemonstrationoftheirpervasive
presenceintheenvironment.
Themostaffectedgroupsofspeciesare:
Terrestrialinvertebrates
Terrestrialinvertebratessuchasearthwormsareexposedtopotentialcontaminationviaall
fourroutes(air,water,soil,plants)with:
highexposurethroughsoilandplants
mediumexposurethroughsurfacewaterandleaching
lowexposureviaair(dusts)
Theassessmentfoundthatbothindividualsandpopulationscanbeadverselyaffectedby
loworacute(i.e.ongoing)exposuremakingthemhighlyvulnerableatfieldrealistic
concentrationsi.e.,theconcentrationswhichcanbefoundinagriculture.Theseeffects
rangefrombehaviourmodificationsuchasfeedinginhibitionstomortality.
Thesespeciesprovideamyriadofecosystemservices,includingtheregulationandcyclingof
nutrients,carbonstorage,andsupportforplantgrowthandaredependentonthediverse
andcomplexbiologicalcommunitiesthatarepresentinsoils.
Insectpollinators
Insectpollinatorssuchasbeesandbutterfliesareexposedtocontaminationthroughallfour
routeswith:
highexposurethroughairandplants
mediumexposurethroughwater.
Theassessmentfoundthatbothindividualsandpopulationscanbeadverselyaffectedby
loworacuteexposuremakingthemhighlyvulnerable.
Pollinatorsexposedtocontaminatedpollen,nectarandwaterareharmedatfieldrealistic
concentrations.
AquaticInvertebrates
Thenextmostaffectedgroupareaquaticinvertebratessuchasfreshwatersnailsandwater
fleaswhichareexposedviawaterandpotentiallyplants,arevulnerabletolowandacute
exposureandwhichcanbeaffectedattheindividual,populationandcommunitylevels.
Themoderatetohighwatersolubilityofneonicotinoidsenablesthemtocontaminateboth
surfaceandgroundwaterandhenceleachintowaterways,wherehighconcentrationshave
depletedaquaticinsectabundanceanddiversity.
Theimpactsidentifiedonthisgrouparereducedfeedingbehaviour,impairedgrowthand
mobility.
Birds
Birdsarethenextmostvulnerablewithlowandmediumexposureviaallfourroutesand
affectedatmediumlevelsofexposureforbothindividualsandpopulations.
Others
Fish,amphibiansandmicrobeswereallfoundtobeaffectedafterhighlevelsorprolonged
exposure.Samplestakeninwaterfromaroundtheworld,havebeenfoundtoexceed
ecotoxicologicallimitsonaregularbasis.
Thereareinsufficientdatatoassesswhetherornotthereisanimpactonmammalsor
reptilesbutinthecaseofthelatter,theresearchersconcludedthatitwasprobable.
Gaps
Almost as concerning as what is known about neonics, is what is not. There is little
information about the quantities of systemic pesticides being applied, nor is there
much screening of concentrations of neonics in the environment. Where screening
hasbeencarriedoutneonicsandfipronilareoftendetected.

Toxicity to most organisms has not been investigated. E.g. toxicity tests have only
been carried out on four of the approximately 25,000 known species of bee, and
there have been hardly any studies of toxicity to other pollinator groups such as
hoverfliesorbutterflies.

Toxicity to vertebrates (such as granivorous mammals and birds which are likely to
consumedressedseeds)hasonlybeenexaminedinahandfulofspecies.

Sublethal effects have not been studied in most organisms, yet they are known to
beprofoundinbees,andforthosefewotherspecieswherestudieshavebeendone,
sublethaldosesoftheseneurotoxicchemicalshavebeenreportedtohave(mostly)
adverseimpactsonbehaviouratdoseswellbelowthosethatcausedeath.
Conclusions
Thepresentscaleofuseofneonicsisnotsustainable.

Theircontinuedusecanonlyacceleratetheglobaldeclineofimportant
invertebratesand,asaresult,riskreductionsinthelevel,diversity,securityand
stabilityofecosystemservices.

ThefindingsoftheWIAdemonstratethatthecurrentextensiveuseofthisgroupof
persistenthighlytoxicchemicalsisaffectingglobalbiodiversity:
Byexertingwidespreadandchronicexposuretonontargetorganismsatindividual
aswellaspopulationlevel;
Throughtheimpactsofthisexposure,affectingtheessentialecosystemservicesand
functionstheseorganismsprovide.
Thelargescale,prophylacticuseofbroadspectrumsystemicinsecticidesmustbe
reconsidered.

The authors strongly suggest that regulatory agencies apply more precautionary
principles and further tighten regulations on neonicotinoids and fipronil and start
planning for a global phaseout or at least start formulating plans for a strong
reductionoftheglobalscaleofuse.

BACKGROUND
Neonicotinoid/fipronilPesticides

Neonicotinoidsareaclassofneuroactive,nicotinebasedinsecticideswhichwere
developedin1991andbroughtintocommercialuseinthemid1990s.Fipronilisalso
neuroactiveandwasdevelopedatthesametime.

Unlikeotherpesticides,whichremainonthesurfaceofthetreatedfoliage,systemic
pesticides,includingneonicotinoidsandfipronil,aretakenupbytheplantand
transportedtoallthetissues(leaves,flowers,rootsandstems,aswellaspollenand
nectar).Productscontainingneonicotinoids/fipronilcanbeappliedattheroot(as
seedcoatingorsoildrench)orsprayedontocropfoliage.Theinsecticidetoxinremains
activeinthesoilorplantformanymonths(oryears),protectingthecropseasonlong.
Neonicotinoids/fipronilactontheinformationprocessingabilitiesofinvertebrates,
affectingspecificneuralpathways.Theyarepopularasbroadspectruminsecticides,as
theyareconsideredlessdirectlytoxictovertebratespeciesincludinghumans.

Thesesystemicinsecticideshavebecomethemostwidelyusedgroupofinsecticides
globally,withamarketsharenowestimatedataround40%oftheworld
market.Commoncompoundsincludeacetamiprid,clothianidin,dinotefuran
imidacloprid,nitenpyram,nithiazine,thiacloprid,thiamethoxamandfipronil,with
globalsalesofoverUS$2.63billionin2011.
Theglobalmarketforseedtreatmentsisexpandingevenmorerapidly,growingfrom
US$210millioninthe1990stoUS$1295millionin2008,atwhichpoint
neonicotinoidsmadeup80%ofallseedtreatmentsalesworldwide.
Neonicotinoidsarestilltoxicevenatverylowdoses.Theyhaveahigherpersistencein
soilandwaterthanconventionalpesticidesremaininginsituformonthsonaverage,
andthisresultsinsustainedandchronicexposureofnontargetorganisms,suchas
invertebrates.Becausetheyarerelativelywatersoluble,theyrunoffintoaquatic
habitatseasily.Growingconcernabouttheirconnectiontobeecolonycollapse
disorderhasledtorestrictionsontheiruseinEUCountries.Concernabouttheir
impactonothernontargetspeciesincludingbirds,hasbeengrowingforthelastfive
years.

TaskForceOnSystemicPesticides
TheTaskForceonSystemicPesticidesistheresponseofthescientificcommunitytoconcern
aroundtheimpactofsystemicpesticidesonbiodiversityandecosystems.Itsintentionisto
providethedefinitiveviewofsciencetoinformmorerapidandimproveddecisionmaking.

ENDS
NOTES

PressConferencesreleasingthefindingswillbeheldinManilaandBrusselsonthe24
th
June,
Ottawaonthe25
th
andTokyoonthe26
th
.
Forfurtherinformationpleasecontact:
MadeleineChagnon(Canada)4507717925,madeleine.chagnon@gmail.com
OleHendrickson(Canada)6132340578,olehendrickson@biodiversityconservancy.org
MirellavonLindenfels(UK)+447717844352