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Three-Quarters of All Honey On Earth Has Pesticides In It (theverge.com)
An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Verge: About three quarters of all honey worldwide is contaminated with pesticides known to harm bees, according to a new study. Though the pesticide levels were below the limit deemed safe for human consumption, there was still enough insecticide in there to harm pollinators. The finding suggests that, as one of the study authors said, "there's almost no safe place for a bee to exist." Scientists analyzed 198 honey samples from all continents, except Antarctica, for five types of pesticides called neonicotinoids, which are known to harm bees. They found at least one of the five compounds in most samples, with the highest contamination in North America, Asia, and Europe. The results are published today in the journal Science.
To get a better sense of just how widespread neonic contamination is, Mitchell and his colleagues analyzed 198 worldwide honey samples collected as a citizen science project between 2012 and 2016. They found that 75 percent of honey contained at least one of the five tested neonics, and 45 percent of samples had two or more. Honey from North America, Asia, and Europe was most contaminated, while the lowest contamination was in South America. Neonic concentrations were relatively low: on average, 1.8 nanograms per gram in contaminated honey -- below the limits set as safe for people by the EU.
To get a better sense of just how widespread neonic contamination is, Mitchell and his colleagues analyzed 198 worldwide honey samples collected as a citizen science project between 2012 and 2016. They found that 75 percent of honey contained at least one of the five tested neonics, and 45 percent of samples had two or more. Honey from North America, Asia, and Europe was most contaminated, while the lowest contamination was in South America. Neonic concentrations were relatively low: on average, 1.8 nanograms per gram in contaminated honey -- below the limits set as safe for people by the EU.
The real question is how do we protect the Earth from human greed, which is the primary cause of most of the planet's ails.
Yes and 100% of humans will also be contaminated with pesticides and other chemicals as well. The idea that there is a toggle point that may be reached where not only bees but humans begin to drop dead seems to be unthinkable for many right wing types. Just like global warming they will stay in denial until total disaster forces them into a real view of the world.
"Given that the bees didn't die ..."
How can you be sure they didn't die?
Maybe not on that trip but the next or the following day, they go out as usual and feel a bit sick. On the way back, laden with pollen and nectar, the starboard wings misfire then stop responding altogether and she spirals into the ground, only having time for a brief farewell dance to pass on her last message ("God bless the queen") before expiring.
All those funerals. So many funerals.
Neonics are one of the few things they can actually tolerate
You must have exceeded safe human exposure to Neonics if you think that.
"About three quarters of all honey worldwide is contaminated with pesticides known to harm bees"
Of course, one might also point out that at least half, if not more, of earth's population has food and is alive ALSO because of pesticides, generally.
-Styopa