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Florida Citrus Trees To Be Sprayed With Thousands of Kilograms of Antiobiotics (nature.com)
Long-time Slashdot reader memnock quotes Nature:
In the next month or so, orange trees across Florida will erupt in white blossoms, signalling the start of another citrus season. But this year, something different will be blowing in the winds. Farmers are preparing to spray their trees with hundreds of thousands of kilograms of two common antibiotics to combat citrus greening, a bacterial disease that has been killing Florida citrus trees for more than a decade.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is in the process of allowing growers to use streptomycin and oxytetracycline as routine treatments, spraying trees several times per year, beginning with the 'first flush' of leaves this spring. Growers in the state could end up using as much as 440,000 kilograms of the drugs. Although the compounds, which are both used in human medicine, have been sprayed on other crops in the past and applied in limited amounts to citrus groves, the scale of this application has researchers and public-health advocates alarmed....
There is little publicly available science on the long-term use of these drugs in crop settings... Critics are particularly galled because there is also little convincing evidence that spraying will keep the scourge at bay.
One Florida public radio station reports that environmental groups have delivered a petition with more than 45,000 signatures to the EPA, urging them to halt the expanded use of antibiotics.
"The fear is an increase in antibiotic-resistant diseases for humans."
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is in the process of allowing growers to use streptomycin and oxytetracycline as routine treatments, spraying trees several times per year, beginning with the 'first flush' of leaves this spring. Growers in the state could end up using as much as 440,000 kilograms of the drugs. Although the compounds, which are both used in human medicine, have been sprayed on other crops in the past and applied in limited amounts to citrus groves, the scale of this application has researchers and public-health advocates alarmed....
There is little publicly available science on the long-term use of these drugs in crop settings... Critics are particularly galled because there is also little convincing evidence that spraying will keep the scourge at bay.
One Florida public radio station reports that environmental groups have delivered a petition with more than 45,000 signatures to the EPA, urging them to halt the expanded use of antibiotics.
"The fear is an increase in antibiotic-resistant diseases for humans."
They want to create Superbugs.
You want antibiotic resistant citrus greening? This is how you get antibiotic resistant citrus greening.
The rise of super bugs is an issue for everyone.
Federal Anal.
It's Florida, who cares about them?
I can't remember the last time I was ignorant enough to pay $2.69 for 15oz. of sugar water. Even if it is orange and "natural". Legal but unwise mono-cropping.
Why so polite? I would have started that summary with something much more direct and to the point, like: The brainless muppet that senile old lecher Donald Trump put in charge of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is in the process of allowing Florida to completely ruin two common anti-biotics and create yet more antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains ...
Even more antibiotic-resistant bacteria, just one of the wonderful things that happen when you make one of the most corrupt morons on earth your president,
Drinking florida orange juice will also treat syphilis now...
Ahh yes, my dear old Auntie O'Biotics. I do hope she's enjoying the nice weather in Florida.
As Pogo said, "We have met the enemy, and he is us."
This SOUNDS bad to me, uninformed on the topic as I am.
I wonder what else can be done to stop this multi-year outbreak.
"All the problems to be found in an orchard are caused by our concept of an orchard." Observation vs Concept http://bit.ly/1lM3PFS
"Tempers are wearing thin. Let's just hope some robot doesn't kill everybody." --Bender
For making sure our EPA isn't a highly regulated anti-business beuracracy. We need more pro-business initiatives that will help find ways to speed up Humanities Denise for a few years of small profit increases.
I think they should go after the psyllid flies which transmit the disease. Psyllid are highly host-specific and usually only feed on a single kind of plant.
Perhaps they could do something like they did when Florida got rid of the screwworm (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cochliomyia), or perhaps a genetic engineered fly like the projects to eliminate the mosquito.
There are known natural antibiotics which do not create superbugs!
For example, imagine if, lots of fresh raw garlic crushed & mixed w/ water & sprayed onto the citrus trees!
Interesting about the "Thousands of kilograms" and "as much as 440,000 kilograms of the drugs". Sounds scary, right?
The article talks about that much being used per year and that it would be sprayed "several times" and later suggests 6 times. Let's use that.
Maybe if taken in perspective, it wouldn't. There are 569,000 acres of citrus groves in Florida. That equates to about 2 million average home sized lots and more like 3 lots if we thing about actual yard space. This boils down to about .15kg (less than a third of a pound for us yanks) per lot.
Let's say that it's a powder with a density similar to powdered sugar. That would mean 120cc per year (about 8 tablespoons) for the average suburban home per year or 20cc (about 1.5 tablespoons) per spray for your entire yard.
This doesn't negate any concerns, but it very much removes the "OMG - 440,000 KILOS!!!" If your neighbor put a tablespoon and a half of just about anything in his sprayer, you probably wouldn't give a damn.
Also worth note: In the same article, it talks about how it breaks down. This might explain why crops would need sprayed 6 times a year. This also lessens (and not necessarily negates) the concern.
I wish we'd learn from past mistakes. Overuse of antibiotics can lead to the stronger strains of germs developing resistance to them.
The Russians have won. They have made the world a cesspool of distrust, greed, fear and hate.
And what's to stop this from getting into the water table? End up coming out of your taps? Nothing. This is madness.
If enough antibiotics are used to kill the vast majority of the bacteria, the antibiotic spray is collected, instead of lingering in the environment, and replacement, friendly bacteria were put in their place, it could work.
Scientists can always develop new antibiotics.
Two more common and very important antibiotics about to be rendered useless. Fucking idiot morons. How are they allowed to do this?
what's the extra "o" for? Orchard? Anti-Orchard-biotics? Orange?
Works really good ... until it doesn't.
Suicide cult religions are in control, so it all makes perfect sense.
Call me crazy, but I thought greening was caused by a fungus.
Do we use antibiotics on fungus now? Is that new FDA guidance, or some bizarre folk cure?
China has been dumping antibiotics all over the place. Drug resistance is a serious problem there (worse, those bacteria are spreading).
Now, America is going to join that insanity?
Trump is just insane, and he is pushing ppl who have absolutely NO science background into horrible places.
I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
by 'eradicated from the planet i obviously mean we need education in mathematics and science, and other disciplines that teach critical thinking. its not intending any kind of threat towards any person, only towards terrible ideas that endanger the country.
High probability of abuse. They should require a doctor to prescribe the drug for each individual (human, animal, or plant), only after physically examining that individual.
excitingthingstodo.blogspot.com
But loose Key Lime Pie? In that case, spray away!!
Florida Man Sprays Citrus Crop with Antibiotics, Increasing Risk of MSRA Infection for Millions.
I live in Florida. Citrus isn't even native here. This is a losing battle and we've sunk far too much money trying to save it. Let's find creative ways to use the land. Free range animal farms. Homes. Amusement parks. Sometimes you just have to admit defeat and move on.
America has lead the way in indiscriminate antibiotic use. It's common knowledge.
Why you would try and blame that on China only you and your supervisor know.
https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2019-01-16/study-nearly-a-quarter-of-us-antibiotic-prescriptions-are-inappropriate
https://www.wired.com/2015/09/antibiotic-resistance-worst-around-world/
https://www.sundayguardianlive.com/news/antibiotics-misuse-fuels-antimicrobial-resistance-india-worst-affected
Why do you lie so much WindBourne? Here, here and here for example.
You also constantly claim links say what you want them to when they clearly do not.
Why falsely accuse other people of lying, when it's clearly you who is the liar?
Show some honour for once.
Your second link was from 4 years ago, with data from 10 years, and in the first graph, it showed only human used antibiotics. BTW, that was a CDDEP article that was only about USA and India.
Your third link has the first sentance of
India is one of the worst affected nations by antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a condition wherein bacteria and other microorganisms become resistant to antimicrobial medications used to cure the infections that these microorganisms cause.
India IS one of the worst. In fact, I have a cousin-in-law that is working in India to get villages to use soap/water after using latrines. Diarrhea is a MAJOR killer throughout Asia, namely India and China.
However, here is a article that is 9 months old. Right now, China is the world’s largest consumer of agricultural antibiotics, out-dosing even the US by eight tonnes to every one. A 2013 study by the Chinese Academy of Sciences found that 162,000 tons of antibiotics are consumed in China each year, with 52% going to animal husbandry. In the US, 70% of antibiotics amounting to 10,000 tons are consumed by livestock each year.
As that shows, China is using around 80,000 TONS of antibiotics for humans and another 82,000 TONS for animals.
OTOH, America uses around 14,000 tons of antibiotics, of which around 10,000 tons is used on farms. America uses 1/8 of the anti-biotics on Ag that China uses, even though we grow slightly less than China does. And when it comes to human use, we are doing 5% of what China uses, even though America is 20% of the population size of China.
Right now, China is the world’s largest consumer of agricultural antibiotics, out-dosing even the US by eight tonnes to every one. A 2013 study by the Chinese Academy of Sciences found that 162,000 tons of antibiotics are consumed in China each year, with 52% going to animal husbandry. In the US, 70% of antibiotics amounting to 10,000 tons are consumed by livestock each year.
As that shows, China is using around 80,000 TONS of antibiotics for humans and another 82,000 TONS for animals.
OTOH, America uses around 14,000 tons of antibiotics, of which around 10,000 tons is used on farms. America uses 1/8 of the anti-biotics on Ag that China uses, even though we grow slightly just less than China does (America exports a lot of Ag). And when it comes to human use, we are doing 5% of what China uses, even though America is 20% of the population size of China.
So, here is another lie racked up by Caffeinated Bacon(Crimson Tsunami).
When do you stop?
I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
it has embraced the industrial farming model pioneered by the US.
Try to keep up...
No one said China was good. More lies by you. Just that they were copying America (who lead the way in this field). https://www.motherjones.com/en... And are clearly still worse than the EU (as always).
Why is it only bad when China copies and does what America does? Why not blame America for doing it first?
Explain how you think America can join something it pioneered (started).
While you are explaining, also explain these lies of yours. Here, here and here for example.
You also constantly claim links say what you want them to when they clearly do not.
You always falsely accuse other people of lying, when it's clearly you who is the liar?
Show some honour for once.
You know Mueller suggests no further indictments, right? That Trump wants the report to be public? I think you maybe should prepare for salty liberal tears.
Why do you lie so much WindBourne?
Here, here and here for example.
You also constantly claim links say what you want them to when they clearly do not.
Why falsely accuse other people of lying, when it's clearly you who is the liar?
Show some honour for once.
Not today, but the and of antibiotics is in sight. Anybody hastening it is effectively a mass-murderer. How can people be this stupid? Oh, right, climate-change deniers, flat-earthers, Trump-fans, ...
The human race as a whole does not deserve to survive. Too dumb.
Most ACs are not even worth the keystrokes to insult them. Be generically insulted by this and ignored otherwise.
It is crazy. We have serious issues with AMRs. Nearly all of the current antibiotics were developed by the gov and reagan and now trump cut the funding on the R&D. If we are going to be using up our antibiotics on Ag, then we had better make sure to really push vaccines. Otherwise, I expect a lot of deaths in the near future.
I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
Why do you lie so much WindBourne? Here, here and herefor example.
You also constantly claim links say what you want them to when they clearly do not.
Why falsely accuse other people of lying, when it's clearly you who is the liar?
Show some honour for once.
Embracing the industry is one thing. Running it to an extreme is foolish. The fact that you took 1 sentence out of context shows what a lying POS you are.
I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
Otherwise, I expect a lot of deaths in the near future.
Lucky you are always wrong then isn't it. Where is the pandemic?
First off, new ICE cars will probably stop selling in about 2 more years.
And your predictions are often laughable.
The foolish thing is that with you poor understanding of English, you didn't even understand the post you replied to.
America has lead the way in indiscriminate antibiotic use. It's common knowledge.
Are you going to deny America lead the way?
it has embraced the industrial farming model pioneered by the US.
Your own link disagrees with you.
Where is the lie?
There isn't one.
But there is attempted deception from you. Pretending America is now copying China's overuse, when it's common knowledge and proven by your own link that America was doing it for far longer. And so in fact, couldn't possibly
Join that insanity
like you 'claimed'. It's already been doing it for a long time. Pioneered the idea even.
It's been shown over and over again what a lying POS you are WindBourne.
It's also been shown over and over again that you like to claim other people lie when they didn't.
Actually we have developed many new antibiotics, mainly as a defense against the greedy fuckwits who spray them everywhere and create superbugs.
What is the mean dosage of antibiotics given to humans in kilograms? Let's put a tax that adds perhaps $100 to the cost of a course of antibiotics for humans, covered by insurance and revenue earmarked for research, and make it linear so the animal/crop usage needs to pay incredible sums if they want to use antibiotics.
Guys, the fact that humans use medicine and especially antibiotics undermines our ability to withstand infections. So we are already on the wrong pass from evolution and natural selection perspective. Instead of letting weak humans to die we heal them and inherit their weak DNA and damage genetics of future generations.
The question of super-bugs creation it is question of time, it will happen anyway, humanity can only accelerate this process, but cannot stop. We will eventually pay back for usage of antibiotics, when every descendant of someone, who ever was supposed to die due to various infections, will die globally. That is going to be a real dooms day.
I see here absolutely different problem and the problem is Antibiotics Production. It is the same as Oil & Gas industry. From scientific perspective both of them are non-recoverable resources and this is main concern of this article that both of them are limited by usage. As much antibiotics we use as faster we drain their ability to heal us, so yes, oranges are nice and testy, but I would rather keep them for myself.
As long as oil and antibiotics are cheap, humanity would not invest into alternatives. And Oil & Antibiotics lobby would block any efforts to find alternatives. But the main problem is that we would come to very serious crisis in both cases if we don't work out alternatives ahead of it.
There is absolutely nothing good that can be done to prevent the destruction of American businesses in the eyes of environmental groups.
This is so stupid that it reminds me of what Florida did in the '70s to all their ornimental palm trees. When a virus was threatening all the beautiful palm trees, somebody got the bright idea to innoculate all the trees with antibiotics. The problem was (1) that antibiotics don't kill viruses, and (2) they didn't even know enough to use a new needle for each tree. They by this monumental act of stupidity, they physically transferred the virus from all infected trees to all the healthy trees. Surprise surprise, just about all the decorative palm trees died.
This prank is just as stupid. By working against the gradient of Evolution they will in effect be teaching ALL bacterium species in that environment, how to become resistant to it. Noting good will come out of this, and they have everything to loose in the process of being so stupid.
The correct way to do this is to use a cocktail of phages that attack the specific bacterium, and thus be working WITH Evolution to solve the problem. A phage can target and kill the specific bacterium in exactly the same way that they killed all the palm trees years ago. The phages will adapt to any new defences that the bacterium creates by any new genomic mechanisms. By having multiple phages in play, the bacterium will be overwhelmed by new and well-adapted phages, and the disease will lessen to the point where it no longer poses a financial threat to the orange groves that they are trying to protect. Work with Evolution, not against it!!
To bolster the 'organics' market.
This seems like one of those things we will look back on in 50 years and go... "What were we thinking".
you know like Cigarettes to benefit your health, lead pipes and sunbeds.
Little wonder honey bees have been taking a big hit the last couple of decades when farmers do stupid shit like this. Commercial apiarists should boycot any farms proposing to use this technique.
Then, they turn around and let any farmer with 50 acres of chickens, pigs or now TREES just spray thousands of gallons even more powerful antibiotics with impunity???
Guys, This. Has. To. Stop.
Embracing the lie is part of your job obviously. But going to the extreme when it's completely obvious you will get caught out is extremely foolish.
The fact you are now sending incompetent lackeys to do your dirty work just proves how far out of your depth you all are.