Pesticides deserve a closer look - Pocono Record

What we already know about the dangers of pesticides should give us pause about introducing another one.

This week the American Bird Conservancy published a study that found acutely toxic pesticides — not habitat loss — primarily to blame for widespread declines in grassland bird populations. The study looked at data from 1980 to 2003 and examined five other potential causes of the bird declines, from changes in cropped pasture to herbicide use. The study found a link between states with high use of toxic insecticides lethal to birds and states with the greatest number of bird declines, including the Horned Lark in 25 states and the Ring-necked Pheasant in 19 states. Continuing use of pesticides "may drive bird populations to local extinction," study author Dr. Pierre Mineau, a Canadian toxicologist, said.

Meanwhile scientists are calling on the Environmental Protection Agency to stop the approval process for yet a new insecticide, Sulfoxaflor, which the EPA has proposed for "conditional registration." Solfoxaflor is proposed for use on soybeans, turf grass, wheat, vegetables and fruit crops.

But the Center for Food Safety, the Pesticide Action Network, American Bird Conservancy and Friends of the Earth are arguing that Sulfoxaflor is "articularly concerning" because it's water soluble, persistent and highly toxic to bees and other pollinators. Honey bee colonies have been in sharp decline over the past decade. Also, the chemical's potential toxicity to humans and other mammals hasn't been explored enough yet, the groups said in a letter to EPA.

Few of us keep bees or count grassland bird populations. But it's important for everyone to recognize that every species plays a role in the natural environment. Shrinking honey bee populations can reduce the availability of certain foods, driving up prices. Their disappearance can also be a sign of a larger, not fully recognized environmental problem. Likewise, losing vast numbers of birds that were once common to whole regions could, ultimately, have significant and not yet known spinoff effects.

The EPA should take a harder look at Sulfoxaflor especially against the backdrop of the new study from Canada. Agronomists should be exploring new ways of managing insect pests, especially in food crops, without the collateral damage of poisoning birds and other creatures.

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