Language
Country/Area
No result found
The hidden effects of pesticides on bees: Why are nitroso compounds in the spotlight?
As the use of pesticides becomes more common, the impact on bees in the ecosystem is receiving increasing attention. Bees are not only important pollen dispersers, but their health is directly related to crop yields and the maintenance of biodiversity. However, different types of pesticides have different effects on bees, and specific compounds such as nitroso compounds have become the focus of research.
If bees come into contact with pesticides while searching for food, they may die immediately and be unable to return to the hive, which poses a threat to the survival of the entire bee colony.
Pesticides are mainly divided into contact pesticides and systemic pesticides. Exposure Pesticides are often sprayed directly on plants, making bees vulnerable when crawling on or around sprayed plants. Systemic pesticides enter various parts of the plant through the soil or seeds, including leaves, nectar and pollen, etc. This makes it possible for bees to ingest toxic substances during the collection process even if they are not directly exposed to pesticides.
In particular, endogenous pesticides such as neonicotinoids, which are common in pesticides, have attracted widespread attention for their impact on bees. In 2018, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published a report stating that many neonicotinoid pesticides, such as clothianidin, pose risks to the survival of wild bees and bees. These pesticides have been banned across the European Union since 2018, but are still used in the United States and elsewhere.
Many studies have found that pesticides have profound acute toxicity and sublethal effects on bees, including behavioral and physiological changes.
Research shows that once bees are exposed to toxic pesticides, they may suffer from symptoms of acute poisoning, such as restlessness, vomiting, paralysis of wings, etc., which will affect the normal behavior and social activities of bees. Compared with acute toxicity, the effects of subacute toxicity are more common and may even lead to long-term health problems such as reduced immunity of bees and delayed growth and development.
Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) in bees is a striking example. This symptom is manifested by the sudden disappearance of bees, and a single cause has not yet been found. The U.S. Department of Agriculture pointed out in a 2010 report that CCD may be caused by a combination of factors, including pesticides, pathogens, and parasites. Although pesticides are widely believed to be part of the problem, there was no significant difference in the levels of pesticides detected in healthy and affected colonies.
Policies regarding pesticide application are also gradually being adjusted to reduce the risk of harm to bees.
Faced with such a crisis, European policy trends show concern for bee health. For example, the European Union began restricting the use of certain neonicotinoid pesticides in 2013, and in 2018 passed a proposal to completely ban these pesticides. In contrast, although the US Environmental Protection Agency has also proposed protection policies for bees, it still allows the use of pesticides in certain areas, which has triggered discussions from all walks of life on the contradiction between environmental protection and agricultural production.
In addition to policy changes, farmers are being encouraged to take steps to reduce the risk of bees being exposed to pesticides. For example, applying pesticides in the early morning or at night and trying to avoid applying pesticides during peak hours when bees are collecting nectar can effectively reduce the chance of bees being exposed to poisons.
Based on the above factors, the survival of bees still faces multiple challenges, and there is an urgent need to reach consensus and action in scientific research, agricultural practice and policy formulation.
This is not only related to the balance of the ecosystem, but also closely related to the future food security of mankind. If bees are exterminated, it will trigger a series of unpredictable consequences, and even our dining tables may be affected. Against this background, should we re-examine our attitudes and policies towards pesticide use?
