EU warns neonicotinoids ‘may harm unborn babies’

A banned neonicotinoid pesticide linked to the decline in bees may harm the developing brains of unborn babies, EU scientists have warned.


Imidacloprid was one of three pesticides banned for use across the EU as part of a two-year moratorium from 1 December this year after the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concluded it posed a “number of risks” to bees.


In a statement, EFSA said a study carried out on newborn rats showed two neonicotinoids, acetamiprid and imidacloprid, had the potential to “damage the developing human nervous system – in particular the brain”.


The research suggested the two insecticides “may adversely affect the development of neurons and brain structures associated with functions such as learning and memory”.


A Japanese study showed that newborn rats exposed to imidacloprid suffered reduced activity in nerve cells, brain shrinkage and weight loss.


A separate rat study on acetamiprid found that exposure caused reduced weight, survival and response to startling sounds.


A panel of experts from EFRA concluded some current guidance levels for acceptable exposure to acetamiprid and imidacloprid “may not be protective enough to safeguard against developmental neurotoxicity and should be reduced”.


Therefore, EFSA has proposed that safe levels of the two products, both manufactured by Bayer CropScience, be slightly lowered while further research is carried out.


A spokesman for Bayer CropScience told The Guardian newspaper the reduced exposure limits were “small changes”.


“We are surprised that EFSA has taken a decision to recommend changes to the regulatory assessment of imidacloprid based on a set of simple cell culture experiments, when they had previously informed their views on this compound based on more realistic and comprehensive studies that had been submitted and accepted by EFSA,” he said.


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What’s the plan now neonicotinoids are banned?

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