From CBC
A new study shows neonicotinoids — a commonly used pesticide that many scientists say is harmful to honeybees — are widely found in honey samples from around the world.Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/new-study-finds-widespread-presence-of-pesticide-in-honey-1.4344976The study, published in the journal Science, found neonicotinoids in 75 per cent of honey samples collected between 2012 and 2016 at levels known to be neuroactive in bees, meaning they can affect the insects' cognitive function.
Researchers found the level of contamination highest in North America at 86 per cent, followed by Asia (80 per cent), Europe (79 per cent) and lowest in South America (57 per cent).
Neonicotinoids have been found to be toxic to bees and have been identified as one of the factors linked to the widespread decline of honeybee colonies.
The global die-off of honeybees could have dire implications for food production because the insects are vital to plant and crop pollination.
Shows pervasiveness of pesticide
Mark Winston, Simon Fraser University professor and bee researcher, says this study adds to the developing understanding of how pervasively the pesticide can spread throughout an ecosystem.
"We used to think that neonicotinoids are only found in areas where they are heavily used on one particular crop, but this study is consistent with others that have found neonicotinoids up to quite a few kilometres away from the place where they are used," Winston said.
Just when you thought they were making some progress on the whole bee thing we get more bad news.
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