Neonics Pesticides: It’s Not Just a Bee Problem Anymore

I remember when all the talk about neonicotinoid pesticides centered around one thing...the bees.

And that certainly got my attention because without pollinators, much of the food we enjoy would become harder and more expensive to produce, if we could even make up for the loss of our pollinators.

Today, there has been a precipitous decline of bees and other pollinators. The environmental group Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has taken the Environmental Protection Agency to court because over 200 species are threatened and endangered by neonics!

With the latest research, I discovered the story has become much bigger.

Scientists are now asking another important question.

Could these pesticides also affect us?

First...In Case You’re Not Aware - What Are Neonics?

Neonicotinoids, or "neonics," are among the most widely used insecticides in the world. They're used on crops, ornamental plants, lawns, and even some pet products.

Unlike many older pesticides that stay on the surface when they’re sprayed by the farmer, neonics are coated as a preventative on crop seeds such as corn and soybeans. This means that they are absorbed into the entire plant. That also means they're found in the leaves, pollen, nectar, fruits, and vegetables.

That sounds like an effective way to kill insects, and it is. However, the problem is that the chemicals don't stay where they're supposed to. Upwards of 95% of the coating ends up leaching into the soil and then into streams, groundwater, and eventually our environment and potentially into…us!.

So...Should We Be Concerned?

For bees and other pollinators, the answer is yes.

A large body of research has shown that with bees, neonics interfere with their ability to navigate, find food, reproduce, and survive. That's one reason the NRDC has been pushing for tighter restrictions.

What’s as concerning to me is the growing research involving us humans.

Several studies have linked long-term exposure to possible effects on brain development, pregnancy outcomes, and metabolism. Scientists have even detected neonic compounds in the vast majority of pregnant women who have been tested.

This means we are all the test group for how neonicotinoids are affecting us in our lives.

What's Being Done About the Situation?

Europe decided not to wait.

The European Union has banned most outdoor agricultural uses of several major neonic pesticides because of concerns about pollinators and the environment.

Here in the United States, the picture is more complicated.

According to NRDC, the EPA has continued to allow many uses while reviewing additional scientific evidence. In response, NRDC has repeatedly challenged EPA decisions in court, arguing that the agency has not done enough to protect pollinators, endangered species, and public health.

Some states have even begun passing their own restrictions while the federal debate continues.

As a matter of fact, New York is poised to eliminate 80 to 90 percent of the neonics entering the state’s environment.

Also, due to lawsuits by the NRDC, California and Minnesota are on a path to potentially regulate neonic-coated seeds, and Colorado is finalizing a tax incentive for farmers to switch away from neonic treatments on corn, soy, and wheat seeds.

Why’s It Taking So Long to Get Rid of This Chemical?

If the concerns are growing, why hasn't everyone agreed to phase these chemicals out?

The answer is simple.

Money...and farming.

Chemical manufacturers and some agricultural organizations argue that neonics protect crops, reduce losses, and help farmers remain productive.

Environmental scientists counter that many routine seed treatments provide little benefit in areas where damaging insects are uncommon and that integrated pest management can often reduce pesticide use without hurting yields.

As with many public health issues, science, economics, and politics don't always point in the same direction.

My Take

I've been writing about natural health for a long time, and one thing I've learned is that we shouldn't ignore early warning signs.

History has taught us that chemicals once considered perfectly safe (you may remember or have heard about DDT's negative effect on the environment) sometimes turned out to have consequences we didn't recognize for years.

Does that mean neonics are the next major public health disaster? It’s not totally clear.

But…why wait to find out and discover down the road that it’s a situation we go OOPS!!!! After all, protecting our health and protecting the environment often go hand in hand.

References

• Natural Resources Defense Council. Neonicotinoids 101: Effects on Humans and Bees.
• Natural Resources Defense Council. Human Health Risks from Neonic Pesticides: 7 Questions Answered.
• Natural Resources Defense Council. Neonics: The Toxic Truth (2024).
• Pisa LW, et al. Effects of neonicotinoids and fipronil on non-target invertebrates. Environmental Science and Pollution Research.
• Sánchez-Bayo F, Wyckhuys KAG. Worldwide decline of the entomofauna: A review of its drivers. Biological Conservation.