>That's a bit misleading.

Wasn't trying to mislead.  Water can also be synthesized from petroleum by
reacting it with oxygen.  That doesn't make that water any more toxic than
water synthesized by an animal when it consumes sugar.

My point was that ethylene is a "natural" chemical, produced by plants, and
that one would expect the degradation of polyethylene to be relatively
benign to the environment.  One study indicates that a biofilm forms on the
PE as it degrades in the soil:
Bonhomme (2003) Environmental biodegradation of polyethylene.  Open access.

I'm in complete agreement with Walter--this is a big step forward towards
solving a problem.  That statement does not mean that I am pro or anti
neonic; simply that stakeholders are working together to prevent bee
deaths.  To me this is a good thing.

-- 
Randy Oliver
Grass Valley, CA
www.ScientificBeekeeping.com

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