Immune Suppression by Neonicotinoid Insecticides at the Root of Global
Wildlife Declines (including bees).

Titles are getting longer all the way ...

http://www.stmconnect.com/sites/default/files/3-12%20%20JEIT-D-12-00001.pdf


Abstract
Outbreaks of infectious diseases in honey bees, fish, amphibians, bats and
birds in the past two decades have coincided with the
increasing use of systemic insecticides, notably the neonicotinoids and
fipronil. A link between insecticides and such diseases is
hypothesized. Firstly, the disease outbreaks started in countries and
regions where systemic insecticides were used for the first time,
and later they spread to other countries. Secondly, recent evidence of
immune suppression in bees and fish caused by neonicotinoids
has provided an important clue to understand the sub-lethal impact of these
insecticides not only on these organisms, but probably
on other wildlife affected by emerging infectious diseases. While this is
occurring, environmental authorities in developed countries
ignore the calls of apiarists (who are most affected) and do not target
neonicotinoids in their regular monitoring schedules. Equally,
scientists looking for answers to the problem are unaware of the new threat
that systemic insecticides have introduced in terrestrial
and aquatic ecosystems.

Journal of Environmental Immunology and Toxicology 2013; 1:3-12

Rosemary Mason (1), Henk Tennekes (2), Francisco Sánchez-Bayo (3), Palle Uhd
Jepsen (1)
(1) Hunters Hollow, Swansea, UK; (2) Experimental Toxicology Services (ETS)
Nederland BV, The Netherlands;
(3) Centre for Ecotoxicology, University of Technology Sydney, Australia

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