>
> >Lots of work in the Netherlands regarding adverse impacts of neonics on
> aquatic macro-invertebrates eg:


Chris, there is an incredible database of water quality analysis in the
Netherlands, but the van Dijk paper that you cited was an example of
ridiculous advocacy science, tweaked to make the funding organization
happy.  See http://scientificbeekeeping.com/news-and-blogs-page/
<http://scientificbeekeeping.com/news-and-blogs-page/>

I have a background in aquatic macroinvertebrates, and have been following
the literature closely for indications as to whether neonics are causing
adverse effects upon aquatic systems.

The recent paper by Sanchez-Bayo (with whom I've had a friendly
correspondence for years) is troubling, and certainly gives me cause for
concern.  I'm currently reviewing the data of other aquatic studies.

I was greatly disappointed by the recent ruling against Jeff Anderson's
lawsuit against the EPA, which called for making the planting of treated
seed as a "pesticide application," rather than the current regulation,
which lets the farmer off the hook.  To my mind, this needs to change.

Neonics are vastly overused as seed treatments, and if the evidence holds
that their residues are indeed adversely effecting aquatic systems, then
there needs to be better regulation of their application.

That said, there is still a lot of questionable science on the subject.  I
recently had an extensive exchange with the authors of a recent paper which
attempted to correlate the decline of butterfly species in Northern Calif
with neonic use.  After I reviewed the actual Pesticide Use Reports for the
county, as well as the Crop Report for amount of acres treated, one author
admitted to me that he had questioned whether there was indeed a
correlation, and whether they should have published.

I'm currently reviewing two other studies on the effects of neonics on
aquatic systems and birds.

To all--it is difficult to parse out the actual truth of the matter, what
with all the poor science on the subject being published.  You can't make
 decisions based solely on the abstracts--you need to really pick apart the
materials and methods and analyses.

I continue to do so, and will report to the List what I find.

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

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