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Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology

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Subject:
From:
Peter L Borst <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Mon, 28 Oct 2013 18:33:31 -0400
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At field realistic doses, neonicotinoids cause a wide range of adverse sublethal
effects in honeybee and bumblebee colonies, affecting colony performance
through impairment of foraging success, brood and larval development, memory
and learning, damage to the central nervous system, susceptibility to
diseases, hive hygiene etc.

This is still in the realm of conjecture. No one has been able to show actual harm in the field. Banning or restricting pesticides based upon the possibility of harm, when no actual harm has been documented, is a dangerous precedent. 

The precautionary principle, if examined closely, could lead to banning any new substance, technique, or line of inquiry, based solely on the grounds that someone thinks it might turn out to be harmful under certain circumstances. 

Such a ban would have prevented the implementation of basic things like fire, knives, etc. It certainly would have precluded the widespread adoption of dangerous practices such as the use of antibiotics, chemotherapy, automobiles and airplanes.

PLB

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