In the proposed rule (EPA-HQ-OPP-2014-0818-0002), the EPA has preliminarily
defined "acutely toxic" as those pesticides with an acutely lethal dose to
50% of the bees tested (abbreviated LD50) of less than 11 micrograms per bee
(<11 µg/bee), based on either the acute contact toxicity test following
OCSPP Guideline 850.302017 or its equivalent test in Europe (i.e., OECD
21418).
OCSPP 850.3020 ("Honey bee acute toxicity") is here.
http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=EPA-HQ-OPPT-2009-0154-0016
http://tinyurl.com/ohrngmt
This is the traditional "48-hour acute contact test".
So this seems a very aggressive EPA proposal, as a contact LD50 of more than
11ug per used to earn a pesticide a "deemed safe for bees" rating.
So, it seem that anything not earning a traditional overt classification of
"safe for bees" is now being redefined as "acutely toxic" to bees.
But do any modern pesticides only kill when consumed?
Anyone remember Penncap-M? Encapsulated organophosphate. Millions of tiny
little ecological hand grenades, each filled with poison.
Just like M&Ms, they "Melt in in your mouth, not in your hand", so the bees
gathered the stuff like it was pollen, brought it back to the hive and fed
it to their brood. Results were about what you'd expect, all the brood
died, and the hives abruptly had no brood, no future. But Penncap-M must
have had a contact LD50 of something like 500g per bee, as the only way to
kill a bee via contact with the stuff would have been to crush it under the
weight of the pesticide.
=-=-=-=-= EPA Announcement Below =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
To further support President Obama’s Federal Pollinator Strategy, the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency is proposing additional restrictions on the
use of acutely toxic pesticides during times when bees are most likely to be
present.
Applications of acutely toxic pesticides would be prohibited when flowers
are in bloom when bees are brought to farms for pollination services. While
the proposed restrictions focus on managed bees, EPA believes that these
measures will also protect native bees and other pollinators that are in and
around treatment areas.
EPA is also encouraging states and tribes to reduce pesticide exposure by
developing pollinator protection plans. The purpose of these plans is to
support pollinator health by facilitating local communication among
beekeepers, growers and others and to put into place tailored measures to
protect pollinators.
Growers routinely contract with honey bee keepers to bring in bees to
pollinate their crops that require insect pollination. Bees are typically
present during the period the crops are in bloom. Application of pesticides
during this period can significantly affect the health of bees.
EPA invites comments on the proposal for thirty-day comment period at
www.regulations.gov in docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2014-0818.
http://tinyurl.com/nvdwbtj
EPA will accept public comments on the proposal starting May 29, 2015.
Read the fact sheet
http://tinyurl.com/oludkd5
=-=-=-=-= If you cut here, you will break your display screen =-=-=-=-=-=
Appendix A - List of registered active ingredients that meet the acute
toxicity criteria
Abamectin
Acephate
Acetamiprid
Aldicarb
Alpha-cypermethrin
Amitraz
Arsenic acid
Azadirachtin
Bensulide
Beta-cyfluthrin
Bifenazate
Bifenthrin
Carbaryl
Carbofuran
Chlorethoxyfos
Chlorfenapyr
Chlorpyrifos
Chlorpyrifos methyl
Clothianidin
Cyantraniliprole
Cyfluthrin
Cypermethrin
Cyphenothrin
Deltamethrin
Diazinon
Dichlorvos
Dicrotophos
Dimethoate
Dinotefuran
Diuron
D-trans-allethrin
Emamectin benzoate
Endosulfan
Esfenvalerate
Ethoprop
Etofenprox
Fenazaquin
Fenitrothion
Fenpropathrin
Fipronil
Fluvalinate
Fosthiazate
Gamma-cyhalothrin
Imidacloprid
Imiprothrin
Indoxacarb
Lambda-cyhalothrin
Malathion
Metaflumizone
Methiocarb
Methomyl
Momfluorothrin
Naled
Oxamyl
Permethrin
Phenothrin
Phorate
Phosmet
Pirimiphos-methyl
Prallethrin
Profenofos
Propoxur
Pyrethrins
Pyridaben
Resmethrin
Rotenone
Sethoxydim
Spinetoram
Spinosad
Sulfoxaflor
Tefluthrin
Tetrachlorvinphos
Tetramethrin
Thiamethoxam
Tolfenpyrad
Zeta-cypermethrin
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