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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:
Tue, 23 Mar 2010 21:07:21 -0400
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In the PLOS article, it was stated:

> Multiple residues prevailed in the bee, pollen and wax samples, with 2 or more pesticides detected in 92.3% of 749 analyzed. Almost half of these samples (49.9%) contained at least one systemic pesticide. The most frequent binary pair of detections were the miticides fluvalinate and coumaphos found in 77.7% of samples, followed by the pyrethroid fluvalinate with the fungicide chlorothalonil (41.2%), fluvalinate with the organophosphate chlorpyrifos (39.4%), and the organophosphate coumaphos with chlorothalonil (39.1%). 

* * *

A new study tested mothers and the umbilical cord serum of their babies. They found the following pesticides in these percentages in the mothers: Chlorpyrifos 98.6%,  Carbofuran 93.5%, Chlorothalonil 97.1%, Metalochlor 94.9% Diethyltoluamide 100%

In the umbilical cord serum the same chemicals were found at these rates: Chlorpyrifos 62.8%, Carbofuran 51.4%, Chlorothalonil 93.9%, Metalochlor 56.8%, Diethyltoluamide 100%.

What are these chemicals?

Chlorothalonil, Fungicide
Chlorpyrifos, Organophosphorus insecticide
Carbofuran, Carbamate insecticide
Metolachlor, Chloroacetanilide herbicide
Diethyl-m-toluamide, Insect Repellent (DEET)

> Approximately 912 million pounds of conventional pesticides are used annually in the United States. Because of their widespread use, virtually everyone will come in contact with pesticide residues regularly whether from dietary, non-dietary ingestion, residential, or occupational pathways. Pesticide exposures have been widely studied in various populations over the past several decades; however, more studies are beginning to focus on pregnant women and their fetuses because of the vulnerability of this subpopulation to harmful effects from exposure to environmental contaminants. 

> Human fetuses are particularly sensitive to pesticide exposure because the brain is developing very rapidly and the fetus' ability to detoxify contaminants is not fully developed. Toxicological studies have shown organophosphorus OP insecticides, along with other insecticides such as p,p′-DDT, hexachlorobenzene and chlordane, can cross the placental and blood–brain barriers.

Barr. 2010. Pesticide concentrations in maternal and umbilical cord sera and their relation to birth outcomes in a population of pregnant women and newborns in New Jersey. 

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