BEYOND PESTICIDES

Breaking news! The latest edition of Pesticides and You is live! A compendium of scientific research on pesticide threats to human and environmental health, this issue—Meeting Existential Challenges: Empowering Action for Change with Science—is a breathtaking warning from the science community that our laws are not protecting us, and a shift away from toxic pesticide use is urgently needed. https://ow.ly/MPmE50SKgrg Today, we add to the body of knowledge from two previous issues—Transformative Change: Informed by Science, Policy and Action and Retrospective 2021: A Call to Urgent Action—and call for an end to harmful practices incompatible with respect for living organisms; unconscionable given the availability of viable, cost-effective organic solutions. 🐝 Please consider becoming a member and subscriber of BEYOND PESTICIDES! As a part of your membership, we will send you your own hardcover copy in the mail! https://ow.ly/OgWq50SKgrT #journal #live #science #policy #action #organic #subscribe Thanks for celebrating, and taking action with—our team! For our liveable future. https://ow.ly/MPmE50SKgrg

Take Action: Tell EPA To Prevent Contamination by PFAS through Pesticides! The devastating impacts on public health, wildlife, and pollinators caused by the broad use of PFAS chemicals [and the resulting environmental contamination!] has been well documented in the scientific literature. While acknowledging PFAS as an urgent public health and environmental issue, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues to register hundreds of PFAS pesticide ingredients and allow the ongoing use of fluorinated pesticide storage containers—despite its findings that these containers leach PFAS chemicals into pesticide products, which are then dispersed into the air, water, and soil. A petition submitted on July 23, 2024, by the Center for Food Safety (CFS) on behalf of CFS and twelve other petitioners, including environmental and farm groups, asks EPA to: “1️⃣ ban PFAS as pesticide ingredients; 2️⃣ adopt a broad definition of PFAS chemicals that reflect the current scientific understanding of the class of chemicals; 3️⃣ prohibit the use of PFAS-containing containers for pesticide storage; 4️⃣ mandate reporting of PFAS contamination from pesticide registrants; and 5️⃣ prevent future contamination by requiring pesticide manufacturers to submit data specific to PFAS before future registrations can be approved.” >> Tell EPA to approve the CFS petition — joined by 12 environmental and farm petitioners including BEYOND PESTICIDES — and eliminate the distribution of PFAS chemicals through pesticides. Tell Congress to urge the agency to act! https://lnkd.in/eSCfNVKX

Daily News: Scientific Findings Call for Urgent Action in Just Released Issue of Pesticides and You This week, Beyond Pesticides released the latest issue of Pesticides and You, a compendium of scientific research on pesticide threats to human and environmental health. ✨ Meeting Existential Challenges: Empowering Action for Change with Science: https://ow.ly/lBZz50SL2WQ The abject failure of the law and regulations to respond to the scientific warnings highlighted has contributed to existential crises—including severe health threats, biodiversity collapse, and the climate emergency—calls for holistic solutions, rather than piecemeal approaches focused on individual chemical restrictions. In this context, articles about organic land management and crop production practices that are ecosystem-compatible inform the path forward. The issue has five sections that track the science from last year: 1️⃣ Toxicology—Human Health Threats 2️⃣ Disproportionate Harm 3️⃣ Threatened Biodiversity and Ecosystems 4️⃣ Pest Resistance and Failed Efficacy 5️⃣ Organic Transition and Nontoxic Practices The intersectionality of the science on the health, biodiversity, and climate crises may not be captured by any individual study; however, taken as a whole, what emerges is an undeniable call to action. Threats in each category of harm are in and of themselves devastating, deadly, and unsustainable in our collective pursuit of a livable future. As with previous editions, we view this publication as a tool for empowering activism and the necessary urgent changes in practices and policies. By adding significantly to the documentation that must compel decision makers to take meaningful action in eliminating petrochemical pesticides and fertilizers, it is intended to provide a path forward with organic practices and links to our hands-on development of organic models for land management in communities nationwide. 🐝 To receive a hard copy of the latest edition in the mail, become a member of Beyond Pesticides! Click here to add your voice to the movement and choose the membership level that is right for you! https://ow.ly/CtTx50SL2WS #Pesticides [and You!] #health #biodiversity #climate #action #followthescience #newrelease #organic #membership Daily News Blog Post: https://ow.ly/VBHZ50SL2WM

Daily News: Oregon Court of Appeals Overturns Monsanto-Bayer Trial Victory, Protects Failure-to-Warn Claims On July 10, the Oregon Court of Appeals ruled that the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) does not preempt pesticide exposure victims’ state law claims against pesticide manufacturers. This decision builds on years of judicial precedent from the Supreme Court of the U.S. (SCOTUS) that protects individuals’ right to use failure-to-warn claims against producers, including Bayer/Monsanto. In the original case, a local trial court ruled in favor of Monsanto alleging that Jackson County resident Larry Johnson's non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis was caused by exposure to glyphosate-based Roundup Ready. Mr. Johnson appealed due to the decision to exclude the testimony of Charles Benbrook. The importance of judicial review is critical to protecting the public against public health impacts of toxic pesticide use in the context of the recent decision to strike down the Chevron doctrine, ending deference to federal regulatory agencies on ambiguities in statutory mandates. After Bayer/Monsanto failed to get SCOTUS to preempt (and reverse) multimillion-dollar jury verdicts for its failure-to-warn of the hazards of glyphosate, pesticide manufacturers and their allies are pursuing measures to advance legislation to insulate themselves from litigation and local pesticide restrictions. A growing coalition of environmental and public health advocates, organic farmers, trial attorneys, farmworkers, and physicians are united in pushing back against a concerted effort by industry and its allies to attack victims’ ability to sue under “failure-to-warn” through the Farm Bill, state legislatures, and the proposed federal budget for Fiscal Year 2025. ↪️ Click here to take action and reject the attack on our democracy in the Farm Bill, while supporting the advancement of organic agriculture: https://ow.ly/xkGF50SKjyM Daily News Blog Post: https://ow.ly/pYxQ50SKjyO

Daily News: Groups Petition EPA to Protect Public Health and Environment from PFAS in Pesticides The Center for Food Safety—joined by environmental, farm, and grassroots organizations including Beyond Pesticides—submitted a groundbreaking petition yesterday to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), urging immediate action to address the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in pesticides and pesticide containers. The petition calls on EPA to: 1️⃣ ban PFAS as pesticide ingredients; 2️⃣ adopt a broad definition of PFAS chemicals that reflect the current scientific understanding of the class of chemicals; 3️⃣ prohibit the use of PFAS-containing containers for pesticide storage; 4️⃣ mandate reporting of PFAS contamination from pesticide registrants; and 5️⃣ prevent future contamination by requiring manufacturers to submit PFAS-specific data before future registrations can be approved. Despite acknowledging PFAS as an urgent public health and environmental issue—with devastating impacts on public health, wildlife, and pollinators—EPA has upheld hundreds of registrations of pesticide ingredients that fall into the PFAS category. Furthermore, the agency has allowed the ongoing use of fluorinated pesticide storage containers, despite finding that these containers leach PFAS chemicals into pesticide products. “With EPA having permitted the proliferation of PFAS in pesticide products—contaminating land, air, water, and food with multigenerational threats to health and ecosystems—the petition establishes that it is well past the time for the agency to comply with the law, and stop the chemicals’ entry into commerce,” said Jay Feldman, executive director of BEYOND PESTICIDES. “We have safe alternative practices and products." 🐜 Have a Pest Problem? For safe alternative practices and products for your home, yard, and/or and garden, click here to access resources, including our ManageSafe™ page on our website: https://ow.ly/IT0250SJhG2 ➡️ Click here to read the legal rulemaking petition: https://ow.ly/7S4E50SJgOS Daily News Blog Post: https://ow.ly/FIM850SJgOU

Daily News: Enhanced Bioavailability and Contamination of Neonicotinoid Pesticides Linked to Microplastics in Soil After analyzing neonicotinoid pesticide (NNP) and microplastic (MP) interactions, researchers find that neonics such as thiacloprid (THI) become more bioavailable in soils containing traditional and biodegradable plastics. A team from China University of Geosciences, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and University of Swat, aimed to explore “the adsorption-desorption process and mechanism of NNPs on MPs” (contaminants of concern in agricultural environments). The authors conclude that the “addition of MPs alters the physical and chemical properties of soil [and] the presence of MPs increases the number of soil aggregates, which due to their anaerobic conditions, may promote the selective growth of denitrifying bacteria while inhibiting the activity of aerobic bacteria. These changes could ultimately affect the structure of the bacterial community and potentially reduce the degradation efficiency of THI in the soil.” Adding MPs leads to a greater distribution of THI in the soil solution, and the different patterns in two soil types highlights that “soil properties cannot be ignored when studying the bioavailability of pollutants,” according to the researchers. A greater distribution increases the likelihood of potential passive entry into plants—the reason for THI's increased bioavailability. [Increased bioavailability, which quantifies the extent to which organisms are exposed to chemicals in soil or sediment, puts soil microbiota at risk and leaves all consumers susceptible to adverse effects in contaminated food crops. ] This study raises a grave deficiency in the pesticide registration and regulatory review process, which currently ignores interactions of pesticides with other contaminants, like microplastics, in the environment when conducting health and ecological effects assessments. To address the impact of plastics and pesticides in our soil, we need a holistic system plus a defined and enforceable strategy—the solution, for ourselves and our future, is organic. Daily News Blog Post: https://ow.ly/2QZz50SIlYH

Daily News: Biodiversity Critical to Mosquito Management Practices that Protect Ecosytems Mosquito management practices, typically reliant on toxic pesticides, can be antithetical to biodiversity protection. The consideration being given to biodiversity conservation goals in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for example raises important issues critical of chemical-intensive practices conventionally used to control mosquitoes nationwide. In an executive order, Governor Maura Healey [Office of Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey] (D) directed the MA Department of Fish and Game to “conduct a comprehensive review of the existing efforts of all executive department offices and agencies to support biodiversity conservation in Massachusetts [and] recommend biodiversity conservation goals for 2030, 2040, and 2050 and strategies to meet those goals.” Last week, BEYOND PESTICIDES testified before the Department urging the adoption of a broad government-wide strategy establishing biodiversity protection and enhancement as a basic tenet in future programming. [Massachusetts residents, please look out for a state action, coming soon!] #biodiversity #mosquitoes The focus on biodiversity in Massachusetts is taking shape as mosquito season has begun, resulting in broadcast spraying of pesticides to kill them. Not only is spraying flying mosquitoes the most ineffective way to prevent mosquito problems, it is also counterproductive because it eliminates some of our most attractive and helpful allies—birds. 🐦Take action today and advocate for biodiversity conservation principles that include ecological mosquito management practices. 🦟 Tell your Governor and Mayor to ensure ecological mosquito management by eliminating the use of pesticides that threaten mosquito predators. https://ow.ly/E9nG50SHptJ Daily News Blog Post: https://ow.ly/4aOr50SHpve

Mosquito Management Requires Biodiversity Conservation Mosquito season is upon us, and to many that means spraying pesticides to kill them. However, not only is spraying flying mosquitoes the most ineffective way to prevent mosquito problems, but it is also counterproductive because it eliminates some of our most attractive and helpful allies—birds. 🌱 Tell your Governor and Mayor to ensure ecological mosquito management by eliminating the use of pesticides that threaten mosquito predators. https://ow.ly/hI7T50SGpap

Mexico’s President-elect, Climate Scientist Sheinbaum, Opportunity for Dramatic Change and Int’l Leadership Former mayor of Mexico City and climate scientist Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, PhD, was elected President of Mexico on June 2, making her the first female and Jewish citizen to hold the highest political office in the nation. [Presidencia de la República - Mexico] According to The Washington Post, despite the president-elect's complicated record on green energy, “Her election has given hope to environmentalists and diplomats who’ve despaired as Mexico has gone from a global leader on climate change to a laggard.” The environment secretary in her mayoral administration told The Post that for the president-elect, “Environmental improvements have to be accompanied by social justice.” https://ow.ly/Wj1v50SGeJH Dr. Sheinbaum’s ascension comes at a time of increasing pressure from the U.S. government to acquiesce to its demands to open agricultural markets to genetically engineered (GE) crops and the use of the carcinogenic weed killer glyphosate. With a formal review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) approaching in 2026, Mexico will soon decide under her leadership whether the country will be an international stalwart amidst pressure from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and pervasive industry influence. With new administrations in the United Kingdom and France, and the upcoming election in the U.S., how governments around the world, independently and collectively, choose to confront or soft-pedal existential environmental crises will determine the livability of our planet. #claudiasheinbaum #ladoctora #mexico #climate #ge #glyphosate #usmca 🌱 Please read today's post for more information and see BEYOND PESTICIDES' Action of the Week from April calling on the U.S. Trade Representative and U.S. Secretary of State to formally withdraw their opposition to Mexico’s ban on imported GE corn and glyphosate use. https://ow.ly/BCL450SGeJR Daily News Blog Post: https://ow.ly/KkSX50SGe1a

Daily News: Developmental Neurotoxic Effects of Widely Used Neonicotinoid Insecticide Underestimated by EPA New research finds that a single dose of the neonicotinoid insecticide clothianidin (CLO) induces behavioral abnormalities, primarily in female mice, throughout key development stages. Researchers at the Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Development at Tohoku University “utilized murine [mouse] models to compare the sex-specific differences in behavioral effects following CLO exposure at different developmental stages." Sex-specific changes were identified that highlight not only varied effects on males and females but also how pesticide exposure at a young age can cause lasting impacts throughout adulthood in mammalian species. The authors note, “Most studies on the neurotoxicity of CLO have targeted only males, with limited insights regarding the neurodevelopmental toxicity in females. There are significant sex differences in brain development due to hormonal, genetic, epigenetic, and other sex-specific factors... results suggest that CLO administration during the early postnatal period induces anxiety-like behaviors only in female mice.” *** This study highlights the importance of testing males and females for the effects of pesticide exposure, as reactions can vary greatly. Unfortunately, sex-specific impacts are trivialized by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in current regulatory processes. Given the complexities that need to be considered by the agency when approving regulations for chemicals that cause unreasonable harm, the results support those who advocate for a precautionary approach. Examining the overwhelming body of science, the only solution moving forward is supporting a systems-based organic approach for our lands, our foods, and our lives. To learn about the health benefits of organic agriculture from BEYOND PESTICIDES: https://ow.ly/2tEe50SFuEk Daily News Blog Post: https://ow.ly/JtFb50SFuEh