Demand Congress ban toxic pesticides!

Beekeepers lost an average of 40 percent of their hives last year, with some beekeepers losing 100 percent of their hives. Native bees are dying at alarming rates, too. And it’s largely thanks to bee-killing pesticides.

Neonics can KILL bees outright. And they continue to be widely used NATIONWIDE. Bees need you. We need you. You can make a difference by demanding Congress ban these toxic pesticides -- but you need to act now.

Dear Member of Congress,

Bees and other pollinators are declining at alarming rates. A recent survey shows beekeepers just experienced their second highest hive losses in the last 14 years. I urge you to cosponsor the Saving America’s Pollinators Act, to help protect pollinators, our environment and our food supply.

In light of a ground-breaking global meta-study that estimates over 40% of insect species are declining at a rate of extinction eight times faster than other animals, it is more imperative than ever to preserve pollinators and their habitats. This comprehensive global meta-study concluded that if no action is taken and current rates of insect decline continue, we could lose most insect species over the next century, causing “catastrophic ecological collapse” as well as the collapse of our food system. The authors of this study noted that this rapid decline of insects is part of one of the largest extinction events in Earth’s history and is driven by intensive agriculture coupled with the overuse of synthetic pesticides like neonicotinoids. On the heels of this meta-study, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations published a report warning that the state of the world’s biodiversity threatens our food security, nutrition, health, livelihood and environment.

Pollinators are essential to a diverse and abundant food supply. Bees and other pollinators are responsible for one in every three bites of food we eat. They contribute as much as $577 billion in global food production and nearly $24 billion in the U.S. alone. Without them we would run short of many of our healthiest foods such as apples, almonds and blueberries.

The U.N. estimates 40 percent of invertebrate pollinator species, including bees and butterflies, are on the brink of extinction. In recent years, beekeepers have lost an average of 40 percent of their hives with some beekeepers losing 100 percent of their operations. Over the last twenty years, monarch butterfly populations have declined by nearly 90 percent. Native bees are dying at alarming rates, too. In March 2017, the rusty patched bumble bee was listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act after having declined 87 percent in recent years. While this is an important step forward, all pollinator species need your help.

A large and growing number of studies have pinpointed neonicotinoids as a leading factor in bee declines. These pesticides are widely used in agriculture and are applied on 140 crops as well as in gardens and landscapes. This past month, EPA found that three neonics are likely to adversely affect more than 1,000 endangered species, including the rusty patched bumblebee. The EPA also released a preliminary assessment of on-field exposures to the neonicotinoid pesticide thiamethoxam, which found that all uses of the pesticide -- foliar, soil and seed applications -- resulted in exposures that surpassed the level of concern for acute and chronic risk to adult bees. Further, in January 2017, the EPA released its aquatic and non-pollinator risk assessment of neonicotinoids, which found that most usages of neonicotinoids on currently registered crops are toxic to freshwater invertebrates and exceeded levels of concern. However, the agency has taken no steps to restrict the use of these products. The most recent assessment even ended some turf uses due to human health concerns.

Due to their persistence in the environment, neonics have caused a build-up of toxicity in the environment over time. U.S. agriculture is now 48 times more toxic to insect life than it was 25 years ago according to one study, and neonicotinoids account for the vast majority of that explosion in toxicity. Another study found neonicotinoids in about three-quarters of samples from 10 major Great Lakes tributaries and suggests the Great Lakes’ fish, birds, and entire ecosystem might be at risk.

The U.S. Geological Survey has also found neonicotinoid pesticides in tap water, and has determined that the byproducts that result from the water purification process may be more toxic than original compounds. This is alarming because neonicotinoids are the most widely-used insecticides in the world. In addition to our tap water, studies found residues of these pesticides on our food. Neonicotinoids have been linked to endocrine disruption and may affect the developing fetus and child, possibly leading to changes in behavior and attention, including an association with autism spectrum disorder.

There are other solutions to controlling pests on agricultural fields, those that would not jeopardize our ecosystems, food system and public health. The Saving America’s Pollinators Act of 2021 would help address this issue. In response to mounting evidence and growing consumer demand, the European Union banned the most concerning neonciotinoids, imidacloprid, thiamethoxam and clothianidin. Maryland, Connecticut, Minnesota and Vermont have all placed restrictions on their use. In addition to these states, more than 100 municipalities and universities in the U.S. have restricted use of neonicotinoids. Further, more than 140 retailers including the two largest home improvement retailers in the world, Home Depot and Lowe’s, as well as Walmart, True Value, Kroger, Ace Hardware, Costco, Whole Foods and BJ’s Wholesale Club have eliminated neonicotinoids on garden plants and/or products. In addition, Walmart is currently working to reduce synthetic pesticides across the companies’ fresh produce supply chain and is encouraging produce growers to eliminate use of neonics.

I urge you to cosponsor the Saving America’s Pollinators Act to protect pollinators and our food system.
 
Sincerely,
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