60 Minutes on the missing bees

wow, this video was facinating. great post! here is one more theory to add to the list.

• July 11, 2007 - EPA failed to consider the "high" toxicity to bees by contact (not dietary) exposure to the insecticide INDOXACARB

http://www.fluorideaction.org/pesticides/indoxacarb-page.htm

when it approved approximately 130 new food tolerances.
(See EPA's Fact sheet on Indoxacarb for toxicity to bees, pp 14-15).
http://www.fluorideaction.org/pesticides/Indoxacarb.EPA.Oct.2000.pdf

Indoxacarb is a potent neurotoxiicant. On July 23, FAN asked EPA for its reasons why it didn't consider indoxacarb's effects on bees. Also, a 2005 study reported that indoxacarb was harmful to the Asian lady beetle, which is considered a beneficial insect in agriculture.

• May 28, 2007 - Neonicotinoids, such as fluorinated fipronil, a suspect in honeybee colony collapse disorder.

http://www.fluoridealert.org/pesticides/fipronil.bees.may%2028.2007.html

• Catastrophic Bee Colongy Collapse may not be affecting organic hives. Researchers are struggling to find the causes of this mysterious collapse. A crucial element of this story, missing from reports in the mainstream media, is the fact that organic beekeepers across North America are not experiencing devastating colony collapses...
SEE: "Organic Bees Are Thriving While Pesticide Intensive Conventional Bee Hive Colonies Are Collapsing."
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_5194.cfm

Note from FAN: The media reports that intensive tests are underway to find the source of the honeybee "colony collapse disorder." Theories for this devastating collapse range from the use of pesticides to cell phones. If it were a neurotoxic pesticide (disrupting the neurons that enable bees to find home) it would have to be in wide-spread use across the country. Some have mentioned the rise in cell phone towers and cell phone use: radiation from mobile phones may interfere with the bees' navigation systems.

qruel

says...

a little more

Fluoride Pesticides

The concern centers on the fluoride ion's toxicity, persistence, and bioaccumulation in humans, wildlife, and soil. The main pesticides are:

• Cryolite: (sodium aluminum fluoride) - mainly used on grapes, fruits, and potatoes. EPA allows fluoride tolerances of 7 ppm, except for kiwifruit, which has a residue tolerance of 15 ppm.

•Sulfuryl fluoride is the most immediate and important pesticide issue for the FAN Pesticide Project. This acutely toxic fumigant received its first-time approval for use on stored food commodities (raw and processed) in the US in January 2004. This approval allows the highest levels of fluoride residue levels in food in the history of the EPA. FAN, together with Beyond Pesticides, submitted formal objections to EPA on this approval (see press release). See the food tolerances approved and petitioned for as of July 15, 2005.

• Sodium fluoride - its only known use is in wood preservatives(railroad ties and utility poles). However, sodium fluoride was used as a "List 4 Inert" until USEPA revoked that use in September 2005. Prior to its revocation, sodium fluoride, as a "List 4 Inert," was approved for use in the US National Organic Program administered by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). In 2000, approximately 125 individuals contacted USDA requesting that the use of sodium fluoride be denied in organic agriculture - all to no avail. UPDATE: On October 10, 2007, USEPA released a series of documents in preparation for a final risk assessment.

Fluorinated Pesticides

• The majority of the pesticides in our data base are fluorinated. We had used the term "organofluorine" to describe organic pesticides containing fluorine in their chemical formula. However, this term is not precise, as the majority of pesticides contain other halogens, primarily chlorine. Seven pesticides in our data base contain three halogens in their chemical formula: fluorine, bromine, and chlorine.

• The toxicity of the fluorinated compound is not due to the release of a free fluoride ion, but to the particular molecular structure of the compound. From our research to date it appears that fluorinated pesticides intensify pesticidal and biological activity. Animal studies available on pesticides with fluorine + bromine in their chemical formula consistently report severe brain effects.

Fedquip

says...

Wow, thanks Qruel for your insight and research, it is a major issue to many people, I am in the camp who thinks pesticides might have something to do with it. This is surely something to keep an eye on in the upcoming seasons, was it Einstein who said once they bees dies we have four years to live?

ant

says...

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RZv9BvQJ-A

Good stuff. I posted this on my Web sites (AQFL and ants forum [yes, we have bee fans there]).

MINK

says...

what go around come around.

Irishman

says...

The Einstein quote is in fact an urban myth.

Here is a map of the affected US states
http://www.ento.psu.edu/MAAREC/pressReleases/CCDMap07FebRev1-.jpg

Man has no ability to survive without other species, and we're slowly killing them all off...