POST Online Media Lite Edition



 

Commercial pesticides not as safe as they seem

Staff Writer |
New regulations are needed to protect people and the environment from toxic pesticide ingredients that are not currently subject to safety assessments.

Article continues below




This is the conclusion of the first comprehensive review of gaps in risk assessments for "adjuvants" - ingredients added to pesticide formulations to enhance the function or application of the active ingredient.

Ignoring the potential dangers of other ingredients in commonly used commercial pesticides leads to inaccuracies in the safety profile of the pesticide solution, as well as confusion in scientific literature on pesticide effects, finds the review published in Frontiers in Public Health.

"Exposure to environmental levels of some of these adjuvant mixtures can affect non-target organisms - and even can cause chronic human disease," says Dr Robin Mesnage from King's College London, who co-wrote the review with Dr Michael Antoniou.

"Despite this, adjuvants are not currently subject to an acceptable daily intake and are not included in the health risk assessment of dietary exposures to pesticide residues."

Pesticides are a mixture of chemicals made up of an active ingredient - the substance that kills or repels a pest - along with a mixture of other ingredients that help with the application or function of the active ingredient.

These other ingredients are known as adjuvants, and include dyes, anti-foaming agents and surfactants.

Regulatory tests for pesticide safety are currently only done on the active ingredient, which assumes the other ingredients have no effects. This means the full toxicity of a pesticide formulation - including those used in both agriculture and domestic gardens - is not shown.

"Currently, the health risk assessment of pesticides in the European Union and in the United States focuses almost exclusively on the active ingredient," explains Dr Mesnage.

"Despite the known toxicity of adjuvants, they are regulated differently from active principles, with their toxic effects being generally ignored."

Based on a review of current pesticide literature, the authors describe how unregulated chemicals present in commercial formulations of pesticides could provide a missing link between pesticide exposure and observed negative outcomes.

The researchers focused on glyphosate-based herbicides, the most used pesticide worldwide. They point out that this weed killer has so many different adjuvant formulations that a safety test of one weed killer does not test the safety of another.

"Studies comparing the toxicity of commercial weed-killer formulations to that of glyphosate alone have shown that several formulations are up to 1,000 times more toxic than glyphosate on human cells. We believe that the adjuvants are responsible for this additional toxic effect," says Dr Mesnage.

The authors also highlight neonicotinoid insecticides - strongly suspected to be involved in the collapsing of bee colonies - as another example of adjuvant toxicity affecting non-target organisms.

An adjuvant used in these insecticides to increase the penetration of the active ingredient has been shown to cause varying toxic effects in bees. On top of this, residues of the toxin have also been found in honey, pollen and beeswax produced by contaminated bees.

The authors hope their review will stimulate discussion on the toxicity of commonly used pesticides and encourage more thorough regulations.

"Testing of whole pesticide formulations instead of just active ingredients alone would create a precautionary approach, ensuring that the guidance value for the pesticide is valid for the worst-case exposure scenario," says Dr Mesnage.

Their findings have already had a considerable impact. The European Food Safety Authority is now reassessing the validity of pesticide risk assessment in the EU, and authors hope that this reassessment can extend to entire commercial formulations of pesticides and their other ingredients.


What to read next

New map shows pesticide black spots in France
UAE environment minister issues resolution on banned pesticides
British Columbia to educate fishermen about safety

U.S.: Rain, snow and wind for west, severe weather potential for south

 
The most impactful weather system to affect the U.S. through midweek is forecast to move across California and the Southwest on Tuesday.
 
 

Latest

New York: March 18-19, 25-26 declared as Maple Weekends
UK first: Lhyfe and Centrica to develop offshore renewable green hydrogen
Malaysia postpones foreign worker quota approval, application
Euro area international trade in goods deficit €30.6 bn

NEWS

Vietnam seizes 7 tons of elephant ivory smuggled from Africa

Spain dismantles criminal organization dedicated to theft and export of vehicle catalysts
Helicopter with 300 kg of cocaine intercepted in Brazil
Two arrested in Netherlands for fraud involving EU subsidies
UK: West Midland's bus strike to go ahead Monday after latest offer rejected
U.S.: Parade of storms to impact west
 

BUSINESS

Canada, UK, Japan, EU, Switzerland and U.S. switch dollar operations to daily

First batch of Kashagan oil shipped by tankers via Aktau-Baku route
Taiwan to end self-initiated epidemic prevention for migrant workers
It takes companies in Germany an average of four months to find skilled workers
New shipping service to link Saudi to Indian subcontinent
New York: $2.5 million to expand center for glass innovation to support waste reduction research
 

Trending Now

Juliska tableware, collections for every occasion

U.S.: Rain, snow and wind for west, severe weather potential for south

New York: March 18-19, 25-26 declared as Maple Weekends

Venetto bedding, creating a beautiful bedroom space


POLITICS

Minnesota to provide free school meals to all kids

Egypt’s cabinet denies suspending initiative of free of charge surgeries to rationalize spending
President Biden: Executives of failed banks should be banned from banking
Governor Ron DeSantis leads alliance of 18 states to fight against Biden’s ESG
U.S. approves $895m Tomahawk missile sale to Australia
Ukraine and Poland sign Memorandum of cooperation to improve pipeline interconnection
 

Today We Recommend

Canada, UK, Japan, EU, Switzerland and U.S. switch dollar operations to daily


Highlights 

Foot Locker Q4 income decreased

Signature Bank assets to be sold to New York Community Bank in $2.7bln deal

Security staff at Heathrow to strike for 10 days


COMPANIES

2023 Outlook: Radisson continues to break hotel-opening records in Africa

Kuwait Oil Company declares state of emergency over oil leak
Infinity Power finalizes acquisition of Lekela Power in Africa's biggest renewable energy deal
Shawbrook to acquire Bluestone Mortgages
Credit Suisse says $17 billion debt worthles
Volkswagen breaks ground on €3bn Gigafactory Valencia in Spain
 

CAREERS

Vanda Pharmaceuticals appoints Tage Honoré to board

Akhona Qengqe to become KFC Africa’s new general manager
Marlabs appoints Usha Jamadagni as chief delivery officer
Rolls-Royce announces new leadership for Africa
AIG director William G. Jurgensen to retire
Ball Corporation promotes Daniel W. Fisher to chairman
 

ECONOMY

Montana’s unemployment rate hits all-time low

Tennessee February revenues exceeded budgeted estimates
U.S. unemployment stable in 43 states
Inflation rate in Netherlands up to 8.0 percent in February
No serious GDP drop occurred, Putin says
UBB Upgrades its 2023 Economic Growth Forecast for Bulgaria to 1.5% from 0.7%
 

EARNINGS

Foot Locker Q4 income decreased

FedEx Q3 profit decreases
Revlon Q4 sales $589.8 million
Eastman Kodak Q4 revenues $305 million
Williams-Sonoma Q4 revenue declined 0.6%
G-III Apparel Q3 sales increased 14.2%
 

OP-ED

Micromanaging is the worst enemy of efficiency and teamwork

Niger set to monetize massive gas reserves through Saharan natural gas pipeline
Putting the brakes on EV folly that choked the market
Oil discovery in Kavango Basin may mean huge benefits for Namibians
Cape Town and Dubai battle over Africa's energy future
Is America going to lose its superpower status?
 

AGRIFISH

South Korea reports African swine fever case

Taiwan reports first domestic H9N2 avian influenza case
Industry will allocate some $327,000 to assist producers affected by drought in Uruguay
Hardly fewer dairy cows, but smaller pig herd in Netherlands in 2022
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture urging residents to take action against spotted lanternfly
Low dissolved oxygen levels behind mass fish death in Australian river
 

LEADERSHIP

Success of working from home depends on company health

Consumers less likely to support brands with unconventional spellings
HR practices have both positive and negative effects on employee mental health
CEO education is no guarantee of stock market success
How remote work affects managers
Incoming CEO's political views may drive director departure in firm
 

CRIME

SEC charges DXC Technology for misleading non-GAAP disclosures

Investigation leads to takedown of darknet cryptocurrency mixer that processed over $3b of unlawful transactions
Chicago reaches $23.8m settlement agreement with e-cigarette maker Juul Labs
SEC charges Blackbaud for misleading disclosures about ransomware attack that impacted charitable donors
Former Goldman Sachs investment banker sentenced in $2.7b bribery and money laundering scheme
PwC hit with $8.9 million penalty for serious breaches on Babcock audits
 

Magazine

TRAVEL

Qatar International Food Festival is back

Me Auld Flower food and drink festival coming to Dublin for St Patrick's Day weekend
Ten days of Winter Festival, a time travel back to end of 18th century Norway
Strong Beer Fest in Munich invites visitors to taste potent brews
Food world gathers for Melbourne Food and Wine Festival this March
Celebrating spring in Valencia
 

SEA, LAND, AIR

First GMC Sierra EV, power source on wheels

Ford Puma ST Powershift, most powerful 1.0‑litre EcoBoost engine
Toyota launches new Prius PHEV in Japan
Ariel Atom, serious motor sport or ultimate fun
ABT XNH, camper for those who want to expand their horizons
Lamborghini Invencible and Autentica, farewell to V12
 

DESIGN

Juliska tableware, collections for every occasion

Wool coats, a timeless fashion investment
Venetto bedding, creating a beautiful bedroom space
Bed headboards, sleep like a king
Great rugs for generations responsibly made
Curved sofas, elegant and gentle
 

GADGETS

New Cherry microphones for professional sound quality

Mobile Fidelity UltraDeck turntable, extreme pursuit of highest level of reproduction
Nokia G22, good smartphone you can fix yourself
NAD C 3050 LE amplifier, a classic reinvented
Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED, ultralighta and powerful laptop with OLED display
Dynaudio Confidence means pure performance
 

HEALTH

WHO accuses China Of withholding data on COVID-19 origins after report about raccoon dogs

Wyoming first U.S. state to outlaw abortion pills
Tanzania launches investigations as strange disease kills 5 people
WHO sees COVID posing similar threat to flu this year
New VEXAS syndrome identified in Portugal
Vorasidenib granted fast track designation by FDA
 

MEANTIME

Brazilian researchers discover terrifying rocks made up of plastic debris

Glacier found near Mars equator
Neolithic farmers reduced lactose in milk
Webb captures rarely seen prelude to supernova
Arctic climate modeling too conservative
Runes were just as advanced as Roman alphabet writing