Neonicotinoids: harmful to birds on all fronts

Direct adverse effects on birds

Neonicotinoids are widely used insecticides in agriculture and horticulture and have been under fire for more than a decade, due to their unintended harmful effects on various organisms. Researcher Elke Molenaar of the WUR says: ‘There have been concerns about the strong impact of neonicotinoids on insect populations for some time, but neonicotinoids were long considered to have little toxicity to birds. Direct effects through ingestion of food were thought to be minimal. Our new study conducted by WUR in collaboration with Vogelbescherming Nederland shows that direct harmful effects do occur when birds eat food containing neonicotinoids. These effects should absolutely not be underestimated.’

Global analysis: effects on behaviour, health, reproduction and survival

An analysis of global data from nearly 50 studies, on 12 different bird species, shows that neonicotinoids adversely affect almost every aspect of bird life. In these studies, birds were exposed to neonicotinoids through their food or via direct administration, and more than a thousand effects were investigated. One example of such effects is reduced orientation, causing migrating birds to lose their course. Other effects include young chicks born with complications, birds with abnormal blood levels and birds that lived shorter lives after exposure to these substances.

Harmful effects of all types of neonicotinoids

The study examines the effects of five different types of neonicotinoids. Two of them, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam, have already been extensively studied scientifically, while the other three – acetamiprid, clothianidin and thiacloprid – have barely been studied. Yet, according to Molenaar, the results show that the effects of the substances hardly differ between them: ‘For all of them, we see negative effects.’

New neonicotinoids: urgent research required after ban on old variants

Although neonicotinoids are mostly banned within the EU for use in open agriculture and horticulture, they are still used worldwide in several countries. There are also exceptions within the EU, whereby arable farmers can still get permission to use them via ‘emergency licences’. Meanwhile, new similar crop protection products are rapidly being developed and marketed.

Vogelbescherming Nederland calls it very worrying that these harmful agents still pass the strict authorisation procedures and are wrongly labelled as safe for humans, animals and the environment. For example, the pesticide is often used on a large scale for years, while subsequent research shows that it is not at all safe for birds and perhaps other organisms that ingest it. Thorough and independent research is therefore urgently needed before pesticides can be authorised. Both into substances that have hardly been investigated yet, and into recently developed agents. Frans van Alebeek, Senior Policy Officer at Vogelbescherming:

“Pesticides should be tested much more extensively and rigorously for their possible side effects on humans, animals and the environment. If in doubt, pesticides should not be authorised. Things have gone wrong far too often in the past.‘’

---

About Vogelbescherming Nederland

Vogelbescherming Nederland is an independent, national conservation organisation. An active association supported by over 160,000 members, companies, funds and institutions, among others. Vogelbescherming is the Dutch partner of BirdLife International, the organisation that stands up for birds and their habitats worldwide. Vogelbescherming was founded in 1899 and is the organisation in the Netherlands for the protection of all wild birds and their habitats.

About Wageningen University & Research

The mission of Wageningen University & Research (WUR) is ‘To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life’. Within WUR, 9 specialised research institutes and Wageningen University join forces to contribute to the solution of important questions in the field of healthy food and living environment. With approximately 30 branches, 6,000 employees and 9,000 students, WUR is one of the world’s leading knowledge institutes within its domain. The integrated approach to issues and cooperation between different disciplines are at the heart of Wageningen’s unique approach.

Press release by Vogelbescherming Nederland

Cover picture by Lars Soerink