Bee-killing pesticides have been found at dangerous levels in English rivers, as the government considers allowing the use of one that is banned in the EU.
Environmental groups and farmers are waiting to hear whether a toxic neonicotinoid, thiamethoxam, will be approved by the government for English sugar beet farms for a fourth consecutive year.
At 55% of these 29 sites one or more neonicotinoids were above the EU’s proposed environmental quality standard (EQS) – the level deemed safe for aquatic wildlife.
Barnaby Coupe, the land use policy manager at the Wildlife Trusts, said: “This research reveals that our rivers and waterways are plagued by a cocktail of neonicotinoid pesticides, despite these chemicals being banned since 2018.
It has ignored the science and the advice of its own experts in granting repeat authorisations to apply toxic neonicotinoids to our countryside, and the result is much diminished wildlife.”
A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: “Our comprehensive plan for water is tackling every source of pollution through more investment, stronger regulation and tougher enforcement, while ensuring the use of pesticides does not harm people or pose unacceptable risks to our rivers.
The original article contains 600 words, the summary contains 195 words. Saved 68%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!
This is the best summary I could come up with:
Bee-killing pesticides have been found at dangerous levels in English rivers, as the government considers allowing the use of one that is banned in the EU.
Environmental groups and farmers are waiting to hear whether a toxic neonicotinoid, thiamethoxam, will be approved by the government for English sugar beet farms for a fourth consecutive year.
At 55% of these 29 sites one or more neonicotinoids were above the EU’s proposed environmental quality standard (EQS) – the level deemed safe for aquatic wildlife.
Barnaby Coupe, the land use policy manager at the Wildlife Trusts, said: “This research reveals that our rivers and waterways are plagued by a cocktail of neonicotinoid pesticides, despite these chemicals being banned since 2018.
It has ignored the science and the advice of its own experts in granting repeat authorisations to apply toxic neonicotinoids to our countryside, and the result is much diminished wildlife.”
A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: “Our comprehensive plan for water is tackling every source of pollution through more investment, stronger regulation and tougher enforcement, while ensuring the use of pesticides does not harm people or pose unacceptable risks to our rivers.
The original article contains 600 words, the summary contains 195 words. Saved 68%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!