Typologie d'actualités: group neurotoxics and biodiversity

Decline in insect populations

A group of multidisciplinary co-authors from INRAE, CNRS and several universities (FR, BE & UK) has just published a scientific article in Science (Desquilbet et al., 2020). In the form of a ‘Technical comment’, this article identifies numerous data errors and methodological biases in a meta-analysis published in Science in April 2020 (Van Klink et al., 2020). As a result, the conclusions of Van Klink et al. on a more nuanced decline in terrestrial insects and on an increase in aquatic insects are invalidated. Our new publication reflects less the contradictory aspects of the research, than the emergence and growth of a "biodiversity scepticism". This biodiversity scepticism* must be apprehended. It minimises the impact of humans on nature (e.g. agriculture and pesticides) and is reminiscent of the climate scepticism that has caused a great deal of time to be lost in climate decision-making. J.-M. Bonmatin and his co-authors call for greater rigour in the conduct of such meta-analyses which are at the basis for stakeholders' decisions on key global issues.

Reference: Desquilbet M., Gaume L., Grippa M., Céréghino R., Humbert J.F., Bonmatin J.M., Cornillon P.A., Maes D., Van Dyck H. & Goulson D. (2020) Comment on “Meta-analysis reveals declines in terrestrial but increases in freshwater insect abundances”, Science, 370 (6523)

*See: The Conversation 2019, Nature 2020, Le Monde 2020 & Libération 2020

It is in the press: Le Monde 18/01/2021, The Conversation 28/01/2021, Le Monde 30/01/2021, Le Monde 04/02/2021 & CNRS-INEE 08/02/2021

 




Neonicotinoids

A scientific article linking the contamination of soils by neonicotinoid pesticides and their presence in hair of people in the Philippines has just been published by Jean-Marc Bonmatin et al. (2020) in the journal Science of the Total Environment. This article is part of researches carried out on human health by the Task Force on Systemic Pesticides, which brings together more than sixty independent researchers (www.tfsp.info & Facebook TFSP). This article also sheds light on the exposure of populations, particularly in the context of the possible reintroduction of neonicotinoids for sugar beet in France.

This article is highlighted by the CNRS chemistry institute.

Impact of pesticides on health through diet

Jean-Marc Bonmatin and his collaborators from the Task Force on Systemic Pesticides  published a substantial article on the impact of pesticides on health through food, and on alternative agronomic solutions, in the journal Environment International.

This article follows two other journal articles on alternatives to pesticides and recently published article 1,  article 2. This new article resonates particularly with the questioning of the total ban on neonicotinoid insecticides in France.

Summary :

The article first examines the risks of pesticides associated with the consumption of fruits and vegetables. It then lists the effective agronomic alternatives by product, geography and chemical compound. Thus, in all countries, the use of pesticides contaminates up to 97% of food products and up to 42% of these products present a real risk to consumers. For example, multiple residues are present in 70-92% of stone fruits (USA and China) while 58% of American cauliflower is contaminated with neonicotinoid insecticides. Scientific alternatives and decision support frameworks can promote healthy eating. Increasingly, growers are reducing risk and potential harm by deliberately refraining from the use of pesticides. As such, opportunities abound to promote “win-win” diets that promote human health and preserve global biodiversity.

In favor of biodiversity

Jean-Marc Bonmatin is one of 366 scientists, from 42 countries, who are signatories of a correspondence in Nature Ecology & Evolution (2020) entitled “Integrating agroecological production in a robust post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework” (Nature Ecology and Evolution).

This text is a call for decisions which proposes pragmatic solutions to be put in place urgently for the conservation and restoration of biodiversity, this starting with large-scale agroecological practices.

RAI3 (IT) TV documentary with JM Bonmatin

A report shot at the CBM broadcast on Italian television

The Italian public broadcaster RAI3 broadcast a prime-time investigative report on February 3, entitled the ultima ape.

Filmed in the laboratory, JM Bonmatin is involved several times in this documentary of almost 1.5 hours on the collapse of bees, insects and biodiversity, this due to pesticides.

The film is organized in several sequences and the complete document is accessible on RAI3 by connecting via Facebook, Google or Twitter

Jean-Marc Bonmatin has just been appointed from among the 23 members of the Scientific Council of ANSES

ANSES "French National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety" (about 1300 persons and 800 experts from outside) operates in diverse fields: human food and nutrition, environmental health, occupational health, animal health and welfare, animal nutrition, veterinary medicine, and plant protection products (pesticides).

The ANSES Scientific Council is independent and composed exclusively of scientists. It guarantees the quality and independence of ANSES 'expertise. It is also responsible for overseeing the evaluation process of the Agency’s research activities, which is supported in particular by a dozen of reference laboratories spread across the country.

Arrêté paru au Journal Officiel du 23 décembre 2019