Neonicotinoids are the world’s most widely used and fastest-growing type of insecticide, and have been suspected of a role in the alarming death rate for honeybees, writes Civil Eats, asking, “But what about human health?” “Neonic” residue were found on nearly all produce bought at a Boston supermarket in one study and the U.S. Geological Survey has found neonics in the majority of streams tested by the agency, which also has begun checking groundwater for the pesticides. So far, residue levels are lower than what EPA says would be a matter of concern. Some researchers say the CDC should regularly test Americans for neonic exposure, just as it monitors for more than 200 chemicals.
“To begin to close some of these data gaps, the U.S. National Toxicology Program (NTP) has proposed screening neonicotinoids for various non-cancer health effects,” says Civil Eats. Its initial survey will be released later this year. Neonics are considered safer than early-generation pesticides like DDT but the core concern, writes Elizabeth Grossman, “is that they are systemic pesticides that stay with a plant as it grows and they’re engineered to be neurotoxic.” Manufacturers of the pesticides say they are safe and the NTP screening is unnecessary and will duplicate EPA’s information.