14
Pesticides, Organic Contaminants, and Pathogens in Air
FIGURE 2.9
Glyphosate or Roundup ™ is an herbicide.
FIGURE 2.10
Loss of habitat for monarch butterfies due to overuse of glyphosate. Milkweeds are required
host plants for monarchs. Glyphosate kills deep-rooted perennials like milkweeds. Overuse of
glyphosate or glyphosate drift will eliminate the host plant milkweeds resulting in fewer adult
monarchs. Seen as a reduced number at overwintering sites. (Photo credit: Margaret Baker.)
butterfies (Figure 2.10). Overuse can occur during control of weeds in
glyphosate-resistant crops like soybeans. As with many herbicides, glyphosate drift can harm nontarget vegetation, and there are reports of chronic
toxicity among users, resulting in litigation which is ongoing.
2.3.5 Neonicotinoids
Neonicotinoids are promising new chemical insecticides, but their future is
clouded by allegations that they are toxic to bees under conditions of normal use per label instructions. Adverse ecological effects include the honeybee colony collapse disorder and loss of birds due to a reduction in insect
populations. Since 2013, several countries have restricted the use of neonicotinoids such as imidacloprid, clothianidin, and thiamethoxam (Figure 2.11)
(McDonald-Gibson, 2013).
The current status of neonicotinoids use and regulatory status in California
is given in some detail below to illustrate the labyrinth of evaluations pesticides must go through (Box 2.1).
Pesticides, Organic Contaminants, and Pathogens in Air
FIGURE 2.9
Glyphosate or Roundup ™ is an herbicide.
FIGURE 2.10
Loss of habitat for monarch butterfies due to overuse of glyphosate. Milkweeds are required
host plants for monarchs. Glyphosate kills deep-rooted perennials like milkweeds. Overuse of
glyphosate or glyphosate drift will eliminate the host plant milkweeds resulting in fewer adult
monarchs. Seen as a reduced number at overwintering sites. (Photo credit: Margaret Baker.)
butterfies (Figure 2.10). Overuse can occur during control of weeds in
glyphosate-resistant crops like soybeans. As with many herbicides, glyphosate drift can harm nontarget vegetation, and there are reports of chronic
toxicity among users, resulting in litigation which is ongoing.
2.3.5 Neonicotinoids
Neonicotinoids are promising new chemical insecticides, but their future is
clouded by allegations that they are toxic to bees under conditions of normal use per label instructions. Adverse ecological effects include the honeybee colony collapse disorder and loss of birds due to a reduction in insect
populations. Since 2013, several countries have restricted the use of neonicotinoids such as imidacloprid, clothianidin, and thiamethoxam (Figure 2.11)
(McDonald-Gibson, 2013).
The current status of neonicotinoids use and regulatory status in California
is given in some detail below to illustrate the labyrinth of evaluations pesticides must go through (Box 2.1).