Silent Spring is an environmental science book by Rachel Carson.
Published on September 27, 1962, the book documents the environmental damage caused by indiscriminate use of DDT, a pesticide used by soldiers during World War II Carson accuses the chemical industry of spreading misinformation, and government officials of unquestioningly accepting industry marketing claims
In the late 1950s, Carson began working on environmental conservation, particularly on ecological issues caused by synthetic pesticides The result of her research is Silent Spring, which raises concerns about the environment for American society. The book has been met with fierce opposition from chemical companies, but it has shaken public opinion and led to a turnaround in the US pesticide policy, a national ban on DDT for agricultural purposes, and the environmental movement This has resulted in the creation of the US Environmental Protection Agency
In 2006, Silent Spring was declared one of the 25 greatest scientific books of all time by the editors of Discover magazine
Reality today
Habitat loss due to the transition to intensive agriculture and the use of pesticides and fertilizers are among the main reasons for the decline in pollinator numbers
The number and diversity of wild pollinating insects are decreasing, leading to a change in crop cultivation – a shift from nutrient-rich crops (fruits, vegetables, and nuts - to staple crops with high caloric value, but POOR in nutrients (such as rice, corn, wheat, soy, and potatoes)
Some of the most popular pesticides are neonicotinoids Neonicotinoids are about 7000 times more toxic to bees than DDT, which is one of the pesticides that Rachel Carson wrote about. Only 5 grams would be enough to kill a quarter of a billion bees They are neurotoxins and paralyze the body, also destroying the digestive, immune, and especially the nervous system of almost all insects. The group of neonicotinoid insecticides includes: acetamiprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, imidacloprid, nitenpyram, thiacloprid, thiamethoxam
Imidacloprid was the best-selling insecticide in 2009, a product of one of the big pharmaceutical companies. This is a systemic neonicotinoid pesticide that is widely used worldwide in various food crops. Furthermore, it is also an ingredient in products for deworming dogs and cats of the spot-on type.
Neonicotinoids are a relatively new class of insecticides, synthesized in the last decades of the 20th century They are artificial analogues of nicotine, which is known to be a natural pesticide, but they differ from it in their higher environmental persistence and more pronounced toxic effect.
A new study in the United Kingdom reveals that spot-on flea treatments for pets are a major source of river pollution with potent insecticides Additionally, pet owners' hands are constantly contaminated from contact with treated animals.
It is assumed that the substance is also present throughout our face, furniture, food, etc, but this is not the focus of the study Both imidacloprid (neonicotinoid) and fipronil are now found in most English rivers.The study shows that pet owners who wash their hands after contact with their pets make a significant contribution Washing bedding or bathing dogs also contributes
Experts explain that in agriculture, these pesticides are mainly used for treating seeds.
The problem is that in fact, a very small portion of the pesticide is absorbed by the plant - less than 10% . The majority goes into the soil, where it accumulates with the use of pesticides and toxicity levels constantly increase over time. In this way, through the soil, every plant around becomes contaminated and the pesticide spreads to all its parts - including the NECTAR AND POLLEN. In every plant in agricultural land and neighboring areas, highly toxic pesticides will systematically penetrate, which also spread to groundwater, rivers, and cause significant problems for ecosystems
The use of neonicotinoid insecticides affects the bee population, but also leads to a decrease in the number of birds, butterflies, and other insects, as well as harms water ecosystems by reducing plankton, and consequently fish populations. Neonicotinoids are carcinogenic and easily contaminate the soil and surface waters. There is an irreversible cumulative effect on aquatic and terrestrial organisms. An example of their action is the ecological catastrophe in Lake Shinji in Japan.
The EU regulation from 2013 prohibits the use of neonicotinoid insecticides in agriculture, but only since May 2018 has another regulation banned the use of seeds treated with plant protection products containing thiamethoxam.
Neonicotinoids, however, are still used in many well-known and sold parasiticides for pets
Unfortunately, these toxic substances are not the only ones
The fight for life continues...
Glyphosate, the most widely used toxin globally, received a 10-year approval for use from the EU at the end of 2023. Tests conducted on quails reveal that traces of glyphosate are present in their eggs, muscles, and liver. In Bulgaria, it is widely used in the cultivation of cereal crops under trade names for plant protection products.
The herbicide has been at the center of heated debates for years. As early as 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that the use of glyphosate may possibly cause cancer.
In 2016, a study by the German Institute for the Environment in Munich revealed that 14 German beer brands were contaminated with glyphosate, through the malt used in their production. The values measured for German beer are between 0.46 and 29.74 micrograms per liter (μg/l) and therefore almost in extreme cases 300 times above the legal limit for drinking water (0.1 μg/l).In 75% of the Germans who participated in the study, it turned out that there was more than five times the permissible content of the respective pesticide in their body.
A higher content of glysophate in the human body is found in people engaged in agriculture. Many experts are of the opinion that in addition to the risk of cancer, glysophate can also damage the fetus in the mother's womb, cause negative consequences on the intestinal flora, as well as damage the genetic human material.
On 26 June 2024, the European Commission rejected a formal request by NGOs to review the 10-year re-approval of glyphosate. They are challenging the decision in court. In parallel to this legal procedure, all EU Member States are currently re-evaluating glyphosate-based products. A national ban is fully feasible under current legislation.
Leading experts claim that the Commission pays little attention to the potential air pollution caused by glyphosate drift and evaporation. They completely ignore the main source of chronic exposure for residents and farmers by inhaling particles containing glyphosate. The Commission claims that the risk assessment shows that there is no danger to human health, although independent scientists note an ongoing Parkinson's epidemic that may be related to glyphosate exposure. The Commission must adapt the inhalation exposure risk assessment to the actual conditions.
Authorisation of glyphosate-based products at national level
Following EU reapproval, Member States must decide to re-authorise glyphosate-based products at national level within 15 months. As recently reminded by the Court of Justice of the EU, Member States do not re-authorise products in case of doubts about their safety. Given the substantial evidence of the harm that glyphosate pesticides can cause to humans and the environment, Member States should impose a ban on their use.
Bulgaria has introduced a partial ban on glyphosate from June 17, 2024 for its use in public places, but it can still be used in agriculture.
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