16
Sep
Call for Action after Study Links Biodiversity Decline to Elevated Pesticide Use and Rise in Infant Mortality
(Beyond Pesticides, September 16, 2024) After the release of a hard-hitting study last week published in Science that pinpoints the cycle of increasing pesticide use with ecosystem and bat decline, resulting in higher infant mortality, Beyond Pesticides is calling for state and local action to transition public land to organic practices. Without a healthy ecosystem, the study documents increased pesticide use with dramatic adverse health effects.
To take corrective action, Beyond Pesticides’ action asks governors and mayors to do the following: Eliminate the use of pesticides that imperil bats by adopting biodiversity conservation goals including— (1) ecological mosquito management with measures that recognize the benefit of preventive strategies, establish source reduction programs to manage breeding sites on public lands, educate on the management of private lands, employ programs for larval management with biological controls, and eliminate the use of toxic pesticides; (2) prohibition of systemic insecticides and treated seeds, including neonicotinoids; and (3) land management on public lands—including hospitals, higher education institutions, schools, and parks—using regenerative organic principles and organic certified practices and products, to transition to a viable organic system that prioritizes long-term health of the public, ecology, and economy.
The new research connects declines in bat populations with increased human infant mortality. The connection is increased pesticide use. The study by Eyal Frank, PhD, “The economic impacts of ecosystem disruptions: Costs from substituting biological pest control,” published in Science, concludes with a finding that “declines in insect-eating bat population levels induce farmers to substitute with insecticides, consequently resulting in a negative health shock to infant mortality.”
Many farmers rely on bats as alternatives to insecticides to protect their crops from insects, but the invasive fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans, White-Nose Syndrome (WNS) has caused a serious decline in bat populations since 2006. Bats are also important in keeping mosquitoes under control. According to bat experts, 52% of bat species in North America are at risk of severe declines over the next 15 years. While there are numerous causes of fungal diseases, pesticide use can increase vulnerability by depressing the immune system. With the collapse of many bat populations from WNS found in caves that affect bats during hibernation, farmers turn to toxic chemicals to replace the ecosystem services bats usually provide. These chemicals, however, lead to ripples through the ecosystem and endanger human health.
To determine the impacts on human health from these population declines, Dr. Frank collected data from WNS-affected counties on insecticide use and infant mortality from 2006-2017. In comparing these numbers, “after the onset of bat die-offs, farmers in the county increase their insecticide use by 31.1%, on average,” he states. “Infant mortality rates due to internal causes of death (i.e., not due to accidents or homicides) increased by 7.9%, on average, in the affected counties. This result highlights that real-world use levels of insecticides have a detrimental impact on health, even when used within regulatory limits.” These rates correspond to an additional 1,334 infant deaths—for every 1% increase in pesticides, a 0.25% increase in the infant mortality rate is documented. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) says, “The infant mortality rate is an important marker of the overall health of a society.” Although infant mortality in the U.S. has been decreasing, 43 countries have infant death rates lower than the United States.
But, not only does decreasing bat populations lead to more pesticide use, leading to more infant deaths, but pesticide use also leads to decreasing bat populations. An extensive article by William Quarles, PhD, published in the IPM Practitioner in 2013, lays out much of the research that has been done on bats, pesticides, and WNS. Dr. Quarles finds that the immune system of bats in the U.S. is unable to prevent infection with WNS. He reviews studies showing that pesticides including DDT, organophosphates, and carbamates result in death or reproductive toxicity in bats. More recently, Pierre Mineau, PhD, and Carolyn Callaghan, PhD, find, “[T]here is evidence to support the claim that bats are being negatively affected by neonicotinoid insecticides in several different ways, indirectly through reduction in insect abundance and directly through impairment.” J.M. Oliviera et al. review research on pesticide impacts on bats, finding, “Pesticide toxicity leads to immunosuppression and makes the individual more susceptible to infections by pathogenic organisms.”
The cycle of pesticide use causing decreasing bat populations causing more pesticide use is an engine leading to ongoing and increasing infant deaths. We can break the cycle of increasing pesticide dependency with organic practices that are in sync with nature and intended to protect and enhance biodiversity.
Multiple crises impacting biodiversity, human health, and climate change threaten ecological balance. Bats are one of many species providing important ecosystem services, such as mosquito management and pollination, who are underappreciated until their services are no longer available.
>> Tell your Governor and Mayor to stop the cycle of increasing pesticide dependency tied to an imbalance in ecosystems degraded by pesticide use and other factors—resulting in a loss of natural insect management by bats and other wildlife that leads to rising pesticide use and increasing infant mortality and public health threats.
Dear Governor
Shocking new research connects declines in bat populations to increased human infant mortality. The connection is increased pesticide use. The study by Eyal Frank, PhD, “The economic impacts of ecosystem disruptions: Costs from substituting biological pest control,” published in Science, concludes, “[D]eclines in insect-eating bat population levels induce farmers to substitute with insecticides, consequently resulting in a negative health shock to infant mortality.”
Bats help protect crops from insects and control mosquitoes, but the White-Nose Syndrome (WNS), has reduced bat populations. According to bat experts, 52% of bat species in North America are at risk of severe declines over the next 15 years. While there are many causes of fungal diseases, pesticide use can increase vulnerability by depressing the immune system. With the collapse of many bat populations from WNS, farmers turn to toxic chemicals to replace the ecosystem services bats usually provide—chemicals that ripple through the ecosystem and endanger human health.
To determine impacts on human health from bat population declines, Dr. Frank collected data from counties with WNS regarding insecticide use and infant mortality from 2006-2017. In comparing these numbers, “[A]fter the onset of bat die-offs, farmers in the county increase their insecticide use by 31.1%, on average,” he states. “Infant mortality rates due to internal causes of death (i.e., not due to accidents or homicides) increased by 7.9%, on average, in the affected counties. This result highlights that real-world use levels of insecticides have a detrimental impact on health, even when used within regulatory limits.” These rates correspond to an additional 1,334 infant deaths—for every 1% increase in pesticides, a 0.25% increase in the infant mortality rate results.
Not only do decreasing bat populations lead to more pesticide use, leading to more infant deaths, but pesticide use also leads to decreasing bat populations. William Quarles, Ph.D., in The IPM Practitioner, summarizes research done on bats, pesticides, and WNS. He finds that the immune system of bats in the U.S. is unable to prevent infection with WNS and reviews studies showing that pesticides including DDT, organophosphates, and carbamates, result in death or reproductive toxicity in bats. More recently, Pierre Mineau, PhD, and Carolyn Callaghan, PhD, find, “[T]here is evidence to support the claim that bats are being negatively affected by neonicotinoid insecticides in several different ways, indirectly through reduction in insect abundance and directly through impairment.” J.M. Oliviera et al. review research on pesticide impacts on bats, finding, “Pesticides toxicity leads to immunosuppression and makes the individual more susceptible to infections by pathogenic organisms.”
The cycle of pesticide use causing decreasing bat populations causing more pesticide use is an engine leading to ongoing and increasing infant deaths. We can break the cycle of increasing pesticide dependency with organic practices that are in sync with nature and protect and enhance biodiversity.
Please eliminate the use of pesticides in our city that imperil bats by adopting biodiversity conservation goals including: (1) ecological mosquito management with measures that recognize the benefit of preventive strategies, establish source reduction programs to manage breeding sites on public lands, educate on the management of private lands, employ programs for larval management with biological controls, and eliminate the use of toxic pesticides; (2) prohibition of systemic insecticides and treated seeds, including neonicotinoids; and (3) land management on public lands—including hospitals, higher education institutions, schools, and parks—using regenerative organic principles and organic certified practices and products, to transition to a viable organic system that prioritizes long-term health of the public, ecology, and economy.
Thank you.
Dear Mayor
Shocking new research connects declines in bat populations to increased human infant mortality. The connection is increased pesticide use. The study by Eyal Frank, PhD, “The economic impacts of ecosystem disruptions: Costs from substituting biological pest control,” concludes, “[D]eclines in insect-eating bat population levels induce farmers to substitute with insecticides, consequently resulting in a negative health shock to infant mortality.”
Bats help protect crops from insects and control mosquitoes, but the invasive fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans, White-Nose Syndrome (WNS), has reduced bat populations since 2006. According to bat experts, 52% of bat species in North America are also at risk of severe declines over the next 15 years. While there are numerous causes of fungal diseases, pesticide use can increase vulnerability by depressing the immune system. With the collapse of many bat populations from WNS, farmers turn to toxic chemicals to replace the ecosystem services bats usually provide—chemicals that ripple through the ecosystem and endanger human health.
To determine impacts on human health from bat population declines, Dr. Frank collected data from counties with WNS regarding insecticide use and infant mortality from 2006-2017. In comparing these numbers, “[A]fter the onset of bat die-offs, farmers in the county increase their insecticide use by 31.1%, on average,” he states. “Infant mortality rates due to internal causes of death (i.e., not due to accidents or homicides) increased by 7.9%, on average, in the affected counties. This result highlights that real-world use levels of insecticides have a detrimental impact on health, even when used within regulatory limits.” These rates correspond to an additional 1,334 infant deaths—for every 1% increase in pesticides, a 0.25% increase in the infant mortality rate results.
But not only does decreasing bat populations lead to more pesticide use, leading to more infant deaths, but pesticide use also leads to decreasing bat populations. William Quarles, PhD, summarizes research done on bats, pesticides, and WNS; he finds that the immune system of bats in the U.S. is unable to prevent infection with WNS. He reviews studies showing that pesticides including DDT, and more recently organophosphates, and carbamates, result in death or reproductive toxicity in bats. More recently, Pierre Mineau, PhD, and Carolyn Callaghan, PhD, find, “[T]here is evidence to support the claim that bats are being negatively affected by neonicotinoid insecticides in several different ways, indirectly through reduction in insect abundance and directly through impairment.” J.M. Oliviera et al. review research on pesticide impacts on bats, finding, “Pesticides’ toxicity leads to immunosuppression and makes the individual more susceptible to infections by pathogenic organisms.”
The cycle of pesticide use causing decreasing bat populations causing more pesticide use is an engine leading to ongoing and increasing infant deaths. We can break the cycle of increasing pesticide dependency with organic practices in sync with nature and intended to protect and enhance biodiversity.
Please eliminate the use of pesticides that imperil bats by adopting biodiversity conservation goals including: (1) ecological mosquito management with measures that recognize the benefit of preventive strategies, establish source reduction programs to manage breeding sites on public lands, educate on the management of private lands, employ programs for larval management with biological controls, and eliminate the use of toxic pesticides; (2) prohibition of systemic insecticides and treated seeds, including neonics; and (3) land management on public lands—including hospitals, universities, schools, and parks—using regenerative organic principles and organic certified practices and products, to transition to a viable system that prioritizes long-term health of the public, ecology, and economy.
Thank you.
