(Beyond Pesticides, July 2-3, 2026) Our call on Independence Day for freedom from the toxic chemicals that tear apart our families and the ecosystems on which all life depends is proclaimed this July 4th with even greater urgency than last year. The decision by the U.S. Supreme Court last week in Monsanto v. Durnell—releasing Monsanto-Bayer of liability for failing to warn those harmed by pesticides—enshrines in our daily lives the power of chemical companies to poison and contaminate with impunity. What did the majority of the Supreme Court justices say in supporting the right of chemical companies to poison without warning? The justices opined that, if they were to support the original plaintiff diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma after using the Monsanto weedkiller RoundupTM without any cancer warning on the label, it would “expose manufacturers to potentially massive tort liability for doing what EPA required.” And that is exactly what happened when juries across the U.S. issued verdicts against Monsanto amounting to billions of dollars since 2018. The justices could not let that stand. Instead, the justices, in putting the freedom of chemical companies to poison for profit without notification above the rights of people to be warned, have codified a […]

(Beyond Pesticides, July 1, 2026) A review in the International Journal of Cancer links pesticide exposure, particularly in areas with high agricultural crop density, to increased risks for childhood cancers. The team of researchers from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and University of Nebraska Medical Center, in analyzing epidemiologic studies published between January 1980 and September 2022, says that “this scoping review affirms that a robust body of epidemiology literature already informs how parental and childhood exposure to environmental chemical exposures can be associated with children’s incidence of pediatric leukemia and brain cancer.” The scientific literature shows that pediatric cancer, which is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in children, is associated with exposure to residential pesticides, pesticides ingested through drinking water, parental exposure, and in areas with close proximity to agricultural areas where pesticides are used. Background According to the American Childhood Cancer Organization, over 15,000 children in the U.S. are diagnosed with cancer each year, with pediatric cancer as the second leading cause of death in children 5–9 years of age and the third leading cause of death in children ages 10–14. (See here.) In agricultural states, such as Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas, Illinois, Ohio, and Missouri, incidence […]

(Beyond Pesticides, June 30, 2026) A peer-reviewed article, published in Scientific Reports, focuses on the link between exposure to pesticide mixtures and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) prevalence at the county-level across the United States. Alzheimer’s, a type of dementia that affects memory, thinking, and behavior, accounts for 60-80% of dementia cases. In conducting a novel cross-sectional analysis of data on pesticide application intensity and disease prevalence, the researchers, from the Medical University of South Carolina, are able to identify exposure clusters with significant associations to the occurrence of AD. The strongest positive associations, where AD prevalence increases as pesticide exposure increases, are “observed for a soil fumigation/nematicide system, an herbicide-dominant vegetation control regime, and a neuroactive insecticide system,” the authors note. These findings link pesticide mixtures to increased AD rates. (See the full PDF of the study here.) Study Importance and Background AD is a condition that gradually damages and destroys neurons in the brain, with disproportionate risks across the U.S. in certain geographical areas. (See here and here.) “These spatial patterns suggest that contextual and environmental determinants may contribute to disparities in dementia burden beyond established individual-level risk factors,” the researchers state. They continue, “Although AD dementia is the leading […]

(Beyond Pesticides, June 29, 2026) With the release of the Republican Farm Bill in the U.S. Senate on June 23 and passage of a bill with nearly identical provisions in the U.S. House of Representatives on April 30, Beyond Pesticides and allies are calling on U.S. Senators to reject the GOP Farm Bill as drafted, citing an undermining of public and environmental health. In addition to severe criticism of the bill language, the Chair of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, Senator John Boozman (R-AR), is being criticized by farm, farmworker, health, and food security groups for characterizing the House bill as “bipartisan” and a “significant achievement” because both the House and Senate bills were drafted without input from Democrats.  U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a Senate Agriculture Committee member, said: “The draft Farm Bill released today by Senate Republicans fails to meet this moment of crisis that American farmers and families are facing. . . [I]nstead, it goes backward, by undermining USDA support for regenerative agriculture and creating loopholes for pesticides to avoid safety oversight. I will not vote for a Farm Bill that leaves small farmers without a functioning safety net, does not make healthy, clean food more […]

(Beyond Pesticides, June 26, 2026) In a study published in Aquatic Toxicology, researchers in Brazil determined that the cumulative toxicity of acetamiprid (a neonicotinoid insecticide) and cyanobacteria (photosynthetic microbes that can produce toxins) has a synergistic effect on the health of aquatic water fleas, or Daphnia. The implications of these findings paint a troubling picture for broader aquatic food webs, as they serve as a bridge species across trophic levels, serving as a primary consumer of plants and algae while also providing energy to secondary and tertiary consumers up the chain. In this context, public health and environmental advocates argue that the combined toxicity of synthetic agrichemicals and naturally occurring toxins is often considered an externality (external cost) borne by the public rather than a direct cost of agricultural production or nonagricultural pest management. “When ecosystems are undermined, so are the economic systems that are relied upon to grow food,” says Max Sano, senior policy and coalitions associate at Beyond Pesticides. “The need for a wholesale transition to organic land management acknowledges this fundamental mismatch and seeks to account for these discrepancies, although policy must ensure that organic farmers have the resources they need to thrive.” Methodology and Main Findings […]

(Beyond Pesticides, June 25, 2026) The Supreme Court today, in a 7-2 decision, issued a ruling that prohibits, under current federal law, the right of those harmed by pesticides to sue manufacturers for their failure to warn consumers of potential hazards on their product labels. The decision effectively shields manufacturers from failure to warn lawsuits. See opinion here. “The Court’s decision today is a tragic setback for public and environmental health, allowing companies that produce toxic pesticides to evade the most basic of responsibilities, warning consumers that their products may cause cancer and other deadly diseases,” said Jay Feldman, executive director of Beyond Pesticides, a national health and environmental group. “In an age of deregulation, the ability of farmers, farmworkers, and consumers to hold chemical manufacturers accountable for hazard warnings is the keystone to minimum protection of public health, as demand in the market for the safest possible products grows daily,” Mr. Feldman continued. The Supreme Court case, Monsanto v. Durnell [24-1068], pits the manufacturer of the weed killer glyphosate, sold as RoundupTM, against a cancer patient with non-Hodgkin lymphoma who was awarded $1.25 million in 2023 because the product label information provided no warning. The decision will vacate, or […]

(Beyond Pesticides, June 25, 2026) In a study comparing pesticide active ingredients (isolated single chemicals) with full pesticide product formulations containing added ingredients (the packaged products that can contain carriers, sticking agents, emulsifiers, etc.), researchers find the full formulation to be generally more toxic. The research evaluates acute and chronic exposures of four mosquito adulticide active ingredients (AIs), three product formulations, and one biological larvicide pesticide formulation containing Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) on honey bee larvae in vitro and finds that three of the four exceed levels of concern (LOCs) set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA publishes Guidance for Assessing Pesticide Risks to Bees in which it identifies levels of harm. The scientists who conducted the study, published in Environmental Challenges, are based at the University of Florida and Auburn University. This study references Bti (Vectobac12AS) as the least toxic product, since the acute LD50 (lethal dose that kills 50% of the test population) is well below EPA-set LOCs. However, the study only focused on whether Bti harms honey bees. In contrast, there are some indications of its potential adverse effects on other beneficial insects, moths, and butterflies (see fact sheet here) and aquatic life, including studies […]

(Beyond Pesticides, June 23, 2026) With new medications (including those containing GLP-1-receptor-agonist or glucagon-like peptide-1) exploding onto the market to treat obesity and serious related health threats, it is easy to lose sight of critical policy issues that allow the ongoing introduction of obesogenic pesticides and other chemicals (endocrine disrupting chemicals that affect metabolism and fat storage) into the food supply. The science on obesity has found that the most common form is attributable to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Because there are many factors, the blame for the obesity epidemic cannot be attributed solely to diet broadly, but may relate directly to pesticide and toxic chemical exposures, including chemical residues in food, that may lead to Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney failure, a breakdown of cartilage and bone within joints, and other metabolic disorders. An increasing body of research shows that exposure to certain pesticides and environmental contaminants initiates various changes in metabolism leading to obesity—not only in the exposed person, but also in offspring.   With all the media attention on a medical cure for obesity, Beyond Pesticides has launched an action to: Urge lawmakers and policymakers to support policies that contribute to obesity prevention by eliminating […]

Image: Art of Life Page submission from Jesse Yow, “Honeybee Pollinating Citrus Blossom.” (Beyond Pesticides, June 22, 2026) National Pollinator Week, June 22-26, 2026, celebrates all pollinators and the ecosystem services they provide. With a theme of “Life on a Leaf… From Bloom to Buzz! An Organic Solution for Plants and Pollinators” and in recognition of the importance of pollinators and biodiversity to a healthy environment and healthy people, Beyond Pesticides announces a week of activities and actions!  Pollinators—bees, butterflies, birds, bats, and other organisms—make a critical contribution to plant health, crop productivity, and the preservation of natural resources, but their existence is threatened by pesticide-contaminated habitats! Throughout the week, we will suggest actions that you can take to promote the health of pollinators.   The first step is providing a safe place for pollinators to live, eat, reproduce, and take refuge from predators and adverse weather, which can include establishing pollinator-friendly plants as both habitats and food sources.  Monday—Juneteenth and Environmental Justice  Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. famously stated, “All life is interrelated.” Justice for all people converges with the protection of biodiversity, health, and climate. If we are not protecting the most vulnerable in society, we ultimately adversely affect the entire society because all people are intricately linked through the web of life. By […]

(Beyond Pesticides, June 18-19, 2026) Friday, June 19 is Juneteenth, a commemoration of the abolition of slavery and a celebration of human freedom. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr proclaimed. This truth raises societal concerns of continuing systemic environmental racism and institutional failures of predominantly white institutions and the need to protect those at disproportionate risk, specifically Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities, from agricultural and industrial pollution. [Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom for the last 250,000 enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, but it is also a reminder that justice has not historically been “swift” or complete for Black Americans. The holiday commemorates the abolition of slavery in Texas on June 19, 1865, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth, officially recognized as a federal holiday since 2021, commemorates the arrival of Union soldiers in Galveston, Texas, to free enslaved people per the Emancipation Proclamation that was issued two and a half years prior. While June 19, 1865, does not mark the legal end of slavery nationwide, it was a crucial moment in the fight for freedom and continues to highlight the ongoing fight for human […]

(Beyond Pesticides, June 17, 2026) A study out of Michigan State University reviews robust county-level data on pesticide use and breast cancer incidence rates, determining that there are “modest positive associations” in rural counties in the United States. The findings were published in Cancer Causes & Control. Public health and environmental advocates cite the proliferation of published, peer-reviewed research, like this new study, in support of a societal imperative to eliminate harmful agrichemicals and transition to organic practices. The U.S. and countries worldwide have standards for certified organic production, similar to the U.S. Organic Foods Production Act, that establish required practices, a national list of allowed and prohibited substances, public oversight and a stakeholder board with authority over allowed inputs, certification and inspection of on-farm practices, and an enforcement system to ensure standards compliance. There is limited federal investment in growing the organic sector, despite its productivity, profitability, and protection of healthy ecosystems. The study adds to the body of science that illustrates dramatic deficiencies in the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) under which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other federal statutes fall short in addressing the complex exposure patterns and adverse human and environmental effects, […]

(Beyond Pesticides, June 16, 2026) If there is one take-home message regarding reducing risk of childhood leukemias and brain cancers, it is to avoid exposure to pesticides during pregnancy—especially indoor insecticides such as flea and tick products, including DEET, household plant and commercial pesticide treatments, and proximity to pesticide applications in agriculture. A review by researchers at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and School of Natural Resources in Omaha considered 88 epidemiological papers published between 1980 and 2022 on pediatric cancer and environmental pesticide exposure and found elevated rates of pediatric cancers associated with pesticide exposure. The reviewers assessed the known associations between the risk of childhood leukemia and brain tumors and their or their parents’ exposure to pesticides, pesticide breakdown products and mixtures. They asked how important known exposures in drinking water were to the children’s risk, and whether genetics is a primary influence on cancer development. The researchers found that the risk of childhood brain tumors increased 1.5 times if pest control products were applied during the entire year before conception. High-grade glioma risk was four times higher when pesticides were applied during pregnancy. Prenatal exposure to flea and tick products raised risk, especially for children diagnosed under […]

(Beyond Pesticides, June 12, 2026) In a literature review published in Caspian Journal of Environmental Sciences, researchers assessed 27 peer-reviewed studies conducted between 2011 and 2025 on the adverse impacts of insecticides, including neonicotinoids, pyrethroids, organophosphates, chlorpyrifos, and fipronil. Across agricultural and suburban environments, pesticides were detected in the majority (88 percent) of samples. This review builds on the continuous flow of science that highlights the adverse impacts of synthetic pesticide dependency on ecosystems and wildlife that are essential to global biodiversity. Main Findings The researchers, based at a variety of research institutions in Jordan, Uzbekistan, Iraq, and India, refined their search to 27 studies after screening for geographic diversity and empirical robustness; for example, they excluded studies that did not include empirical data, relied solely on nonagricultural contexts, or only assessed exposure through urban wastewater exclusively. Toxicological data assessed include pesticide occurrence, toxicity, and biological responses. This literature review is not a meta-analysis, but rather a narrative synthesis of various findings. The main findings include: Documented Widespread Pesticide Occurrence. In the United States, based on data collected between 2013 and 2017, 88 percent of water samples contained pesticides, with a median of 18 compounds across all sites and 24 […]

(Beyond Pesticides, June 11, 2026) A study of honey bee colonies in Florida and California, published in Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology, finds elevated mortality from pesticide residues, including those that have been documented to threaten pollinators. As the authors describe, “While bees die from multiple, often interacting, stressors, here we show single contributors at levels capable of causing acute harm.” The presence of miticides, fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides within the bee colonies, including in the bodies of dying bees, further highlights pesticides as drivers of bee declines. By sampling both dying bees and in-house bees for chemical residues, the researchers are able to compare symptomatic colonies and control colonies. The authors note, “Our findings differ from previous screenings, which cast a broad net, screening agrochemicals in colonies nationwide, and not necessarily from impacted operations.” This study, however, shows the presence of specific pesticide residues in commercially managed colonies after die-off incidences. The neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid, in particular, is widely detected and found in high levels, with the researchers identifying the compound as the largest contributor to bee death. Background Scientific literature linking pesticides, including neonicotinoids, to adverse impacts on pollinators continues to mount, as do the devasting population declines of […]

(Beyond Pesticides, June 10, 2026) Adding to the wide body of science connecting the weed killer paraquat to deleterious health and environmental effects, Investigate Midwest recently released an investigative news article connecting air emissions of paraquat from chemical plants in the Mississippi Basin to Parkinson’s disease, among other adverse health effects. The herbicide is also fatal to humans with a single sip, as documented in the article, entitled “This herbicide is so toxic it’s been banned in over 70 countries. But plants in the South are releasing it into the air.”  In capturing the story of Wayne County, Mississippi, where approximately 20,000 people live surrounded by forest and farmland, Investigate Midwest sheds light on the connection between the Sipcam Agro plant that processes and emits paraquat. The plant is located in the county with among the highest U.S. rates of Parkinson’s disease deaths, the top 7% of all U.S. counties.  Background on Paraquat  Paraquat has been on the market since the 1960s, created by a predecessor of Syngenta. In March of this year, Syngenta announced it would stop producing paraquat in the UK after thousands of lawsuits, primarily by farmers and farmworkers, cite Syngenta’s failure to warn of adverse health effects like Parkinson’s disease. Stopping the production of paraquat in the UK will not prevent paraquat from entering the U.S., as “other companies and other facilities—like the one in Wayne County—will fill the gap, likely increasing the amount of paraquat they handle.”  According to previous data from the U.S. Geological Survey, approximately 11 to 17 million pounds of paraquat were sprayed annually in 2017, which may […]

(Beyond Pesticides, June 9, 2026) In a new literature review published in Florence Nightingale Journal of Nursing, researchers identify 10 peer-reviewed studies with a statistically significant relationship between pesticide exposure and declines in cognitive function among agricultural workers. The cognitive deficits adversely impact their daily functioning and safety on the job. These adverse impacts include disruptions to visual memory, attention, language speaking, and perceptual-motor function. Two of these studies specifically compare chemical-intensive and organic farmers, finding a relationship between less synthetic pesticide exposure and improved neurological and cognitive outcomes. While more data is needed to produce precise dose-response estimates by active ingredient/chemical mixture, the findings support a precautionary approach to pest management decisions and transitioning to organic land management, a trend that is increasing across the U.S. and worldwide. Main Findings The researchers identify 12 studies published between 2016 and 2023 that assessed pesticide impacts—“including insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, bactericides, rodenticides, and nematodes”—on various areas of cognitive function in agricultural workers, with 10 of those studies showing a statistically significant relationship. The main findings include: Two studies compare organic and chemical-intensive farmers, with one study focused on Costa Rica (Mora et al., 2022) and the other focused on the United States […]

(Beyond Pesticides, June 8, 2026) When the Trump administration announced that it was shutting U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) in Beltsville, Maryland, U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD) released the following statement: “This is a betrayal of American farmers, and an attack on the federal workforce that will severely damage services that the American people depend on. We are disappointed but not surprised that the Trump administration is continuing its attacks on the federal workforce, this time through wasting taxpayer dollars to relocate key USDA facilities. Let us be clear: these haphazard, unlawful relocations do not save taxpayer dollars or improve agency efficiency. We’ve seen this tactic before, and we know that it only results in brain drain, crushed morale, and cuts to vital programs American farmers depend on. We will continue to stand up for the dedicated federal workers who provide critical services to our nation as they navigate these relocations, mass firings, and the administration’s continued attacks on the civil service.” In the face of this action, which is now taking place, Beyond Pesticides has released an action to tell Congress and USDA to preserve the Beltsville agricultural research facilities that support farming and […]

(Beyond Pesticides, June 5, 2026) With increasing research covered by Daily News showing pesticides linked to epigenetic effects (alter gene expression), the mechanism has far-reaching implications for protecting health and the environment. It also raises issues related to the regulatory review process, which is inadequate in assessing this mechanism. Since the discovery of DNA, a principle called the “central dogma” has dominated genetics. This dogma states that genetic processes are a one-way street: only changes to DNA in germ cells (eggs and sperm) trigger processes in RNA and then proteins to effect changes in tissues and cells throughout the body. Any suggestion that environmental exposures, for example, could alter gene expression except in the first, exposed generation, was dismissed as “Lamarckian” and unscientific. And only changes to genes themselves could be inherited. The theory of epigenetics began developing in the 1950s, and it gradually became clear that gene expression was modifiable by external factors. Cells do have numerous ways of choreographing genes, determining which ones are turned on and off at which times and in which places. In fact, this choreography is absolutely necessary for the development of an individual from pre-conception through fertilization and the progress of an embryo to […]

(Beyond Pesticides, June 4, 2026) In a study published in Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation, researchers in Brazil find that organic farming coupled with agroecological conservation practices “promote[s] biodiversity in agricultural landscapes.” The proxy for biodiversity in this study is anurans, a type of frog or toad native to the Brazilian Pampa—a section of the South American Pampas grasslands, a globally underrecognized biodiversity hotspot. According to a scientific report reviewed by Mongabay in 2024, “nearly a third of the Brazilian portion…has been lost since 1985, largely to agricultural expansion and forestry plantations.” In the U.S. context, public health and environmental advocates continue to call for the transition to organic land management as a solution that validates the ecosystem services that biodiversity-forward agricultural systems can provide under values-aligned stewardship. Methodology and Main Findings The authors in this study, researchers at the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, surveyed 26 artificial ponds across 16 family farms with different land management systems—9 organic farms and 7 conventional farms—located in the Serra do Sudeste region of the Brazilian portion of the Pampa grasslands. All farms were sampled three times during the 2023 to 2024 breeding seasons (twice in the October to November 2023 […]

(Beyond Pesticides, June 3, 2026) A study, published in PeerJ today, by researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the U.S. and the University of Pisa in Italy, finds that the widely used fungicide fludioxonil and its breakdown products, including a ‘forever chemical’ per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substance (PFAS), threaten environmental and human health. Through a review of scientific literature (from 2021-2025) of the ecological and health effects of fludioxonil, the authors find evidence of this chemical’s mechanisms of toxicity, including oxidative stress, that are enhanced as it degrades in the environment. Oxidative stress occurs when there is a disruption of normal cell-signaling and molecular damage, leading to an imbalance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and free radicals (unstable oxygen molecules) that the body is unable to detoxify. In particular, sunlight exposure causes fludioxonil to break down into a PFAS that is linked to adverse health implications for the environment, wildlife, and humans.  One of the authors, Warren Porter, PhD, is a board member for Beyond Pesticides and presented at the 2021 National Pesticide Forum. Dr. Porter is an emeritus Professor of Integrative Biology and an Ardath and Robert Rodale Professor of Environmental Toxicology, with previous research showing that combinations of commonly used agricultural chemicals in concentrations that mirror levels found in groundwater can significantly influence immune, endocrine, and neurological health in animals. His research also links pesticide exposure in utero to impaired learning, changes in brain function, and […]

(Beyond Pesticides, June 1, 2026) In the face of U.S. government inaction, the California state Assembly last week passed legislation to phase out existing agricultural uses and ban new uses of PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) pesticides. The legislation, AB 1603, which accurately defines PFAS pesticides in accordance with international standards, does allow continued residential, school and park, playing field, and community PFAS pesticide use (including mosquito spraying). The bill now moves on to the state Senate. While advocates say the bill is an important step forward, they point out that the legislation is one of many examples that compromises public and environmental health, as pesticide-associated cancer, degenerative diseases, multigenerational effects, and ecosystem decline escalate. This attack on health and the environment is happening at the same time that organic agriculture and land management prohibits the use of PFAS pesticides and all the petrochemical pesticides and fertilizers with profitable and cost-effective practices. The California victory paves the way for state action as regulators at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) refuse to act on clear scientific findings identifying devastating health and environmental threats. In this context, the bill serves as a call for all states to push for this type of legislation […]

(Beyond Pesticides, May 29, 2026) In a new study published in Environmental Pollution, researchers detected 15 currently used pesticides (CUPs)—including 10 pesticide compounds detected but not applied within the study’s managed fields— in the pollen of beehives in an environment meant to reflect a typical honey bee foraging range. The detection of pesticides that were not directly applied within the study’s target radius demonstrates the pervasiveness of pesticide drift into soils, streams, and bodies. In this context, public health and environmental advocates continue to call for a wholesale transition to organic land management. The findings are particularly concerning given the toxicity hazards to honey bees associated with pesticide exposure in this study and bolstered by other studies, resulting in documented threats to their health—as reviewed in this Daily News below. Methodology and Background Researchers at the University of Bern and Agroscope, the Swiss government’s agricultural research arm, conducted this research with agricultural land-use data for 2023 and 2024 from the Zurich (provincial/Canton) government. The study area was defined as a 2-kilometer radius around the hive placement site, with 4 active hives over the course of a two-year period (April 10, 2023, through May 3, 2024). The land use within the […]

(Beyond Pesticides, May 28, 2026) Researchers from France and Germany, as published in Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, find that declines in bird populations are strongly linked to their diets, with insectivorous birds experiencing the greatest impacts. “Overall, our results emphasize the strong association between insecticide use and insectivorous bird declines,” the authors state. They continue: “We found a consistent negative association between insecticide use and population trends of insectivorous birds, the most abundant group, regardless of migration strategy. This pattern suggests indirect effects linked to the depletion of insects as a food source.” In analyzing bird population trends in France over 15 years and comparing bird responses across diets and pesticide types, this study highlights the negative association between insect population declines and insectivorous bird population declines that are linked to agricultural intensification. Study Background The impacts of pesticides on birds, as described on Beyond Pesticides’ resource page, can occur through various routes of exposure. Birds can be exposed to pesticides directly through ingestion of seeds that have been treated with pesticides, or indirectly through consumption of small insects and other animals that have ingested the pesticides themselves, leading to secondary poisonings of the birds. They can also be indirectly […]