Science Media Centre

The European Commission has voted to ban neonicotinoid pesticides in EU member states. The decision is expected to come into force by the end of 2018, with only closed greenhouses exempt. The decision follows growing evidence that the insecticides may be linked to declines in pollinator populations, including honeybees. New Zealand’s Environmental Protection Authority has said it would watch the […]

Australian hardware chain Bunnings has decided to stop selling neonicotinoid pesticides products in its Australian and New Zealand stores by the end of the year. The Sydney Morning Herald reported the decision over the weekend, which the company said was based on studies that suggest neonicotinoid pesticides may be contributing to declining bee numbers. The […]

In a study of 325 couples going through fertility treatment, women who ate fruits and veggies with higher pesticide residues tended to have fewer pregnancies and live births after IVF, according to a US study. The authors say their study is the first of its kind in humans and needs to be confirmed by further […]

Two large-scale field experiments have shown mixed effects of certain insecticides on honey bees and wild bees. Neonicotinoids are insecticides broadly applied to many major crops but have been implicated in the decline of bees globally. Two studies, published today in Science, found mixed results. Insecticide residue in bees nests was associated with lower reproductive […]

Genetically engineered crops are safe, but new regulations are needed as the definition of GE organisms becomes blurred, say US academies. An extensive study by the US-based National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has analysed the costs and benefits of genetically modified crops, drawing on almost 30 years of research. The key findings of the […]

The use of glyphosate weedkiller on Auckland parks and footpaths is in the spotlight amidst claims local councils’ spraying programmes are putting the public at risk. This week, the Green Party issued a media release calling for the Environmental Protection Authority to review the use of glyphosate. “Our survey of councils shows thousands of litres of […]

Radio New Zealand’s Morning Report examines the issue of neonicotinoid pesticides and their impact on New Zealand’s beehives. Lois Williams spoke to Harvard Professor Alex Lu, whose research has shown previously that New Zealand pollens contain more neonicotinoids than samples obtained in the US. You can listen the report below.

Women whose bodies have high levels of hormone mimicking chemicals found in plastics, personal-care products, common household items and the environment appear to experience menopause earlier than women with lower levels of these chemicals, according to a new US study. Researchers analysed the blood and urine of almost 1,500 menopausal women and identified 15 chemicals […]

The European Commission has voted in favour of a two-year moratorium on the use of a pesticide known to harm bees. Neonicotinoid chemicals in pesticides have been blamed for falling bee numbers and the European Commission says they should be restricted to crops not attractive to bees and other pollinators. The Commission’s action is a […]

US research suggests children who were exposed to organophosphate pesticides while still in their mother’s womb were more likely to develop attention disorders years later. Organophosphates have been linked to neurobehavioral deficits in children but this new research is the first to examine the influence of prenatal organophosphate exposure on the later development of attention […]