Latest news with #BenWoodcock
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists uncover massive collateral damage tied to a routine practice: 'A necessary evil'
For decades, scientists have known that pesticide use negatively impacts many species, including humans, and ecosystems. But new research has found that not only do pesticides harm some species — they harm nearly all of them. The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, was conducted by international research teams from the United Kingdom and China. It was one of the largest studies on the broad impacts of pesticide use to date. "Our study provides an unparalleled insight into the consequences of pesticide use on the natural environment globally," co-author Ben Woodcock said in a news release from the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, per After analyzing over 1,700 existing studies of agricultural, commercial, and domestic pesticide use, researchers found that the negative effects were "overwhelming," "wide-ranging," and pervasive across hundreds of species, per the report. These negative effects included impacts on reproductive processes, individual growth, hunting and foraging abilities, metabolism, mating behaviors, and more. In many cases, the use of pesticides leads to premature death and population loss. "It is often assumed that pesticides are toxic primarily to the target pest and closely related organisms, but this is clearly not true," Dave Goulson, another researcher, explained. "Concerningly, we found pervasive negative impacts across plants, animals, fungi and microbes, threatening the integrity of ecosystems." It's clear that widespread pesticide use is a major contributor to the loss of biodiversity around the world. And while this may sound like a vague, undefined issue, it has concrete effects. As the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, part of the American Museum of Natural History, puts it, biodiversity provides fundamental resources for humans, including food, shelter, fuel, and medicine. "Further, ecosystems provide crucial services such as pollination, seed dispersal, climate regulation, water purification, nutrient cycling, and control of agricultural pests," it states. Yet pesticides are still used, as Woodcock said, because our modern agricultural systems would fail without them. "Pesticides are a necessary evil, without which global food production and farmers' livelihoods would likely collapse," he said. "However, our findings highlight the need for policies and practices to reduce their use." Do you worry about pesticides in your food? All the time Sometimes Not really I only eat organic Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. While some pesticides will continue being used, researchers recommended limiting their application as much as possible. This is already being done in many parts of the world; for example, over 10% of agricultural land in the European Union is free from synthetic pesticides. And scientists encouraged farmers to adopt a surprisingly simple technique instead of spraying toxic chemical treatments: planting wildflowers. These support species that naturally eat pests, such as ladybugs and beetles. Similarly, wildlife-friendly landscaping can attract other natural predators, including frogs, birds, and hedgehogs. And Woodcock said that there was "a lot of scope in the future" for incorporating technology into future solutions, such as using artificial intelligence to monitor pests with cameras or developing highly accurate application techniques to avoid unnecessary contamination. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Saba Yemen
17-02-2025
- Health
- Saba Yemen
Study reveals serious pesticides impact on many living organisms
London - Saba: A recent study revealed that the widespread use of pesticides also affects the lives of more than 800 species of plants and animals. The Russian TASS Agency on Monday said the media office of the British Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH) explained that pesticides, in addition to their impact on weeds and insect pests, negatively affect the lives of more than 800 species of plants and animals that play an important role in the functioning of ecosystems throughout the Earth. Researcher Ben Woodcock says: "Our study presents the first comprehensive picture of how pesticides affect the environment. They are a necessary evil: without them we cannot produce food properly and farmers will lose their income. But the evidence we have collected confirms the need to search for policies and practices to reduce their use." The researchers reached these results within the framework of a project that included the analysis and integration of the results of more than 1,700 studies, devoted to the impact of more than 400 types of pesticides, fungicides and herbicides on ecosystems in dozens of countries around the world. In general, scientists studied more than 20,000 effects that these substances could theoretically have on nature. The results of the study showed that the intensive use of pesticides negatively affects the vital activity of more than 800 species of animals, plants, fungi and invertebrates. Thus, the use of all categories of these substances slows down the growth of mammals by an average of ten percent, and their reproduction by 20-30 percent. In addition, their use led to noticeable changes in the behavior of wild animals and birds, because pesticides have toxic effects on the nervous system of vertebrates. The researchers also noted a slowdown in plant growth and a change in the activity of a large number of enzymes when using fungicides. The researchers note that they did not record any significant differences in the toxic effects of old and new generations of pesticides, casting doubt on the claims of their producers that the new toxic substances have a more targeted effect on weeds, diseases and pests. According to environmental scientists, these results point to the need to develop safer pesticides, as well as to take measures to encourage farmers and agricultural companies to reduce their use. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print more of (Press)
