https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/bee-killing-pesticide-widespread-englands-rivers-analysis-finds Many articles from the Morning Star today

CHEMICALS highly harmful to wildlife and human health are widespread in England’s rivers, research published today has found.

Neonicotinoid pesticides, which are lethal for bees, have been found in 85 per cent of tested rivers, according to analysis by the Rivers Trust and Wildlife & Countryside Link.

The groups looked at Environment Agency data on rivers tested between 2023 to 2024.

All five of the neonicotinoids analysed for were detected at sites on the River Waveney and River Wensum in the east Midlands, but only 27 sites were tested, compared with 43 in 2020-22, signalling strained resources at the environmental regulator.

According to experts at the University of Sussex, a single teaspoon of the pesticide is enough to kill 1.25 billion bees.

Neonicotinoid pesticides have already been restricted in Britain, but have been granted “emergency” authorisations every year since 2021.

During its election campaign, Labour pledged to fully ban the chemicals, which have already been prohibited in the EU.

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/bee-killing-pesticide-widespread-englands-rivers-analysis-finds Many articles from the Morning Star today