Citation:

Steeger, T., R. Mroz, K. Garber, AND D. Lehmann. Assessing Risks of Pesticides to Bees: Challenges and Opportunities. American Chemical Society, Philadelphia, PA, August 21 - 25, 2016.

Impact/Purpose:

Pesticides have been identified as one of multiple factors associated with declines in pollinator health in both North America and Europe. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has been working to identify and implement tests for measuring exposure to and effects from pesticides on bees. This presentation will discuss the current battery of tests, efforts to advance new methodologies and predictive tools, and potential partnerships that may accelerate the process and achieve a greater economy of effort.

Description:

Pesticides have been identified as one of multiple factors associated with declines in pollinator health in both North America and Europe. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has been working with its international regulatory counterparts to identify and implement tests for measuring exposure to and effects from pesticides on both honey bees (Apis mellifera) and non-Apis bees such as bumble bees (Bombus spp), mason bees (Osmia spp), and stingless bees (Meliponini spp). These efforts compliment goals identified in President Obama's 2015 National Strategy for protecting pollinator health. The National Strategy and the 2012 EPA White Paper on a conceptual framework for assessing risks of pesticides to bees, discusses multiple uncertainties related to assessing exposure and effects to individual bees (representing solitary bees) and bee colonies (representing social bees) not only from individual pesticide use, but also from pesticides that may be applied in combinations through co-formulations or tank mixes. This presentation will discuss the current battery of tests, efforts to advance new methodologies and predictive tools, and potential partnerships that may accelerate the process and achieve a greater economy of effort. Does not reflect USEPA policy.

Record Details: