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Pesticide Action Network UK

We are the only UK charity focused on tackling the problems caused by pesticides.
Pesticide Action Network UK

Helping Cotton Farmers to Cut Pesticide Use
Pesticide Action Network UK

Are Pesticides Harming Bees?

PAN UK HomeSam Claydon2024-11-14T00:15:36+00:00

PAN UK Updates

Toxic chemical cocktails found at over 1,600 river and groundwater sites across England
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Toxic chemical cocktails found at over 1,600 river and groundwater sites across England

All PAN UK posts, Defending the environment

Toxic chemical cocktails found at over 1,600 river and groundwater sites across England

Sam Claydon2023-05-24T11:05:57+01:00May 24th, 2023|

New analysis of official Environment Agency data has revealed the worrying scale of chemical cocktail pollution in rivers and other [...]

The climate emergency is devastating Ethiopian farmers
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The climate emergency is devastating Ethiopian farmers

All PAN UK posts, Bettering livelihoods, Defending the environment, Phasing out HHPs, Safeguarding health

The climate emergency is devastating Ethiopian farmers

Sam Claydon2023-05-24T10:19:08+01:00May 15th, 2023|

by Dr Stephanie Williamson, PAN UK Staff Scientist PAN Ethiopia teams meet up for week of training in Arba [...]

Calling for greener social housing
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Calling for greener social housing

All PAN UK posts

Calling for greener social housing

Sam Claydon2023-03-20T07:59:50+00:00March 19th, 2023|

by Emma Pavans de Ceccatty, Campaigner, PAN UK Over 3.9 million people, or 17% of households in England live in [...]

Find out more about glyphosate - the active ingredient in Roundup

Find out more alternatives to pesticides using our resources section.

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The UK government tests roughly 3,000kg of food fo

The UK government tests roughly 3,000kg of food for pesticide residues each year. Once the results are published, PAN UK analyses this data and makes it accessible to the general public by producing the annual ‘Dirty Dozen’ list.

This list shows the produce most likely to contain residues of two or more pesticides (known as ‘pesticide cocktails’) to help inform people’s shopping decisions.

As part of the latest analysis, we looked beyond just fruit and vegetables to include all products of ‘non-animal origin’. As a result, the latest Dirty Dozen includes bread at number seven – with rice just missing out at number thirteen.

You can download the list for free via the link in our bio.

The study, led by researchers from Translational G

The study, led by researchers from Translational Genomics Research Institute and published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation, shows that pre-clinical models exposed to glyphosate develop brain pathologies associated with neurodegenerative disease. The findings suggest the brain may be much more susceptible to the damaging effects of the herbicide than previously thought.

“Herbicides are used heavily and ubiquitously around the world,” said a senior author of the paper Patrick Pirrotte, Ph.D., associate professor in TGen’s Early Detection and Prevention Division. “These findings highlight that many chemicals we regularly encounter, previously considered safe, may pose potential health risks. However, further research is needed to fully assess the public health impact and identify safer alternatives.”

Read the full story and find the article on our blog (link in bio).

@cityofhope

Pesticides are causing overwhelming negative effec

Pesticides are causing overwhelming negative effects on hundreds of species of microorganisms, plants, insects, fish, birds and mammals that they are not intended to harm. Globally, their use is a major contributor to the biodiversity crisis.

As part of a recent study, scientists analysed over 1,700 existing lab and field studies of the impacts of 471 different pesticide types – either insecticides, fungicides or herbicides – in agricultural, commercial or domestic use.

Wide-ranging negative effects were seen for over 800 species found on land and in water, including impacts on how fast they grow, their reproductive success, and even behaviour such as their ability to catch prey, find plants to forage upon, move, or attract mates. Pesticides can also affect organisms’ metabolism and damage cells. These negative effects can result in the premature death of wild organisms and reduce populations.

“Our study provides an unparalleled insight into the consequences of pesticide use on the natural environment globally.” Co-author Dr Ben Woodcock, an ecologist at UKCEH. @ukceh

Professor Dave Goulson of the University of Sussex, who was also part of the research, added: “It is often assumed that pesticides are toxic primarily to the target pest and closely related organisms, but this is clearly not true. Concerningly, we found pervasive negative impacts across plants, animals, fungi and microbes, threatening the integrity of ecosystems.” @dave.goulson

Read more and access the article in Nature Communications on our blog (link in bio).

Dr Cannelle Tassin de Montaigu, the lead author on

Dr Cannelle Tassin de Montaigu, the lead author on the study, said: “No nest was free from insecticides in our study, and this significant presence of harmful chemicals could be having devastating consequences on the UK’s bird populations."

Sue Morgan, Chief Executive of @songbirdsurvival who funded the study, said: “We are a nation of pet lovers and bird lovers, and it is extremely concerning to see the alarming levels of toxic pesticides in bird nests from veterinary drugs. Pet owners will be upset to hear that in trying to do the right thing to support their pets with fleas and ticks, they could be harming our ecosystem, resulting in dead newborn chicks and unhatched eggs. As pet owners, we need to have confidence that we are keeping our pets well, without devastating impacts on our wildlife.

“Our UK songbirds are in crisis. More than half of our UK songbirds are threatened or already in decline, which is why this latest research shows the importance of taking action as soon as possible. We want the government to undertake a more comprehensive environmental risk assessment of veterinary drugs.”

Read the full story on our blog. Link in bio.

Great news! A win for bees. The application to al

Great news! A win for bees.

The application to allow the use of a banned pesticide, the neonicotinoid thiamethoxam, on sugar beet has been denied.

After years of repeated 'emergency' authorisations of this banned chemical we are happy to see the new government stand up for our pollinators.

#neonics #bees

CORRECTION: Note that the level of glyphosate allo

CORRECTION: Note that the level of glyphosate allowed in UK drinking water is 0.1 micrograms and not 0.1 milligrammes as stated in the graphics.

Glyphosate (the most widely-used herbicide in the world) is applied on farms, used by councils to control weeds in our towns and cities and is available to buy in garden centres. While it is meant to just target plants, studies are increasingly pointing to negative effects on wildlife and our health.

A new study from the Federal University of Fronteira Sul in Brazil has found that glyphosate-based pesticides significantly affect the early life stages of frogs. They tested the effects of 0.1 mg/L, 0.35mg/L and 0.7 mg/L (0.5 mg/L is allowed in drinking water in Brazil) on embryos and hatchlings of the weeping frog.

They found that these levels of exposure were sufficient to impact the early life stages of the frog. They were smaller in size, had increased heart rates, malformations in the mouth and intestines and were less likely to flee from predators.

Amphibians are experiencing a global population decline, with over a third of species threatened with extinction. Glyphosate is up for a license renewal in the UK this year.

@escolhiseruffs @ppgcta_uffs @labeco.uffs

Full post our blog (link in bio)

#glyphosate #frogs #amphibians #herbicide #pesticides

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