IMIDACLOPRID UPDATE

***IMIDACLOPRID UPDATE***

I just checked some new toxicity data on Imidacloprid. The tables have
turned.

Here is the latest I can find:

"Imidacloprid is acutely toxic to earthworms with an LD50 of between 2 and
four parts per million in soil.  While extremely low doses of 0.2ppm and
0.5ppm have been shown to cause deformed sperm and DNA damage respectively."

Acutely doesnt suggest it is more or less toxic than another insecticide.
It refers to the mortality of a single exposure event. Chronic is the
long-term effect. This study didn't include long term exposure presumably
because worms move around & die from many other factors as well (heat,
drought, other chemicals, etc).

Either way, the tables are turning on Bayer who for years has claimed that
Imidacloprid was practically non toxic to worms when used as directed.
Apparently this has not been the case.

As usual toxicity is relevant to timing & rate of exposure.

My apologies for having quoted old data.

Stephen Jepsen
GPC Committee Member
 
Grow 'Em BIG 
 

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