The FBPC editorial team continues its series on which preparations are used for treatment to protect against leaf-eating and sucking pests in the regions of Kazakhstan, and how much they can affect living organisms, including humans.
We have previously written about what they are continuing to use to poison the residents of Astana, Uralsk and the East Kazakhstan Region. In this part, we will talk about what preparations are used in the fight against beetles in Atyrau.
According to the data from the Atyrau city akimat, phytosanitary treatment of trees is carried out within the framework of the public-private partnership project "Care for Green Spaces of the City of Atyrau". The treatment is planned to be carried out in four stages: from April to October 2024.
It is noted that the disinsection is aimed at protecting elm (siberian elm) from the elm leaf beetle. All work is carried out at night. The preparations "Enzhio", "Izumi", "Chlortsirin", "Cruiser" and "Decis Expert" are used for plant treatment.
We will examine in detail the active ingredients of these preparations, as well as their toxic effects on living organisms, while noting their area of application within the list of pesticides approved for use in Kazakhstan.
The insecticides "Enzhio" and "Izumi" are chemical preparations containing two active substances: "Thiamethoxam" and "Lambda-cyhalothrin".
- "Thiamethoxam" belongs to the class of neonicotinoids, which are similar in action to nicotine and have a harmful effect on various organs and tissues, most notably the liver and kidneys. The substance can cause acute poisoning in humans, characterised by dizziness, vomiting, and diarrhoea.
In 2020, a team of American researchers concluded that the use of neonicotinoids led to a significant decline in bird populations in the USA. Furthermore, neonicotinoid pesticides lead to the decline of bumblebees, honeybees and other pollinating insects, which is why they are banned in European Union countries.
- "Lambda-cyhalothrin" irritates mucous membranes, negatively affects the human cardiovascular system and can lead to pulmonary oedema. The substance is highly toxic to aquatic organisms and causes long-term changes in the aquatic environment. Like "Thiamethoxam", "Lambda-cyhalothrin" is lethal to bumblebees, honeybees and other pollinating insects.
According to the list of pesticides permitted for sale and use on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the preparations "Enzhio" and "Izumi" are approved for use in the treatment of agricultural crops.
The insecticide "Chlortsirin" is a contact-intestinal action preparation against chewing and sucking insect pests. The active ingredients of "Chlortsirin" are "Chlorpyrifos" and "Cypermethrin", the harmful effects of which we have written about repeatedly before. To recap:
- "Chlorpyrifos" increases the likelihood of giving birth to children with autism, and in early childhood causes reduced body weight, and impaired cognitive and physical abilities. When affecting adults, it has a destructive effect on the human cardiovascular, respiratory, and central nervous systems.
- "Cypermethrin" has a toxic effect on the male reproductive system, contributes to an increase in bone marrow micronuclei and the development of suicidal tendencies. The substance negatively affects the central nervous system of mammals and is extremely toxic to cats, fish, bees, and aquatic insects.
According to the list of pesticides permitted for sale and use on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the preparation "Chlortsirin" is approved for use in the treatment of cotton plants, apple trees, and areas infested with locusts. The document does not mention possible treatment of Siberian elm against the elm leaf beetle in the urban environment.
The preparation "Cruiser" is a systemic insecticide whose active ingredient is the neonicotinoid "Imidacloprid", which, like "Thiamethoxam", belongs to the class of neuroactive insecticides modelled on nicotine, and accordingly, as we have noted before, has a harmful effect on the liver and kidneys.
- "Imidacloprid" is characterised by high persistence in soil: the half-life process takes up to 100 days. When absorbed by plants, "Imidacloprid" breaks down within 2-3 weeks. The substance is moderately toxic to warm-blooded animals and humans, highly toxic to birds, and lethal to bees.
It is noted that "Imidacloprid" is poorly soluble as a seed treatment when combating insects in the early stages of their development; therefore, it must be taken into account that the preparation should be used when the soil is well-moistened.
According to the list of pesticides permitted for sale and use on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the preparation "Cruiser" is approved for use in the treatment of wheat and areas infested with locusts.
The insecticide "Decis Expert" is another contact and intestinal action preparation, the active ingredient of which is "Deltamethrin".
- "Deltamethrin" is a potential allergen and can cause asthma in some people. In cases of acute poisoning, humans experience uncoordinated movements, shortness of breath, swelling, headache, convulsions, vomiting, and difficulty breathing. The substance is not only toxic to warm-blooded animals and humans but also extremely toxic to bees and insects.
Notably, "Deltamethrin" is currently considered an outdated insecticide, as many insects, particularly mosquitoes and bed bugs, have become insensitive to it. For example, it is noted that about 88% of bed bugs in the USA have genes that block the action of "Deltamethrin".
According to the list of pesticides permitted for sale and use on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the preparation "Decis Expert" is approved for use in the treatment of agricultural crops.
It is worth noting that in 2023, for disinsection in the city of Atyrau, the preparations "Dessenlin", "Thiamethrin" and "Flex Expert" were used, whose active ingredients are also "Thiamethoxam", "Lambda-cyhalothrin" and "Deltamethrin".
We draw attention once again to the fact that when using pesticides to combat insects, local authorities in many regions base their decisions on the permissibility of the applied preparations on the territory of Kazakhstan. At the same time, the akimats do not take into account that the preparations are approved for the protection of agricultural crops, and not for use in the urban environment.
To be continued...