Chemicals attacking the microbiome

The microbiome is complicated

Recent research into the health problems being experienced by bees showed that it was not just insecticides causing the problem. What made the bees sick was a combination of small amounts of insecticide with fungicide.

Why would fungicide affect bees? I think the answer is very clear from other research into the microbiome: the cocktail of living things in and on humans and other multicell creatures such as bees.

We used to think bacteria was bad, so antibiotics must be good. Then we learnt that we are home to lots of beneficial bacteria that are damaged by antibiotics. But now we know that the microbiome is a cocktail of bacteria, fungi and viruses. And they are all involved, some more beneficially than others.

Whether we are looking at insect health (which is urgent), or the health of humans, we need to investigate the overuse of a whole range of chemicals, whatever their targets, and even if they are not intended for biochemical effects. And we need to look at the effects of combinations. Given the large (and indeed exaggerated) reaction the general population has to radiation, I believe they can be induced to demand action on this.

[update 2/5/2019: More evidence that fungicide causes health problems: https://www.diabetes.co.uk/news/2019/apr/Additive-found-in-baked-goods-linked-with-possible-type-2-diabetes-risk-91661279.html]