The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing its updated occupational exposure assessments for handling and treating seeds with clothianidin, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam, which belong to a class of pesticides called “neonicotinoids.” Neonicotinoids are systemic insecticides that work by disrupting the central nervous system of insects. If humans are exposed to very high amounts of neonicotinoids, they could also experience harmful effects such as neurotoxicity (e.g., tremors and decreased motor activity), reproductive, or developmental effects. These pesticides are used on a wide variety of crops, turf, ornamentals, pets (i.e., flea treatments), and other residential and commercial indoor and outdoor uses. There are also over 100 different seed treatment products that contain clothianidin, imidacloprid, or thiamethoxam, which are used to control chewing and sucking insects that can cause significant damage to seeds and young plants soon after planting.
