James Lovelock and his invention to detect tiny amounts of chemicals UK

EFN - Science Magazine confirms the presence of neonicotinoids (pesticides) in 75% of honey samples around the world : a connexion with nuclear energy

By Bruno Comby Nuclear Engineer Houilles, France President of Environmentalists for Nuclear – International, http://ecolo.org/ Member, International Board of Advisors for Environmentalists for Nuclear – USA, http://efn-usa.org/ October 8, 2017 Dear friends of clean nuclear energy, A new study, published in Science Magazine today October 6th, 2017, shows that 75% of honey samples gathered from around the world are contaminated with (that is, they contain detectable amounts of) neonicotinoid pesticides.

See the complete article published in Science Magazine here : http://science.sciencemag.org/content/358/6359/109.full Neonicotinoids are most often used as insecticides. They are highly toxic (deadly) for insects and are held responsible for the massive deaths and decrease in populations of honey bees observed in numerous countries. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pesticide_toxicity_to_bees Luckily, neonicotinoids are far less toxic for humans than they are for insects.

However they accumulate in our body's tissues over time and are suspected to be responsible for various metabolic disorders as they accumulate over time in human and mammal tissues, from endocrine perturbancy to cancer, immune disorders and perhaps neurological disorders.

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It should be noted that the concentrations of neonicotinoids that have been detected in these honey samples are very small : they are expressed in ng/g (nanograms per grams).

That is in proportions of about one in a billion, billionths !

The detection and dosage of such small doses of a chemical substance is a technical feat, made possible only by using mass spectrometry, a system based on an electron capture detector (ECD) invented in 1958 by the famous scientist, chemist and inventor, Professor James Lovelock. He is also considered since the 1960's as the father of environmental thinking (and is an eminent and active member of EFN Environmentalists For Nuclear, since 2002, fifteen years ago).

It is this highly sensitive electron capture detector ECD (see photo at the bottom of this message) which he invented that measured the presence of DDT in ice samples at the North Pole in the 1960's. This played a major role in demonstrating that pollution is without borders, launching the worldwide development of environmental consciousness half a century ago, giving birth to the many environmental movements that now exist.

Today this same highly sensitive ECD device continues to play a major role in the understanding of widespread environmental pollution - and may in this case help to save the bees.

France now has a ban on the use of neonicotinoids voted in 2016, to be implemented starting next January, on 1st January 2018. It remains to be seen however to what extent this will succeed in saving the honey bees (as parasites and other factors may also be involved in the decrease of bee populations) and to what extent it will therefore reincrease the honey bees population and the honey production, which has dramatically decreased in the last 20 years. https://www.connexionfrance.com/French-news/Honey-production-lowest-in-20years Lovelock, born in 1919 (now 98 years old, but still alive and active) is not only a great scientist for having made possible the detection of widespread environmental pollution, such as the presence of DDT in the ice at the North Pole and now neonicotinoids now detected in honey. He also played a major role, as a historical figure of the environmental movement, with the Gaia theory in the 1970's, and later by joining EFN and supporting our efforts in opening people's minds to the many environmental benefits of nuclear energy.

We recommend you to read or visit : The article published in Science Magazine today : http://science.sciencemag.org/content/358/6359/109.full The addendums to this article, mentioning the measurement method (mass spectrometry) : 2

http://science.sciencemag.org/content/suppl/2017/10/04/358.6359.109.DC1 Prof. Lovelock's biography on his official web site (hosted by EFN) : http://ecolo.org/lovelock/lovebioen.htm Prof. Lovelock's book "The Revenge of Gaia" (why the earth is fighting back and how we can still save humanity ; an entire chapter of the book is about why nuclear energy is the solution for our future, EFN is mentioned) : https://www.amazon.co.uk/Revenge-Gaia-Earth-Fighting-Humanity/dp/0141025972 Prof. Lovelock's introduction to the book "Environmentalists For Nuclear Energy" : http://ecolo.org/lovelock/loveprefaceen.htm Why it is time to love atomic energy (published in The Independent, 2004) : http://ecolo.org/media/articles/articles.in.english/love-indep-28-8-04.jpg Numerous other papers by Prof. Lovelock, explaining why every environmentalist should be in love with nuclear energy : http://ecolo.org/lovelock/ So yes, for sure, let's be optimistic : it is not to late to save the bees. Hopefully, our children's grand children will still enjoy licking their fingers dipped in delicious honey, and it is not too late to support plentiful clean nuclear energy and therefore ensure a better future for our descendants.

Enjoy your weekend and be happy !

Bruno Comby Founder and President of EFN Environmentalists for Nuclear Energy http://www.ecolo.org -------3

EFN is an international network of individuals and organizations gathering over 15,000 members and supporters in 65 countries, providing information on energy and the environment, with a special focus on the many benefits of clean nuclear energy.

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The electron capture detector invented by Professor James Lovelock in 1958 (still used in all mass spectrometry devices by chemical laboratories, for highly sensitive chemical analysis) :

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James Lovelock at his home in the U.K. :

James Lovelock and Bruno Comby, President of EFN : 5

Visit our web site : http://www. ecolo.org Join us and become a member of EFN : http://www.ecolo.org/subscri/subscrien.htm Support our efforts by making a donation to EFN : http://www.ecolo.org/donate/donateen.htm

Addendum: Professor James Lovelock changed his thinking about efforts for radical plans to save the planet. Click here, here, and here for his thoughts up through 2017.

This is in line with change in thinking by Stewart Brand, Founding Publisher of the Whole Earth Catalogue, click here, and here.

It is important to look at topics of humanity and the environment from all sides following the Scientific Method rather than from just one point of view as in dogma.

John Shanahan Civil Engineer Denver, Colorado, USA President of Environmentalists for Nuclear - USA

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