Design and analysis of field studies with bees: A critical review of the draft EFSA guidance.
Integr Environ Assess Manag
; 12(3): 422-8, 2016 Jul.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-26436642
ABSTRACT
The specific protection goal, primary assessment endpoints, acceptable effect thresholds, and experimental design proposed in the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) update of the bee guidance document are subjected to critical review. It is concluded that the negligible effect criteria were established without sufficient regulatory definition and without convincing scientific argumentation. For the assessment endpoints, effects on hive strength lack temporal definition and the reduction to numbers of bees is inappropriate to evaluate effects. Restricting mortality assessments to homing failure is not theoretically justified and specific criteria were incorrectly derived. The combination of acute effect estimates with models for chronic stressors is biased risk assessment and a temporal basis for the acceptability of effects is missing. Effects on overwintering success cannot be experimentally assessed using the proposed criteria. The experimental methodology proposed is inappropriate and the logistical consequences, in particular those related to replication and land use are such that field studies are no longer a feasible option for the risk assessment. It may be necessary to explore new lines of thought for the set-up of field studies and to clearly separate experimentation from monitoring. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2016;12422-428. © 2015 SETAC.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Abelhas
/
Monitoramento Ambiental
/
Guias como Assunto
/
Política Ambiental
Tipo de estudo:
Etiology_studies
/
Guideline
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Integr Environ Assess Manag
Ano de publicação:
2016
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
França