Our photo of the day shows a rapeseed field between Osterode am Harz and Förste in southern Lower Saxony. A closer look reveals yellowish patches of withered grass in the field, where rapeseed is thriving, seemingly unharmed. This scene is typical of the targeted use of graminicides, pesticides that act selectively: they kill grasses while leaving the crop unharmed… Read more »
A novel textile material for covering strawberry plants has more than tripled yields in tunnel trials without compromising plant health. The technology could also significantly reduce water and pesticide use in strawberry cultivation. The cover, called Plant Armor, is a carefully engineered fabric that is placed over the plants. Its three-dimensional structure keeps insects away from the plants below… Read more »
Berlin (pugnalom.io) – The German Environmental Aid Association (DUH) has filed a lawsuit against the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL). The aim is to revoke the authorizations for the pesticides Decis Forte and GAT DECLINE 2.5 EC. Both products contain the active ingredient deltamethrin, which is suspected of damaging early childhood brain development and significantly impacting ecosystems. The DUH is demanding that the BVL… Read more »
The European Commission plans to grant indefinite approval for pesticides like glyphosate without regular safety assessments. The consumer organization foodwatch criticizes this move as illegal and a de facto favoritism towards industry. Together with six other environmental organizations, foodwatch has presented a legal opinion. This opinion concludes that the plan violates current EU law and a ruling by the European Court of Justice. The proposal is deliberately… Read more »
Consuming certain fruits and vegetables can increase the amount of harmful pesticides found in the human body, according to a new peer-reviewed study by scientists from the Environmental Working Group. Pesticides have been linked to cancer, reproductive damage, hormonal disruption, and neurotoxicity in children. Residues of these chemicals are frequently found in produce, raising concerns among consumers about their exposure… Read more »
Environmental factors such as particulate matter, noise, heat, and environmental toxins significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death worldwide. A review by an international research team shows that these stressors are particularly harmful when they occur in combination. The scientists emphasize that the entirety of environmental factors and their interactions—the so-called multimodal exposome—must be given greater consideration in the development of preventive measures… Read more »
A study published in the journal "Nature" in April 2025 confirms the dramatic decline in biodiversity on agricultural land, particularly among arable weeds such as corn cockle (Agrostemma githago), field larkspur (Consolida regalis), and pheasant's-eye (Adonis spp.). The international research team, led by Meelis Pärtel of the University of Tartu, examined over 5.400 sites in 119 regions worldwide, including many fields… Read more »
A Life in the Fight Against the Effects of Glyphosate: Ludovic Maugé's story is a harrowing example of the potential dangers of glyphosate, a herbicide that has spread worldwide since its introduction in 1974 by the US corporation Monsanto under the brand name "Roundup." Maugé worked for decades as a landscaper and regularly used glyphosate to control weeds. "Twenty years ago… Read more »
The tobacco industry's ecological footprint is enormous, encompassing deforestation for tobacco cultivation, pesticide contamination of the land, and cigarette butts that persist for years, damaging soil, water, and wildlife. We at Pugnalom have compiled some facts and are committed to breaking the tobacco industry's power and encouraging as many consumers as possible to stop smoking… Read more »
Problematic chemicals have not been adequately assessed in the past, concludes a Chinese research team in a recent study. The study shows that chlorinated volatile organic compounds in the atmosphere can be converted into highly toxic polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans on mineral dust particles under sunlight. Hazardous chemicals are frequently assessed in national and international regulations, which primarily focus on… Read more »
