Why Pesticides Are Bad For Your Bird

Since my stroke I have not ventured into vulgarization of science. I speak both French and English so I did at one point do many scientific translations.

I am not going to go into the pesticides used today as I have not been in the field for a very long time. I used systemic and also non systemic pesticides during my career. One of these pesticides was diazinon which is non systemic. http://npic.orst.edu...iazinontech.pdf

http://www.motherear...x#axzz2jDPIsD8Q

Read for a definition of systemic pesticides.

When working with these (systemic) it is dangerous because they can be absorbed through the skin. When I was studying in pesticides I actually sat on a large drum of systemic pesticides to eat my sandwich and was promptly warned by a teacher.

Diazinon which is a brand name was widely used back in my time. It effects the bodies neurotransmitters system. In the synapse between the nerve ending and a muscle, a neurotransmitter does it's job (transmitting a signal) then is destroyed by another chemical. When this process is hindered by the inability to destroy the neurotransmitter it can lead to many problems from twitching to death.

Here is an explanation by a scientist of how the neurotransmitters work. It is this very process that poisons like diazinon (brand name) disrupt.

There is also a second video for the more adventurous among you.

http://en.wikipedia....i/Acetylcholine This is an article on the neurotransmitter. I know many criticize the use of Wikipedia but the articles are good.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diazinon You will see that a dangerous dose gets smaller and smaller with tiny animals. This is why pesticides are dangerous for your bird.

"Diazinon functions as an acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor. This enzyme breaks down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) into [choline] and an acetate group. (1) The inhibition of the AChE causes an abnormal accumulation of ACh in the synaptic cleft. "

Acetylcholine (ACh) accumulates in the synaptic cleft.

Edited October 30, 201311 yr by Phoebes