Agricultural chemicals are ecological drugs

Comment I left at Truthout post describing a neonicotinoid study conducted under 'real world' conditions of its effects on bee health to mixed results:

These findings are entirely predictable; their ambiguity buys their manufacturers more time to further market them as 'safe'. What the public often doesn't understand is the relationship between agricultural chemical(s) and the ecosystem (crop fields). A useful metaphor:
agricultural chemical :: agricultural condition :: ecosystem/environment/crop field
this relationship resembles -
drug :: disease/illness/infection :: patient

Neonicotinoids are chemicals (agricultural 'drugs') used to treat crops/fields to kill unwanted insects; antibiotics are chemicals (drugs) used to treat patients to kill pathogenic bacteria. But the outcome of a course of antibiotics is not always as intended - they can kill beneficial bacteria; they can't kill resistant bacteria; they may have synergistic or antagonistic side effects with genetics/drugs/diet/smoking/alcohol/etc - in other words, <a href= "https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-do-drugs-affect-people-differently-understanding-factors-sharma" >drugs do not affect all patients the same way</a>, some respond well, others experience dangerous side effects. By the same token, not all crop fields will respond the same way to the same pesticide/agricultural drug. In some instances (Germany), neonicotinoids did not have the side effect of bee (beneficial insect) deaths; in other cases (Hungary and the UK), neonicotinoid had the side effect of higher levels of bee death. This is true for all agricultural chemicals, including fertilizers, plant/animal hormones, animal antibiotics, pesticides and herbicides.

By the way, Bayer is a major drug producer; these are issues they regularly address with regards to drug safety/regulation. Pharmaceutical drugs must have a thoroughly tested/documented safety and efficacy record before they can be marketed to patients. The standard is lower for agricultural chemicals. With their experience and expertise, Bayer should have no difficulty meeting higher safety standards for agricultural chemicals. The question for the public is how much risk is tolerable?