<x-tad-smaller>The question is not organic vs. chemical or chemical vs. organic since organic growers do use chemicals such as Bt.
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<x-tad-smaller>It is the toxin from the soil bacteria </x-tad-smaller><x-tad-smaller>Bacillus thuringiensis</x-tad-smaller><x-tad-smaller>. In 1997 Bt was the most heavily used pesticide on organic farms.
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<x-tad-smaller>The real question that is typically overlooked is, toxic vs. non-toxic. For example:</x-tad-smaller>
<x-tad-smaller>Nicotine, one of the more toxic organic insecticides, has a rat LD50 (lethal dose in 50% of animals tested) of 55mg/kg. The synthetic insecticide, imidacloprid, has a rat LD50 of 425mg/kg, making imidacloprid nearly 10 times less toxic than nicotine. Yet nicotine is "organic". Rotenone has an LD50 of 60-1500 mg/kg and is more acutely toxic than Malathion or Sevin. Cats are highly susceptible to pyrethrum. But Rotenone is "organic". </x-tad-smaller>
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