The European Union has voted to ban pesticides that may be contributing to global bee declines.

The compounds in question, neonicotinoids, have been found in pollen and nectar, and also have been linked to bee deaths in some studies. In addition, non-fatal doses have been associated with a range adverse health effects included reduced navigational ability.

Environmentalists praise the two-year ban, saying the ban gives bees the opportunity to rebound.

The world's first continent-wide ban has its detractors, however. European pesticide giants Bayer CropScience and Syngenta both oppose the measure, saying there isn't enough research to support the prohibition.

Neonicotinoids are one of the most widely-used pesticides worldwide.

Read More:

• Bee-harming pesticides banned in Europe (The Guardian)
• Europe Bans Pesticides Thought Harmful to Bees (New York Times)
• Europe Bans Pesticides In Move To Protect Honey Bees (NPR)