A Survey of Pesticide Residues in Pollen Loads Collected by Honey Bees in France

Abstract

In 2002, a field survey was initiated on French apiaries to monitor weakness of honey bee, Apis mellifera L., colonies. Apiaries were evenly distributed in five sites located on continental France. Five colonies were randomly selected in each apiary, leading to a total of 125 studied honey bee colonies. For 3 yr (starting in autumn 2002), colonies were visited four times per year: after winter, before summer, during summer, and before winter. Pollen loads from traps were collected at each visit. Multiresidue analyses were performed in pollen to search residues of 36 different molecules. Specific analyses were conducted to search fipronil and metabolites and also imidacloprid and metabolites. Residues of 19 searched compounds were found in samples. Contamination by pesticides ranged from 50 to 0%. Coumaphos and tau-fluvalinate residues were the most concentrated of all residues (mean concentrations were 925.0 and 487.2 microg/kg, respectively). Fipronil and metabolite contents were superior to the limit of detection in 16 samples. Residues of fipronil were found in 10 samples. Nine samples contained the sulfone compound, and three samples contained the desulfinyl compound. Residues of imidacloprid and 6-chloronicotinic acid were found in 69% of samples. Imidacloprid contents were quantified in 11 samples with values ranging from 1.1 to 5.7 microg/kg. 6-Chloronicotinic acid content was superior to the limit of quantification in 28 samples with values ranging from 0.6 to 9.3 microg/kg. Statistical tests showed no difference between places of sampling with the exception of fipronil. Possible origins of these contaminations, concentration and toxicity of pesticides, and the possible consequences for bees are discussed.

Honey Bees (Apis mellifera L.) and Pollination Issues: Current status, impacts and potential drivers of decline

“…Increased probability of Nosema infection was reported in bees that consumed pollen with a higher fungicide load (Pettis, Lichtenberg, Andree, Stitzinger, & Rose, 2013). Likewise, the residues of insecticide imidacloprid in nectar and pollen at high levels may be dangerous to bees (Laurent & Rathahao, 2003;Chauzat et al, 2006). Widespread losses of colonies in France is due to imidacloprid (Laurent & Rathahao, 2003).…”

“…Similarly, other pesticides "acaricides" have also been found harmful for bees' health (Harz, Muller, & Rademacher, 2010). The acaricidal substances that were intentionally brought into the hives to control V. destructor are the most reported pesticides residues in honey bee colonies (Chauzat et al, 2006;Mullin et al, 2010;Johnson, Ellis, Mulli, & Frazier, 2010;Bernal et al, 2010). In most of the cases, the major pesticide contaminants in hives are the ones used by beekeepers and their residues have shown a number of sub lethal effects.…”

Pollen Toxicity from Seed-Treated Cotton on Bees and Pollen Collection Capacity

“…Imidacloprid residues have been found at concentrations of up to 13 ng in sunflower plants (Laurent & Rathahao, 2003). Chauzat et al (2006) identified 36 different types of residues in pollen loads in apiaries of France. Imidacloprid was the most frequently found compound (49.4%), followed by 6-chloronicotinic acid (44.4%) and fipronil (12.4%) in the analyzed samples.…”

Extraction of Organochlorine Pesticides from Bee Pollen by Matrix Solid-Phase Dispersion: Recovery Evaluation by GC–MS and Method Validation

“…However, the persistence of OCP residues in flowers, plants, soil, and water previously treated with OCPs constitutes a form of environmental contamination; thus, bees can encounter these chemicals and carry them back to their hives [6]. As a consequence, some papers have reported the presence of OCPs in honey [9]; in addition, Chauzat and co-workers [10] have reported the presence of endosulfan, an OCP, in pollen loads. Furthermore, pollen and other bee products can be contaminated directly as a result of the chemical treatment of hives against bee pests [6].…”

“…In addition, two methodologies have been reported for the analysis of imidacloprid and its metabolites [21,22]. Just two papers on the development of methods for the analysis of complex mixtures of pesticides and veterinary drugs were found in the literature [10,23].…”