70 Percent of Pollen and Honey Samples from Honeybees Contain Pesticides

First Posted: Jul 26, 2015 02:28 PM EDT

Bee populations are declining across the globe. Now, scientists have discovered that more than 70 percent of pollen and honey samples collected from foraging bees in Massachusetts contain at least one neonicotinoid, a class of pesticide that has been implicated in Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD).

CCD is a serious issue impacting bees across the United States. Essentially, adult bees abandon their hives during winter, which then causes the entire colony to collapse. Since 2006, there have been significant losses of honey bee colonies, causing concern among farmers and beekeepers.

In this latest study, the researchers examined pollen samples collected over time-during spring and summer months when bees forage-from the same set of hives across Massachusetts. Collecting pollen samples in this way enabled the researchers to determine variations in the levels of eight neonicotinoids and to identify high risk locations or months for neonicotinoid exposure for bees.

"Data from this study clearly demonstrated the ubiquity of neonicotinoids in pollen and honey samples that bees are exposed to during the seasons when they are actively foraging across Massachusetts," said Chensheng (Alex) Lu, one of the researchers, in a news release. "Levels of neonicotinoids that we found in this study fall into the ranges that could lead to detrimental health effects in bees, including CCD."

The findings suggest that neonicotinoids are being used throughout Massachusetts. This could pose a significant risk for the survival of honey bees, and could also pose a health risk for people inhaling neonicotinoid-contaminated pollen.

"The data presented in this study should serve as a basis for public policy that aims to reduce neonicotinoid exposure," said Lu.

The findings are published in the journal Environmental Chemistry.