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Naujokaitis-Lewis I, Endicott S, Gaudreault E, Maisonneuve F, Robinson SA. Milkweed in agricultural field margins - A neonicotinoid exposure route for pollinators at multiple life stages. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 951:175622. [PMID: 39163943 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2024] [Revised: 08/15/2024] [Accepted: 08/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/22/2024]
Abstract
Neonicotinoid insecticides move from targeted crops to wildflowers located in adjacent field margins, acting as a potential exposure source for wild pollinators and insect species of conservation concern, including monarch butterflies. Monarchs rely on milkweed over multiple life stages, including as a host plant for eggs and a food source for both larvae (leaves) and adults (flowers). Milkweeds, which are closely associated with field margins, can contain neonicotinoid residues, but previous assessments are constrained to a single plant tissue type. In 2017 and 2018, we sampled milkweeds from 95 field margins adjacent to crop fields (corn, soybean, hay, wheat, and barley) in agricultural landscapes of eastern Ontario, Canada. Milkweeds were sampled during the flower blooming period and leaves and flower tissues were analysed. The neonicotinoids acetamiprid, clothianidin, thiamethoxam, and thiacloprid were detected. Maximum concentrations in leaf samples included 10.30 ng/g of clothianidin in 2017, and 24.4 ng/g of thiamethoxam in 2018. Clothianidin and thiamethoxam percent detections in flowers (72 % and 61 %, respectively) were significantly higher than detections in leaves (24 % and 31 %, respectively). Thiamethoxam concentrations were significantly higher in paired flower samples than leaf samples (median 0.33 ng/g vs <0.07 ng/g) while clothianidin concentrations also trended higher in flowers (median 0.18-0.55 ng/g vs <0.18 ng/g). Only thiamethoxam showed significant differences between years, and we found no effect of crop type, with hay, soybean and corn fields all yielding 50-56 % detections in leaves. We found significantly higher concentrations in older milkweed flowers than young flowers or leaves (medians 0.87 ng/g vs <0.18 ng/g and 0.45 ng/g vs <0.07 ng/g for clothianidin and thiamethoxam, respectively). Our results highlight the importance of considering variation in milkweed tissue type and age of flowers in neonicotinoid exposure risk assessments. Efforts to increase milkweed availability in agricultural landscapes should consider how exposure to neonicotinoids can be mitigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilona Naujokaitis-Lewis
- Landscape Science and Technology Division, National Wildlife Research Centre, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
| | - Sarah Endicott
- Landscape Science and Technology Division, National Wildlife Research Centre, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Emma Gaudreault
- Production Insurance, Business Risk Management Branch, Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Kelowna, BC, Canada
| | - France Maisonneuve
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, National Wildlife Research Centre, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Stacey A Robinson
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, National Wildlife Research Centre, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
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Reis AB, Martínez LC, de Oliveira MS, Souza DDS, Gomes DS, Silva LLD, Serrão JE. Sublethal Effects Induced by a Cyflumetofen Formulation on Honeybee Apis mellifera L. Workers: Assessment of Midgut, Hypopharyngeal Glands, and Fat Body Integrity. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2024; 43:2455-2465. [PMID: 39171958 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2024] [Revised: 07/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024]
Abstract
Worldwide, both cultivated and wild plants are pollinated by the honey bee, Apis mellifera. Bee numbers are declining as a result of a variety of factors, including increased pesticide use. Cyflumetofen controls pest mites in some plantations pollinated by bees, which may be contaminated with residual sublethal concentrations of this pesticide, in nectar and pollen. We evaluated the effects of a sublethal concentration of a cyflumetofen formulation on the midgut, hypopharyngeal gland, and fat body of A. mellifera workers orally exposed for 72 h or 10 days. The midgut epithelium of treated bees presented digestive cells with cytoplasm vacuoles and some cell fragmentation, indicating autophagy and cell death. After being exposed to the cyflumetofen formulation for 72 h, the midgut showed a higher injury rate than the control bees, but after 10 days, the organs had recovered. In the hypopharyngeal gland of treated bees, the end apparatus was filled with secretion, suggesting that the acaricide interferes with the secretory regulation of this gland. Histochemical tests revealed differences in the treated bees in both exposure periods in the midgut and hypopharyngeal glands. The acaricide caused cytotoxic effects on the midgut digestive cells, with apical protrusions, plasma membrane rupture, and several vacuoles in the cytoplasm, features of cell degeneration. In the hypopharyngeal glands of the treated bees, the secretory cells presented small electron-dense and large electron-lucent secretory granules. The fat body cells had no changes in comparison with the control bees. In conclusion, the cyflumetofen formulation at sublethal concentrations causes damage to the midgut and the hypopharyngeal glands of honey bee, which may compromise the functions of these organs and colony fitness. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:2455-2465. © 2024 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline Beatriz Reis
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | | | | | - Diego Dos Santos Souza
- Departamento de Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Davy Soares Gomes
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Laryssa Lemos da Silva
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - José Eduardo Serrão
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brasil
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Alaoui A, Christ F, Abrantes N, Silva V, González N, Gai L, Harkes P, Navarro I, Torre ADL, Martínez MÁ, Norgaard T, Vested A, Schlünssen V, Aparicio VC, Campos I, Pasković I, Pasković MP, Glavan M, Ritsema C, Geissen V. Assessing pesticide residue occurrence and risks in the environment across Europe and Argentina. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 363:125056. [PMID: 39374756 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.125056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2024] [Revised: 09/19/2024] [Accepted: 09/29/2024] [Indexed: 10/09/2024]
Abstract
The widespread and extensive use of pesticides in European crop production to reduce losses from weeds, diseases, and insects may have serious consequences on the ecosystem and human health. This study aimed to identify 20 active substances of high health risk, based on their detection frequency within and across the environmental matrices (soil, crop, water, and sediment) and to identify their associated hazardous effects. A sampling campaign was conducted across 10 case study sites in Europe and 1 in Argentina and included conventional and organic farming systems. In 31% of cases, the detected substances were found at a higher concentration in the soil than in the corresponding crops, 93% of the compounds were fungicides, and the remainder were insecticides. 43% of the substances, 57% of which were insecticides, were detected only in soil. There was a clear relationship between soils and crops in terms of contamination, but not between water and sediment. Portuguese soil (wine grapes) had the highest number of substances (12) with average concentrations (AC) varying between 1 and 162 μg/kg, followed by French (11 substances in wine grapes) (1≤AC≤64 μg/kg) and Spanish soils (9 substances in vegetables) (3≤AC≤59 μg/kg). The crops corresponding to these soils contained a relatively high number of detected substances and several in high average concentrations (AC). The risk quotient was consistently higher for conventional farms than for organic farms. For the soils from conventional farms, 5 active substances (chlorpyrifos, glyphosate, boscalid, difenoconazole, lambda-cyhalothrin, and one metabolite: AMPA) were considered high risk. For water samples, 2 substances (dieldrin and terbuthylazine) found were high risk, and for sediment, there were 3 substances (metalaxyl-M, spiroxamine, and lambda-cyhalothrin). There were 6 substances detected in crops that are suspected to cause human health effects. Uncontaminated soil is a prerequisite for the adoption of sustainable alternatives to pesticides. Efforts are needed to elucidate the unknown effects of mixtures, including biocides and banned compounds in addition to the substances used in agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdallah Alaoui
- Institute of Geography, University of Bern, Hallerstrasse 12, 3012, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Florian Christ
- Institute of Geography, University of Bern, Hallerstrasse 12, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Nelson Abrantes
- CESAM and Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Vera Silva
- Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Neus González
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Sant Llorenç 21, 43201, Reus, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Lingtong Gai
- Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Paula Harkes
- Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Irene Navarro
- Unit of POPs and Emerging Pollutants in Environment, Department of Environment, CIEMAT, Madrid, Spain
| | - Adrián de la Torre
- Unit of POPs and Emerging Pollutants in Environment, Department of Environment, CIEMAT, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Ángeles Martínez
- Unit of POPs and Emerging Pollutants in Environment, Department of Environment, CIEMAT, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Anne Vested
- Department of Public Health, Research Unit for Environment, Occupation and Health, Danish Ramazzini Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Vivi Schlünssen
- Department of Public Health, Research Unit for Environment, Occupation and Health, Danish Ramazzini Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Isabel Campos
- CESAM and Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Igor Pasković
- Department of Agriculture and Nutrition, Institute of Agriculture and Tourism, K. Huguesa 8, 52440, Poreč, Croatia
| | - Marija Polić Pasković
- Department of Agriculture and Nutrition, Institute of Agriculture and Tourism, K. Huguesa 8, 52440, Poreč, Croatia
| | - Matjaž Glavan
- Agronomy Department, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Coen Ritsema
- Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Violette Geissen
- Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
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Keodara A, Jeker L, Straub L, Grossar D, Müller J, Christen V. Novel fungicide and neonicotinoid insecticide impair flight behavior in pollen foraging honey bees, Apis mellifera. Sci Rep 2024; 14:22865. [PMID: 39354118 PMCID: PMC11445536 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-73235-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 09/16/2024] [Indexed: 10/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Bees are often exposed to pesticides affecting physiological functions and molecular mechanisms. Studies showed a potential link between altered expression of energy metabolism related transcripts and increased homing flight time of foragers exposed to pesticides. In this study, we investigated the effects of thiamethoxam and pyraclostrobin on longevity, flight behavior, and expression of transcripts involved in endocrine regulation (hbg-3, buffy, vitellogenin) and energy metabolism (cox5a, cox5b, cox17) using radio frequency identification (RFID) technology and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Parallel, a laboratory study was conducted investigating whether pesticide exposure alone without the influence of flight activity caused similar expression patterns as in the RFID experiment. No significant effect on survival, homing flight duration, or return rate of exposed bees was detected. The overall time foragers spent outside the hive was significantly reduced post-exposure. Irrespective of the treatment group, a correlation was observed between cox5a, cox5b, cox17 and hbg-3 expression and prolonged homing flight duration. Our results suggest that flight behavior can impact gene expression and exposure to pesticides adversely affects the expression of genes that are important for maintaining optimal flight capacity. Our laboratory-based experiment showed significantly altered expression levels of cox5a, cox6c, and cox17. However, further work is needed to identify transcriptional profiles responsible for prolonged homing flight duration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Keodara
- School of Life Sciences, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Muttenz, Switzerland
| | - Lukas Jeker
- Agroscope, Swiss Bee Research Center, Schwarzenburgstrasse 161, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Lars Straub
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Faculty of Science, Energy and Environment, King Mongkut's University of Technology, North Bangkok, Rayong Campus, Rayong, Thailand
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution, and Behaviour, Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, UK
| | - Daniela Grossar
- Agroscope, Swiss Bee Research Center, Schwarzenburgstrasse 161, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jan Müller
- Federal Office of Information Technology, Systems and Telecommunication, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Verena Christen
- School of Life Sciences, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Muttenz, Switzerland.
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5
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Dong Y, Li J, Guo Z, Han L, Zhao J, Wu X, Chen X. Unveiling responses and mechanisms of spice crop chive exposure to three typical pesticides using metabolomics combined with transcriptomics, physiology and biochemistry. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 954:176285. [PMID: 39288875 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2024] [Revised: 07/19/2024] [Accepted: 09/12/2024] [Indexed: 09/19/2024]
Abstract
Pesticides are frequently used to control target pests in the production of spice crops such as chives (Allium ascalonicum). However, little information is available on the responses and underlying mechanisms of pesticide exposure in this crop. Our findings revealed that the uptake, transportation, and subcellular distribution of three typical pesticides-the fungicide pyraclostrobin (PAL), insecticide acetamiprid (ATP), and herbicide pendimethalin (PND) in chives, as well as their physiological, biochemical, metabolic, and transcriptomic responses-were dependent on pesticide properties, especially hydrophobicity. The distribution of PAL and PND in chives decreased in the order root > stem > leaf, but the distribution order of ATP was the opposite. The proportion of PAL and PND in the solid phase of the root cells gradually increased, but ATP mainly existed in the cell-soluble component, indicating that the latter had an upward translocation ability and thus mainly accumulated in the leaves. Malondialdehyde levels in chive leaves were not significantly affected by exposure to these pesticides; however, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in chive leaves increased significantly. Moreover, these pesticides exhibited critical differences in chive responses through the interaction of metabolites and regulation of differentially expressed genes. PAL dramatically influenced five carbohydrate metabolic pathways (34.35 %), disturbing the starch-to-sucrose balance. ATP strongly affected five amino acid (AC) metabolic pathways (33.38 %), enhancing four free amino acid levels. PND notably affected eight fatty acid (FA) metabolic pathways (25.38 %), increasing two unsaturated and decreasing one saturated FA. Simultaneously, PND, ATP, and PND accumulated in the chives could be detoxified through metabolic pathways mediated by cytochrome P450 (P450) and glycosyltransferase (GT)/glutathione S-transferase (GST), producing phase I (7, 4, and 5) and II (11, 13, and 10) metabolites, respectively. This study provides important molecular insights into the responses and underlying mechanisms of spice crop exposure to pesticides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yibo Dong
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory for Agricultural Pest Management in Mountainous Region, Institute of Crop Protection, College of Agriculture, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, PR China
| | - Jiaohong Li
- Institute of Vegetable Research, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, PR China
| | - Zhenxiang Guo
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory for Agricultural Pest Management in Mountainous Region, Institute of Crop Protection, College of Agriculture, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, PR China
| | - Lei Han
- Key Laboratory of Karst Georesources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, PR China
| | - Jing Zhao
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory for Agricultural Pest Management in Mountainous Region, Institute of Crop Protection, College of Agriculture, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, PR China
| | - Xiaomao Wu
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory for Agricultural Pest Management in Mountainous Region, Institute of Crop Protection, College of Agriculture, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, PR China; Institute of Vegetable Research, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, PR China; Key Laboratory of Karst Georesources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, PR China.
| | - Xiangsheng Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory for Agricultural Pest Management in Mountainous Region, Institute of Crop Protection, College of Agriculture, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, PR China.
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6
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Bovier M, Camenzind DW, Brown AF, Jeker L, Retschnig G, Neumann P, Straub L. Colony environment and absence of brood enhance tolerance to a neonicotinoid in winter honey bee workers, Apis mellifera. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2024; 33:608-621. [PMID: 38780664 PMCID: PMC11252217 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-024-02758-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
In eusocial insects, worker longevity is essential to ensure colony survival in brood-free periods. Trade-offs between longevity and other traits may render long-living workers in brood-free periods more susceptible to pesticides compared to short-lived ones. Further, colony environment (e.g., adequate nutrition) may enable workers to better cope with pesticides, yet data comparing long vs. short-living workers and the role of the colony environment for pesticide tolerance are scarce. Here, we show that long-living honey bee workers, Apis mellifera, are less susceptible to the neonicotinoid thiamethoxam than short-lived workers, and that susceptibility was further reduced when workers were acclimatized under colony compared to laboratory conditions. Following an OECD protocol, freshly-emerged workers were exposed to thiamethoxam in summer and winter and either acclimatized within their colony or in the laboratory. Mortality and sucrose consumption were measured daily and revealed that winter workers were significantly less susceptible than summer workers, despite being exposed to higher thiamethoxam dosages due to increased food consumption. Disparencies in fat body activity, which is key for detoxification, may explain why winter bees were less susceptible. Furthermore, colony acclimatization significantly reduced susceptibility towards thiamethoxam in winter workers likely due to enhanced protein nutrition. Brood absence and colony environment seem to govern workers' ability to cope with pesticides, which should be considered in risk assessments. Since honey bee colony losses occur mostly over winter, long-term studies assessing the effects of pesticide exposure on winter bees are required to better understand the underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manon Bovier
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Domenic W Camenzind
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Andrew F Brown
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Switzerland
| | - Lukas Jeker
- Swiss Bee Research Centre, Agroscope, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Gina Retschnig
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Peter Neumann
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Lars Straub
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
- Faculty of Science, Energy and Environment, King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok, Rayong Campus, Rayong, Thailand.
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution, and Behaviour, Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, UK.
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7
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Alaoui A, Christ F, Silva V, Vested A, Schlünssen V, González N, Gai L, Abrantes N, Baldi I, Bureau M, Harkes P, Norgaard T, Navarro I, de la Torre A, Sanz P, Martínez MÁ, Hofman J, Pasković I, Pasković MP, Glavan M, Lwanga EH, Aparicio VC, Campos I, Alcon F, Contreras J, Mandrioli D, Sgargi D, Scheepers PTJ, Ritsema C, Geissen V. Identifying pesticides of high concern for ecosystem, plant, animal, and human health: A comprehensive field study across Europe and Argentina. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 948:174671. [PMID: 39004368 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 06/30/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
The widespread and excessive use of pesticides in modern agricultural practices has caused pesticide contamination of the environment, animals, and humans, with confirmed serious health consequences. This study aimed to identify the 20 most critical substances based on an analysis of detection frequency (DF) and median concentrations (MC) across environmental and biological matrices. A sampling campaign was conducted across 10 case study sites in Europe and 1 in Argentina, each encompassing conventional and organic farming systems. We analysed 209 active substances in a total of 4609 samples. All substances ranked among the 20 most critical were detected in silicon wristbands worn by humans and animals and indoor dust from both farming systems. Five of them were detected in all environmental matrices. Overall, higher values of DF and MC, including in the blood plasma of animals and humans, were recorded in samples of conventional compared to organic farms. The differences between farming systems were greater in the environmental samples and less in animal and human samples. Ten substances were detected in animal blood plasma from conventional farms and eight in animal blood plasma from organic farms. Two of those, detected in both farming systems, are classified as hazardous for mammals (acute). Five substances detected in animal blood plasma from organic farms and seven detected in animal blood plasma from conventional farms are classified as hazardous for mammals (dietary). Three substances detected in human blood plasma are classified as carcinogens. Seven of the substances detected in human blood plasma are classified as endocrine disruptors. Six substances, of which five were detected in human blood plasma, are hazardous for reproduction/development. Efforts are needed to elucidate the unknown effects of mixtures, and it is crucial that such research also considers biocides and banned substances, which constitute a baseline of contamination that adds to the effect of substances used in agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdallah Alaoui
- Institute of Geography, University of Bern, Hallerstrasse 12, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Florian Christ
- Institute of Geography, University of Bern, Hallerstrasse 12, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Vera Silva
- Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Anne Vested
- Department of Public Health, Research unit for Environment, Occupation and Health, Danish Ramazzini Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Vivi Schlünssen
- Department of Public Health, Research unit for Environment, Occupation and Health, Danish Ramazzini Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Neus González
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Sant Llorenç 21, 43201 Reus, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Lingtong Gai
- Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Nelson Abrantes
- CESAM and Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Isabelle Baldi
- Univ. Bordeaux, INSERM, BPH, U1219, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Mathilde Bureau
- Univ. Bordeaux, INSERM, BPH, U1219, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Paula Harkes
- Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Trine Norgaard
- Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Blichers Allé 20, 8830 Tjele, Denmark
| | - Irene Navarro
- Unit of POPs and Emerging Pollutants in Environment, Department of Environment, CIEMAT, Madrid, Spain
| | - Adrián de la Torre
- Unit of POPs and Emerging Pollutants in Environment, Department of Environment, CIEMAT, Madrid, Spain
| | - Paloma Sanz
- Unit of POPs and Emerging Pollutants in Environment, Department of Environment, CIEMAT, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Ángeles Martínez
- Unit of POPs and Emerging Pollutants in Environment, Department of Environment, CIEMAT, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jakub Hofman
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Igor Pasković
- Department of Agriculture and Nutrition, Institute of Agriculture and Tourism, K. Huguesa 8, 52440 Poreč, Croatia
| | - Marija Polić Pasković
- Department of Agriculture and Nutrition, Institute of Agriculture and Tourism, K. Huguesa 8, 52440 Poreč, Croatia
| | - Matjaž Glavan
- Agronomy Department, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Esperanza Huerta Lwanga
- Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | | | - Isabel Campos
- CESAM and Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Francisco Alcon
- Agricultural Engineering School, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, Spain
| | - Josefa Contreras
- Agricultural Engineering School, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, Spain
| | | | - Daria Sgargi
- Cesare Maltoni Cancer Research Center, Ramazzini Institute, Italy
| | - Paul T J Scheepers
- Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Coen Ritsema
- Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Violette Geissen
- Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
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Rodríguez-Aguilar BA, Peregrina-Lucano AA, Ceballos-Magaña SG, Rodríguez-García A, Calderon R, Palma P, Muñiz-Valencia R. Spatiotemporal variability of pesticides concentration in honeybees (Apis mellifera) and their honey from western Mexico. Risk assessment for honey consumption. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 947:174702. [PMID: 39002602 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2024] [Revised: 07/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
The study conducted in the state of Colima, western Mexico, aimed to assess the 1) occurrence, 2) temporal variability, 3) spatial variability, and 4) potential risk for honeybees and human consumption of pesticide-contaminated honey. For that purpose, 48 pesticides were determined in bees and their honey during both dry and wet seasons. The research considered two variables: land use categorization (irrigated agriculture, rainfed agriculture, grassland, and forest area) and location (coastal, valley, and mountain). Bee and honey samples were collected, pre-treated using solid-phase extraction (SPE), and analyzed using LC-MS/MS and GC-MS techniques. Occurrence: of the total number of pesticides, 17 were detected in the bee samples and 12 in the honey samples. The pesticides with the highest concentrations in the bee samples were glufosinate ammonium, picloram, and permethrin, while in the honey samples, picloram, permethrin, and atrazine were the most prevalent. Temporal variability: analyses revealed significant differences between dry and wet seasons for glufosinate ammonium and DEET in bee samples and only for glufosinate ammonium in honey samples. Spatial variability: analyses showed a trend in the number of detected pesticides, with irrigated agriculture areas having the highest detection and grassland areas having the least. The human potential risk assessment of contaminated honey consumption indicated no risk. The bee's potential risk for consumption of pesticides contaminated honey revealed chronic effects due to permethrin in a general scenario, and carbofuran, diazinon and permethrin in the worst scenario, and potential risk of acute effects by permethrin. The findings of this study contribute to understanding the contamination levels of pesticides in bees and their honey, emphasizing the importance of monitoring and mitigating the adverse effects of pesticide exposure on bee populations and environmental health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alejandro A Peregrina-Lucano
- Departamento de Farmacobiología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Exactas e Ingeniería, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44430, Jalisco, Mexico
| | | | | | - Raul Calderon
- Centro de Investigación en Recursos Naturales y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Bernardo O'Higgins, Fabrica 1990, Segundo Piso, Santiago, Chile; Núcleo de Investigación en Sustentabilidad Agroambiental, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Agronomía, Universidad de Las Américas, Santiago, Chile
| | - Paulina Palma
- Laboratorio de Salud Pública, Ambiental y Laboral, Secretaria Regional Ministerial, Ministerio de Salud, Región Metropolitana, Santiago, Chile
| | - Roberto Muñiz-Valencia
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad de Colima, Coquimatlán 28400, Colima, Mexico; Centro de Investigación en Recursos Naturales y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Bernardo O'Higgins, Fabrica 1990, Segundo Piso, Santiago, Chile.
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9
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Mata L, Knapp RA, McDougall R, Overton K, Hoffmann AA, Umina PA. Acute toxicity effects of pesticides on beneficial organisms - Dispelling myths for a more sustainable use of chemicals in agricultural environments. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 930:172521. [PMID: 38641095 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
Agricultural practitioners, researchers and policymakers are increasingly advocating for integrated pest management (IPM) to reduce pesticide use while preserving crop productivity and profitability. Using selective pesticides, putatively designed to act on pests while minimising impacts on off-target organisms, is one such option - yet evidence of whether these chemicals control pests without adversely affecting natural enemies and other beneficial species (henceforth beneficials) remains scarce. At present, the selection of pesticides compatible with IPM often considers a single (or a limited number of) widely distributed beneficial species, without considering undesired effects on co-occurring beneficials. In this study, we conducted standardised laboratory bioassays to assess the acute toxicity effects of 20 chemicals on 15 beneficial species at multiple exposure timepoints, with the specific aims to: (1) identify common and diverging patterns in acute toxicity responses of tested beneficials; (2) determine if the effect of pesticides on beetles, wasps and mites is consistent across species within these groups; and (3) assess the impact of mortality assessment timepoints on International Organisation for Biological Control (IOBC) toxicity classifications. Our work demonstrates that in most cases, chemical toxicities cannot be generalised across a range of beneficial insects and mites providing biological control, a finding that was found even when comparing impacts among closely related species of beetles, wasps and mites. Additionally, we show that toxicity impacts increase with exposure length, pointing to limitations of IOBC protocols. This work challenges the notion that chemical toxicities can be adequately tested on a limited number of 'representative' species; instead, it highlights the need for careful consideration and testing on a range of regionally and seasonally relevant beneficial species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Mata
- Cesar Australia, 95 Albert Street, Brunswick 3056, Victoria, Australia; School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences, The University of Melbourne, 500 Yarra Boulevard, Richmond 3121, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Rosemary A Knapp
- Cesar Australia, 95 Albert Street, Brunswick 3056, Victoria, Australia
| | - Robert McDougall
- Cesar Australia, 95 Albert Street, Brunswick 3056, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kathy Overton
- Cesar Australia, 95 Albert Street, Brunswick 3056, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ary A Hoffmann
- Bio21 Institute, School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, 30 Flemington Road, Parkville 3052, Victoria, Australia
| | - Paul A Umina
- Cesar Australia, 95 Albert Street, Brunswick 3056, Victoria, Australia; Bio21 Institute, School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, 30 Flemington Road, Parkville 3052, Victoria, Australia.
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10
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Boff S, Ayasse M. Exposure to sublethal concentration of flupyradifurone alters sexual behavior and cuticular hydrocarbon profile in Heriades truncorum, an oligolectic solitary bee. INSECT SCIENCE 2024; 31:859-869. [PMID: 37602924 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
The aboveground oligolectic bee, Heriades truncorum, is a particularly good model for studying the impact of pesticides on sexual communication, since some aspects of its mating behavior have previously been described. We have tested (1) the interference of the pesticide flupyradifurone on male precopulatory behavior and male mating partner preferences, (2) the way that the pesticide interferes in male quality assessment by the female, and (3) the effects of the pesticide on the chemical compounds in the female cuticle. We exposed bees of both sexes to a sublethal concentration of flupyradifurone. Various behaviors were registered in a mating arena with two females (one unexposed and one exposed) and one male (either unexposed or exposed). Unexposed males were quicker to attempt to mate. Treatment also impacted precopulatory behavior and male quality assessment by females. Males approached unexposed females more quickly than insecticide-exposed ones. Females exposed to insecticide produced lower amounts of some cuticular hydrocarbons (sex pheromone candidates) and appeared less choosy than unexposed females. Our findings suggest that insecticide exposure affects sexual communication, playing a role both in male preference and in male quality assessment by the female.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Boff
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Manfred Ayasse
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
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11
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Fuente-Ballesteros A, Jano A, Bernal J, Ares AM. Development and validation of an analytical methodology based on solvent extraction and gas chromatography for determining pesticides in royal jelly and propolis. Food Chem 2024; 437:137911. [PMID: 37948804 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.137911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
We propose a new analytical methodology to determine seven pesticides (atrazine, chlorpyrifos, chlorfenvinphos, α-endosulfan, bromopropylate, coumaphos, and τ-fluvalinate) in royal jelly and propolis products using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Sample treatment, with minor modifications for propolis, consisted of a solvent extraction with a hexane and isopropanol mixture, and a further clean-up step. Meanwhile, chromatographic analysis (<25 min) was performed in a DB-5MS column under programmed temperature conditions. In all cases we validated the method in terms of selectivity, limits of detection (0.1-2.8 μg kg-1) and quantification (0.3-9.2 μg kg-1), linearity, matrix effect (<±20 %), trueness (recoveries between 93 % and 118 %), and precision (relative standard deviation < 11 %). All royal jelly liquid dietary supplements were positive for chlorfenvinphos and, in the case of one of them, for α-endosulfan; chlorfenvinphos was determined in some fresh royal jelly samples, and no pesticide residues were detected in the propolis samples analysed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrián Fuente-Ballesteros
- Analytical Chemistry Group (TESEA), I. U. CINQUIMA, Faculty of Sciences, University of Valladolid, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Ana Jano
- Analytical Chemistry Group (TESEA), I. U. CINQUIMA, Faculty of Sciences, University of Valladolid, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
| | - José Bernal
- Analytical Chemistry Group (TESEA), I. U. CINQUIMA, Faculty of Sciences, University of Valladolid, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Ana M Ares
- Analytical Chemistry Group (TESEA), I. U. CINQUIMA, Faculty of Sciences, University of Valladolid, 47011 Valladolid, Spain.
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12
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Carrera MA, Sánchez LM, Morales MM, Fernández-Alba AR, Hernando MD. Method optimisation for large scope pesticide multiresidue analysis in bee pollen: A pilot monitoring study. Food Chem 2024; 436:137652. [PMID: 37839127 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.137652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Pesticide contamination in emerging foods and supplements is currently a topic of great interest. This study focused on the evaluation of pesticide residues in commercial bee pollen samples to evaluate the risk associated with their consumption. To this end, an automated clean-up method for the pesticide extracts of bee pollen was developed. An LC-MS/MS and a GC-MS/MS method were validated for the analysis of 353 pesticides in 80 bee pollen samples purchased from different countries. The results showed the presence of 77 different pesticide residues in bee pollen, including plant protection chemicals and veterinary treatments. 85 % of the samples were contaminated with pesticides and no relevant differences were found between conventional and organic samples. Pesticide concentrations exceeding the imposed MRL were found in 40 % of the samples, but the risk assessment showed that consumers are not exposed to an unacceptable risk when consuming the evaluated bee pollen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Antonietta Carrera
- Department of Desertification and Geo-ecology, Experimental Station of Arid Zones, CSIC, Ctra. Sacramento s/n, La Cañada de San Urbano, 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - Lorena Manzano Sánchez
- European Union Reference Laboratory for Pesticide Residues in Fruit & Vegetables Agrifood Campus of International Excellence (ceiA3), Department of Chemistry and Physics, University of Almeria, Ctra. Sacramento s/n, La Cañada de San Urbano, 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - María Murcia Morales
- European Union Reference Laboratory for Pesticide Residues in Fruit & Vegetables Agrifood Campus of International Excellence (ceiA3), Department of Chemistry and Physics, University of Almeria, Ctra. Sacramento s/n, La Cañada de San Urbano, 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - Amadeo R Fernández-Alba
- European Union Reference Laboratory for Pesticide Residues in Fruit & Vegetables Agrifood Campus of International Excellence (ceiA3), Department of Chemistry and Physics, University of Almeria, Ctra. Sacramento s/n, La Cañada de San Urbano, 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - María Dolores Hernando
- Department of Desertification and Geo-ecology, Experimental Station of Arid Zones, CSIC, Ctra. Sacramento s/n, La Cañada de San Urbano, 04120 Almería, Spain.
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13
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Fischer N, Costa CP, Hur M, Kirkwood JS, Woodard SH. Impacts of neonicotinoid insecticides on bumble bee energy metabolism are revealed under nectar starvation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169388. [PMID: 38104805 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Bumble bees are an important group of insects that provide essential pollination services as a consequence of their foraging behaviors. These pollination services are driven, in part, by energetic exchanges between flowering plants and individual bees. Thus, it is important to examine bumble bee energy metabolism and explore how it might be influenced by external stressors contributing to declines in global pollinator populations. Two stressors that are commonly encountered by bees are insecticides, such as the neonicotinoids, and nutritional stress, resulting from deficits in pollen and nectar availability. Our study uses a metabolomic approach to examine the effects of neonicotinoid insecticide exposure on bumble bee metabolism, both alone and in combination with nutritional stress. We hypothesized that exposure to imidacloprid disrupts bumble bee energy metabolism, leading to changes in key metabolites involved in central carbon metabolism. We tested this by exposing Bombus impatiens workers to imidacloprid according to one of three exposure paradigms designed to explore how chronic versus more acute (early or late) imidacloprid exposure influences energy metabolite levels, then also subjecting them to artificial nectar starvation. The strongest effects of imidacloprid were observed when bees also experienced nectar starvation, suggesting a combinatorial effect of neonicotinoids and nutritional stress on bumble bee energy metabolism. Overall, this study provides important insights into the mechanisms underlying the impact of neonicotinoid insecticides on pollinators, and underscores the need for further investigation into the complex interactions between environmental stressors and energy metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Fischer
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA.
| | - Claudinéia P Costa
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Manhoi Hur
- IIGB Metabolomics Core Facility, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Jay S Kirkwood
- IIGB Metabolomics Core Facility, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - S Hollis Woodard
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA.
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14
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Pesticide cocktails harm bumblebees in European fields. Nature 2023:10.1038/d41586-023-03644-9. [PMID: 38030757 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-023-03644-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
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15
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Zhang C, Wang X, Kaur P, Gan J. A critical review on the accumulation of neonicotinoid insecticides in pollen and nectar: Influencing factors and implications for pollinator exposure. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 899:165670. [PMID: 37478949 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
Neonicotinoids are a class of neuro-active insecticides widely used to protect major crops, primarily because of their broad-spectrum insecticidal activity and low vertebrate toxicity. Owing to their systemic nature, plants readily take up neonicotinoids and translocate them through roots, leaves, and other tissues to flowers (pollen and nectar) that serve as a critical point of exposure to pollinators foraging on treated plants. The growing evidence for potential adverse effects on non-target species, especially pollinators, and persistence has raised serious concerns, as these pesticides are increasingly prevalent in terrestrial and aquatic systems. Despite increasing research efforts, our understanding of the potential toxicity of neonicotinoids and the risks they pose to non-target species remains limited. Therefore, this critical review provides a succinct evaluation of the uptake, translocation, and accumulation processes of neonicotinoids in plants and the factors that may affect the eventual build-up of neonicotinoids in pollen and nectar. The role of plant species, as well as the physicochemical properties and application methods of neonicotinoids is discussed. Potential knowledge gaps are identified, and questions meriting future research are suggested for improving our understanding of the relationship between neonicotinoid residues in plants and exposure to pollinators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Zhang
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside 92521, CA, USA; Institute of Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, School of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; College of Resources and Environment, Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environment in Universities of Shandong, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian 271018, China
| | - Xinru Wang
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside 92521, CA, USA; Key Laboratory of Tea Biology and Resources Utilization Ministry of Agriculture, Tea Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Parminder Kaur
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside 92521, CA, USA.
| | - Jay Gan
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside 92521, CA, USA
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16
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Zioga E, White B, Stout JC. Honey bees and bumble bees may be exposed to pesticides differently when foraging on agricultural areas. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 896:166214. [PMID: 37567302 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
In an agricultural environment, where crops are treated with pesticides, bees are likely to be exposed to a range of chemical compounds in a variety of ways. The extent to which different bee species are affected by these chemicals, largely depends on the concentrations and type of exposure. We quantified the presence of selected pesticide compounds in the pollen of two different entomophilous crops; oilseed rape (Brassica napus) and broad bean (Vicia faba). Sampling was performed in 12 sites in Ireland and our results were compared with the pollen loads of honey bees and bumble bees actively foraging on those crops in those same sites. Detections were compound specific, and the timing of pesticide application in relation to sampling likely influenced the final residue contamination levels. Most detections originated from compounds that were not recently applied on the fields, and samples from B. napus fields were more contaminated compared to those from V. faba fields. Crop pollen was contaminated only with fungicides, honey bee pollen loads contained mainly fungicides, while more insecticides were detected in bumble bee pollen loads. The highest number of compounds and most detections were observed in bumble bee pollen loads, where notably, all five neonicotinoids assessed (acetamiprid, clothianidin, imidacloprid, thiacloprid, and thiamethoxam) were detected despite the no recent application of these compounds on the fields where samples were collected. The concentrations of neonicotinoid insecticides were positively correlated with the number of wild plant species present in the bumble bee-collected pollen samples, but this relationship could not be verified for honey bees. The compounds azoxystrobin, boscalid and thiamethoxam formed the most common pesticide combination in pollen. Our results raise concerns about potential long-term bee exposure to multiple residues and question whether honey bees are suitable surrogates for pesticide risk assessments for all bee species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Zioga
- Botany, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland.
| | - Blánaid White
- School of Chemical Sciences, DCU Water Institute, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - Jane C Stout
- Botany, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
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17
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Fuente-Ballesteros A, Brugnerotto P, Nguyen VD, Costa ACO, Bernal J, Ares AM. Contamination of Honeybee ( Apis mellifera L.) Royal Jelly by Pesticides and Sample Preparation Methods for Its Determination: A Critical Appraisal. Foods 2023; 12:3612. [PMID: 37835264 PMCID: PMC10572548 DOI: 10.3390/foods12193612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Pesticides can easily enter the food chain, harming bee populations and ecosystems. Exposure of beehive products to various contaminants has been identified as one of the factors contributing to the decline in bee populations, and multiple food alerts have been reported. Despite this fact, royal jelly, a valuable bee product with nutritional and functional properties, has received less attention in this context. Pesticide residues of different chemical class can contaminate royal jelly when foraging bees collect pollen or nectar from pesticide-treated flowers, or in some cases, due to its frequent and inappropriate use in the treatment of mites in beehives. To monitor this issue and also make it more reliable, it is crucial to develop effective sample preparation methods for extracting pesticides from royal jelly for subsequent analysis. In this context, this review provides information about sample preparation methods (solid-phase extraction, solvent extraction, and QuEChERS-quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe) and analytical methods that have been validated or improved to extract and analyze pesticides, respectively, in royal jelly samples of different origins. Finally, future perspectives are discussed. With this background, we aim to provide data that can guide future research related to this topic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrián Fuente-Ballesteros
- Analytical Chemistry Group (TESEA), I.U. CINQUIMA, Faculty of Sciences, University of Valladolid, 47011 Valladolid, Spain; (A.F.-B.); (J.B.)
| | - Patricia Brugnerotto
- Laboratory of Food Chemistry, Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88034-001, SC, Brazil; (P.B.); (A.C.O.C.)
| | - Vinh Dinh Nguyen
- Faculty of Chemistry, TNU-University of Sciences, Tan Thinh Ward, Thai Nguyen City 25000, Vietnam;
| | - Ana C. O. Costa
- Laboratory of Food Chemistry, Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88034-001, SC, Brazil; (P.B.); (A.C.O.C.)
| | - José Bernal
- Analytical Chemistry Group (TESEA), I.U. CINQUIMA, Faculty of Sciences, University of Valladolid, 47011 Valladolid, Spain; (A.F.-B.); (J.B.)
| | - Ana M. Ares
- Analytical Chemistry Group (TESEA), I.U. CINQUIMA, Faculty of Sciences, University of Valladolid, 47011 Valladolid, Spain; (A.F.-B.); (J.B.)
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