engleski

Bioindicator detection of pesticide residues in the environment using honey bees

Bees (Apis mellifera) are the main pollinators of many plants and play a key role in agriculture. Although bees are not targeted organisms in the use of protective agents in the field, unfortunately they are heavily influenced by pesticides. The objectives of this study were to determine the species and concentration of pesticides in bees, and whether there were differences in levels of insecticides and fungicides. In total, 40 samples from 4 regions of Varazdin County were analysed, as well as two control samples from the Sisak-Moslavina County (Lonjsko Polje) and Karlovac County (Bosiljevo). Each of the samples was analysed on 78 active substances using gas chromatography with GC-MS mass spectrometry and highly effective liquid chromatography HPLC technique. The samples were prepared using the modified Quechers method EN 15662:2018. Fifteen different active pesticide substances were identified and quantified in 40 samples. The mass content of pesticides in bee samples was 0.035–295 μg/bees. The results obtained and the identified differences in fungicide levels related to the location distribution in bee samples indicate a significant difference in fungicide levels in bee samples (P=0.039), while there is no statistically significant difference in the analysed levels of insecticide. The pesticide residues were not identified in the control samples. This work contributes significantly to environmental protection by pointing out that honey bees are an excellent bioindicator, and that they can be used to investigate environmental pollution with pesticides.

bees ; pesticide ; bioindicators ; GC-MS

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