Research Reveals Presence of Multiple Pesticides in Irish Bee Pollen

Researchers warn about presence of pesticides in Irish bee pollen

A recent study conducted by Trinity College Dublin and Dublin City University has revealed distressing findings about the impact of different pesticides on various species of bees in Ireland. The research focused on analyzing crop pollen at 12 sites across the country to assess the presence of residual pesticides. Both honeybees and bumblebees were examined for the collected pollen from these sites.

In their investigation, researchers found that bumblebee pollen had the highest number of detected compounds and pesticide concentrations. It was also identified that this particular pollen contained significant amounts of neonicotinoid insecticides, which are known to be harmful to bees and other animals.

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Persisting pesticides raise concerns over long-term effects

Additionally, the study highlighted the presence of pesticides that had not been recently applied to the sampled fields. This suggests that either the chemicals have prolonged persistence or the residues originated from plants in other areas accessible to foraging bees. The long-lasting presence of such pesticides poses a risk to the health of bees and the wider ecosystem.

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“Some of these pesticides, known to be particularly toxic, had not been applied in the fields we sampled for at least three years,” said one of the researchers involved in the study. “This shows either that they persist for a long time in the field edges, where wildflowers grow, or that bees collected neonicotinoid-contaminated pollen from beyond the sampled fields.”

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Different bee species exposed to varying pesticides

The study further revealed that different bee species are exposed to different types of pesticides. While honeybee pollen had higher contamination with fungicides, bumblebee pollen contained more neonicotinoid insecticides. This discrepancy emphasizes the need to consider the exposure of multiple bee species when assessing the overall impact of pesticides.

“Essentially, this means that using honeybees as a reference for understanding the exposure to different pesticides cannot give a complete picture,” explained one of the researchers. “What’s true for honeybees doesn’t seem to be true for bumblebees, and we know that both are important for the overall pollination service and for supporting healthy ecosystems.”

Takeaway

The research sheds light on the concerning presence of pesticides in bee pollen in Ireland. The persistence of these pesticides and their varying impact on different bee species emphasize the need for effective measures to minimize pesticide use and protect the health of bees and the environment.