ORIGINAL RESEARCH
The Impact of Selected Pesticides
on Honey Bees
Paweł Migdał1, Adam Roman1, Ewa Popiela-Pleban1, Monika Kowalska-Góralska2, Sebastian Opaliński1
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1Department of Environment, Hygiene and Animal Welfare, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences,
51-630 Wrocław, Poland
2Institute of Biology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences,
51-630 Wrocław, Poland
Submission date: 2017-03-02
Final revision date: 2017-04-06
Acceptance date: 2017-05-28
Online publication date: 2018-01-10
Publication date: 2018-01-26
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2018;27(2):787-792
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ABSTRACT
The presence of honey bee in the environment has a significant impact on global agricultural
production. While searching for pollen and nectar, the bee is often exposed to several contaminants
such as plant protection products. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of selected pesticides
from various groups (fungicides, herbicides, insecticides) on the way the bees harvested food as well as
on their behavior, survival rate and the concentration of certain elements in the organisms of bee. The
concentration possibly similar to this applied in agriculture and recommended by the manufacturers,
were used. The research material was analyzed in terms of the presence of trace elements (manganese,
copper, iron, nickel, zinc, lead, cadmium) of different toxicity. The study clearly indicates that selected
pesticides used for the purpose of plant protection and plant cultivation may adversely on bees’ behavior
and accumulation of trace elements in their body. Among the tested pesticides particular attention should
be paid to fungicides that are not commonly tested for their effects on the honey organ. In own studies
showed, their effect significantly changed the content of copper and negatively affected the survival of the
bees.