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Neonicotinoid residues in wildflowers, a potential route of chronic exposure for bees

Version 2 2023-06-12, 06:36
Version 1 2023-06-08, 23:01
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-12, 06:36 authored by Cristina Botias, Arthur David, Julia Horwood, Alaa Abdul-Sada, Beth NichollsBeth Nicholls, Elizabeth Hill, Dave GoulsonDave Goulson
In recent years, an intense debate about the environmental risks posed by neonicotinoids, a group of widely used, neurotoxic insecticides, has been joined. When these systemic compounds are applied to seeds, low concentrations are subsequently found in the nectar and pollen of the crop, which are then collected and consumed by bees. Here we demonstrate that the current focus on exposure to pesticides via the crop overlooks an important factor: throughout spring and summer, mixtures of neonicotinoids are also found in the pollen and nectar of wildflowers growing in arable field margins, at concentrations that are sometimes even higher than those found in the crop. Indeed, the large majority (97%) of neonicotinoids brought back in pollen to honey bee hives in arable landscapes was from wildflowers, not crops. Both previous and ongoing field studies have been based on the premise that exposure to neonicotinoids would occur only during the blooming period of flowering crops and that it may be diluted by bees also foraging on untreated wildflowers. Here, we show that exposure is likely to be higher and more prolonged than currently recognized because of widespread contamination of wild plants growing near treated crops.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

Environmental Science and Technology

ISSN

0013-936X

Publisher

American Chemical Society

Issue

21

Volume

49

Page range

12731-12740

Department affiliated with

  • Chemistry Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2015-11-03

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2015-11-02

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