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Predicting pesticide fate in the hive (part 1): experimentally determined τ-fluvalinate residues in bees, honey and wax

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Abstract

τ-Fluvalinate residues in bees, honey and wax were measured in two experimental hives treated with Apistan to test a multi-compartmental predictive model. Pesticide residues were monitored for 30 days after treatment in bees and for up to 180 days in honey and wax. Concentrations ranged between 14 and 160 ng g−1 f.w. in bees and between 98 and 1630 ng g−1 in wax, while no residues were detected above the analytical limit (2.5 ng g−1) in honey. τ-Fluvalinate residues are discussed in the context of a survey of data from the literature on other pesticides (bromopropylate, coumaphos, malathion and amitraz). This data review shows that residues of the same compound exhibit extremely high variability within the same matrix. This finding underlines the importance of developing predictive tools for both post-treatment analysis and a priori evaluation of the possible contamination effects of pesticides depending on the mode of application.

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Prédire le devenir des pesticides dans la ruche (1° partie): détermination expérimentale des résidus de τ-fluvalinate chez les abeilles, dans le miel et la cire

Fluvalinate / résidus de pesticides / contamination de la cire / contamination du miel / santé de l’abeille

Zusammenfassung – Vorhersage der Verteilung von Pestiziden im Bienenvolk (Teil I): Experimentell bestimmte tau-Fluvalinat-Rückstände in Bienen, Honig und Wachs. Mathematische Modelle werden häufig benutzt, um die Verbreitung von organischen Wirkstoffen in der Umwelt vorherzusagen. Das Bienenvolk kann dabei als Mikro-Ökosystem angesehen werden, in das chemische Kontaminationen von außen und von innen hineinkommen können, je nach Anwendung von Pestiziden zur Bekämpfung von Parasiten. Um die möglichen Kontaminationsebenen von Bienenprodukten vorhersagen zu können, haben wir ein Multi-Kompartment-Modell für das Bienenvolk entwickelt. Um die Validität eines solchen Modells zu überprüfen, sind spezifische Zeitreihenanalysen notwendig. Wir haben daher die Rückstände von tau-Fluvalinat in Bienen, Honig und Wachs in zwei mit Apistan behandelten Bienenvölkern gemessen (Figure 1). Die Rückstände in Bienen wurden über 30 Tage nach der Behandlung verfolgt, bei Honig und Wachs sogar über einen Zeitraum von 180 Tagen (Table I). Im Honig konnten keine Rückstände oberhalb der Nachweisgrenze (2.5 ng g−1) gefunden werden, vermutlich wegen der geringen Wasserlöslichkeit und dem hohen n-Octanol-Wasser-Verteilungskoeffizienten (Log K ow = 4.3) des Wirkstoffes. Die Wirkstoffkonzentrationen in Bienen bewegten sich zwischen 14 und 160 ng g−1 f.w. (Figure 2). Vor der Behandlung waren keine Rückstände in Bienen nachweisbar. Sie stiegen dann bis zum 4. Tag an mit großen Schwankungen zwischen den einzelnen Proben, um dann vom 7. Tag an bis zum Ende der Behandlung (30 Tage) rasch zu einem fast konstanten Niveau (about 50 ng g−1 f.w.) abzusinken. Die Konzentrationen im Wachs lagen zwischen 98 und 1,630 ng g−1 (Figure 2). Im Wachs waren bereits vor der Behandlung Rückstände nachweisbar, vermutlich aufgrund früherer Behandlungen oder der Verwendung von kontaminiertem Material. Die tau-Fluvalinat-Rückstände in Wachs stiegen nach der Behandlung langsam bis zum 60. Tag an und blieben dann bis zum 180. Tag auf einem konstanten Niveau. Unsere Ergebnisse liegen im mittleren Bereich der bisher veröffentlichten Daten anderer Untersuchungen. Das auffälligste Ergebnis unserer Literaturrecherche ist die extrem hohe Schwankungsbreite der Rückstandswerte von ein und demselben Wirkstoff in derselben Matrix (Figure 3). Diese Unterschiede können mehrere Ursachen haben: (a) Unterschiede bei der Probennahme und der Inhomogenität des gesamten Systems (bei unseren Ergebnissen waren Unterschiede bis zum Faktor 2 darauf zurückzuführen); (b) die Zeitdauer nach der Behandlung (unsere Ergebnisse zeigen zeitabhängige Unterschiede bis zum Faktor 10); (c) die Anwendungsmethode (PVC-Streifen vermeiden eine direkte Wachskontamination während das Sprühen des Wirkstoffes diesen direkt auf das Bienenwachs aufbringt); (d) die Anzahl an Behandlungen pro Bienenvolk (da dieser Wirkstoff akkumuliert). Ein Vorhersagemodell kann helfen, die Variabilität solcher empirischer Untersuchungen besser zu verstehen. Es ist daher das Hauptziel unserer Untersuchung, auf der Basis der experimentell gemessenen tau-Fluvalinat-Konzentrationen in Bienen, Honig und Wachs ein Bienenvolkmodell zu entwickeln. Im zweiten Teil dieses Berichtes wird ein solches neues Bienenvolkmodell vorgestellt.

Fluvalinat / Pestizidrückstände / Wachskontamination / Honigkontamination / Bienengesundheit.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental and Landscape Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza Della Scienza 1, Milan, 20126, Italy

    Sara Bonzini & Marco Vighi

  2. Department of Biology, University of Milan, Via Celoria 26, Milan, 20133, Italy

    Paolo Tremolada

  3. Department of Plant Protection Applied Biology, University of Udine, Via delle Scienze 208, Udine, 33100, Italy

    Iris Bernardinelli

  4. Department of Protection of Urban and Agri-Food System and of Biodiversity Valorisation, University of Milan, Via Celoria 2, Milan, 20133, Italy

    Mario Colombo

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  1. Sara Bonzini
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  2. Paolo Tremolada
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Correspondence to Paolo Tremolada.

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Manuscript editor: Monique Gauthier

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Bonzini, S., Tremolada, P., Bernardinelli, I. et al. Predicting pesticide fate in the hive (part 1): experimentally determined τ-fluvalinate residues in bees, honey and wax. Apidologie 42, 378–390 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-011-0011-2

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