Toxic “forever chemicals” have been found to accumulate in bees and transfer to their honey, posing a significant threat to bee colonies, according to a recent study by the University of New England (UNE). The research highlights the impact of prolonged exposure to perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) on European honey bees, revealing detrimental effects on cell production.
Published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, the study demonstrated that PFOS could be transferred to honey in laboratory conditions. However, lead researcher Carolyn Sonter emphasized the necessity of further research to understand how these chemicals are distributed in natural environments, particularly through plant uptake and translocation to flower nectar.
“Our next steps are to understand exposure pathways for bees in the field because if PFAS is taken up and translocated to flower nectar by plants, this poses implications for all pollinators and honey consumers,” Dr. Sonter explained.
Impact on Future Generations
Dr. Sonter noted that the most significant impacts of PFOS were observed in the next generation of bees. Increased concentrations of PFOS resulted in fewer bees developing and emerging, with those that did being smaller and lighter in weight. The quality of royal jelly, a crucial food source for larvae, could also be compromised, threatening the health and longevity of future colonies.
On a broader scale, Dr. Sonter warned that declining bee populations could lead to reduced crop pollination, ultimately affecting food security. “Any threat to bees threatens food security,” she said. “Most agricultural crops rely on bees for pollination, and without them, production of foods like berries, fruit, and most vegetables would be severely reduced.”
Understanding ‘Forever Chemicals’
PFOS is part of a larger group of chemicals known as per and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often referred to as “forever chemicals” due to their persistence in the environment. Bees may encounter PFOS through various sources, including contaminated dust, water, paint on bee hives, crop protection products, and pollen from plants in polluted soil and water.
Despite PFOS no longer being used in Australia, Dr. Sonter highlighted the ongoing risks posed by legacy contamination. “The legacy of PFOS is permanent, at least in our lifetime,” she stated.
University of Adelaide native bee researcher Katja Hogendoorn emphasized the significance of the UNE study, noting, “The PFOS they are talking about is part of a conglomerate of nearly 40,000 chemical compounds that are all forever chemicals.”
Dr. Hogendoorn pointed out that similar effects have been observed in other insects, including bumble bees and mosquitoes, and called for increased regulation to safeguard not only bees but other insects as well. “It is important for politicians and regulators to listen to these scientists who say that this is a serious threat,” she urged.
Looking Ahead
While Dr. Sonter’s experiments were conducted in controlled settings, there is evidence from other countries suggesting that bees are exposed to PFOS in the wild. “Quite recently there’s been research that’s come out of Austria that shows that foraging bees from managed hives foraging in countryside areas are accumulating various PFAS in their bodies,” she noted.
Researchers are hopeful that these findings will lead to the development of protective guidelines for bees. Dr. Sonter is now seeking funding to further investigate the uptake of PFOS in flower nectar, aiming to better understand the risks and develop effective mitigation strategies.
The NSW Food Authority has been contacted for comment on the implications of these findings for honey consumers and the broader agricultural sector.
