Earth Science News
FROTH AND BUBBLE
What bees reveal about environmental contamination through honey
illustration only
Reuters Events SMR and Advanced Reactor 2025
What bees reveal about environmental contamination through honey
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 09, 2024

Honey, long prized for its natural sweetness, can also serve as a lens into environmental health, according to a new study by Tulane University. The research shows that bees inadvertently collect environmental pollutants, which become detectable in the honey they produce. This discovery provides insights into regional pollution patterns across the United States.

Published in Environmental Pollution, the study analyzed 260 honey samples from 48 states, examining them for six toxic metals: arsenic, lead, cadmium, nickel, chromium, and cobalt. Although none of the samples exceeded safety thresholds for daily consumption (based on one tablespoon per day), the study revealed notable regional variations in toxic metal concentrations. For instance, honeys from the Pacific Northwest - specifically Oregon, Idaho, Washington, and Nevada - contained the highest levels of arsenic. Meanwhile, cobalt concentrations were highest in the Southeastern states, including Louisiana and Mississippi, and elevated lead levels were found in the Carolinas.

"Bees act as passive samplers, picking up contaminants from the air, water and plants while foraging. These contaminants end up in honey, offering us a snapshot of an area's environmental pollution," explained lead author Tewodros Godebo, an assistant professor of environmental health sciences at Tulane University's Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.

This nationwide study, the first of its kind, relied on single-source honeys clearly labeled with their place of origin. Researchers suggest that historical pesticide use, industrial pollution, and legacy contamination from leaded gasoline and paint could explain the elevated levels of specific metals in certain regions. For example, Washington's high arsenic levels (170 ug/kg) might stem from historical agricultural practices, while North Carolina's and South Carolina's elevated lead concentrations (451 ug/kg and 76.8 ug/kg, respectively) could be linked to soil pollution or lead-based aviation fuels.

Further investigation is needed to definitively link the pollution patterns in honey to their sources. "The environment can have more of these metals than what shows up in bees' honey," Godebo noted, suggesting that honey provides only a partial view of regional contamination.

"What we found is that this appears to serve as a good proxy for uncovering regional contamination patterns," Godebo said. "But there's a lot we may still learn from bees about what pollutants are present in the environment and how those relate to nearby community health outcomes."

The study underscores the potential for honey to serve a dual purpose: as a natural food product and as a tool for monitoring environmental pollution. Researchers hope these findings will encourage further exploration into the relationship between toxic metal pollutants, their environmental sources, and public health implications.

Research Report:Metals in honey from bees as a proxy for environmental contamination in the United States

Related Links
Tulane University
Our Polluted World and Cleaning It Up

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
FROTH AND BUBBLE
Can insects play a role in reducing microplastic pollution
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 10, 2024
Plastic pollution, a persistent problem spanning ecosystems across the globe, continues to challenge efforts to find sustainable solutions. Researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) are exploring whether insects could be an ally in the fight against microplastic pollution. Previous studies have demonstrated that insects can consume and process pure microplastics under highly artificial, food-limited conditions. However, a new study published in Biology Letters takes a more realistic ... read more

FROTH AND BUBBLE
Natural disasters cause $310bn in economic losses in 2024: Swiss Re

India, Pakistan share climate challenges but not solutions

13 missing after south China railway construction site collapse

Eight dead after 'overloaded' boat capsizes in southwest China

FROTH AND BUBBLE
Unlocking the potential of collagen modulation for biomaterials in human health

How Deinococcus Radiodurans thrives in extreme radiation

Scientists create coral-inspired material for effective bone repair

A new way to create realistic 3D shapes using generative AI

FROTH AND BUBBLE
Coral reefs face mounting threat from warming oceans

NASA Missions offer integrated insights into ocean dynamics and ecosystems

Copenhagen takes on its biggest climate threat -- water

Billions could gain access to freshwater with new desalination technology

FROTH AND BUBBLE
Will the Ross Ice Shelf melt

The Bering Bog Bridge

Canada bolstering Arctic presence in face of Russia threat

Scientists launch first in-depth study of Antarctic underwater avalanches

FROTH AND BUBBLE
Agricultural land at river confluences reduces flood risks

Gene editing and plant domestication vital to safeguard global food security

Neem seed extract improves effectiveness of pesticide

Brazil's beef industry: key to EU-Mercosur trade deal

FROTH AND BUBBLE
Spain royals join memorial mass for flood victims

Five dead, seven missing in Indonesia floods, landslides; Storm Darragh batters UK

Evacuations underway as Philippine volcano erupts

Quake sparks brief tsunami warning in California

FROTH AND BUBBLE
'Can't leave them to it': ex-child soldier urges help for Sudan kids

In Angola, Biden promises to invest differently to China

Biden hails 'game changer' Africa investment on Angola visit

E.Guinea lauds 'exceptional' ties with Russia

FROTH AND BUBBLE
Mammoths were central to ancient American diets says new study

A fossil discovery sheds light on coexistence of early human ancestors

Iberian Neolithic expertise in archery revealed by exceptional findings in Spain

How humans and dogs began their longstanding bond 12000 years ago

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.