A study of the accumulation of mobile forms of lead and fluoride in the system melliferous plants - bee colonies at apiaries with varying levels of anthropogenic load

Smolensk State Agricultural Academy, 10/2, B. Sovetskaya, Smolensk, 214000, Russia

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Abstract

The research findings indicate that mobile forms of lead ions (Pb²⁺) and fluoride ions (F⁻) accumulate in melliferous plants, bee pollen, and bees of different generations at significantly higher concentrations in areas with environmental adverse conditions (lead: 4.9–26.98 mg/kg; fluorides: 6.92–18.52 mg/kg) compared to areas with environmental favourable conditions (lead: 1.11–1.92 mg/kg; fluorides: 2.77–6.06 mg/kg). The study revealed that lead and fluoride concentrations in bee brood (larvae) and honey remain relatively low across all sampled apiaries, irrespective of ambient environmental pollution levels. Average levels in brood and honey were approximately one order of magnitude lower than those in adult bees: lead (0.23–1.14 mg/kg) and fluorides (0.56–1.52 mg/kg). In contrast, adult bees – particularly those exposed to environmental adverse conditions – showed significantly higher accumulation of these elements (lead: 13.66–26.98 mg/kg; fluorides: 8.43–18.52 mg/kg). This suggests that bees act as biological filters, thereby providing safer feed for bee brood and other colony members, as well as safer honey for human consumption. It was found that 30 % of honey samples from an apiary in environmentally favourable conditions exceeded the maximum permissible lead limit (0.1 mg/kg). This can be explained by retrograde environmental pollution at the apiary site, as well as active migration of mobile forms of toxic substances from soil and atmosphere. Honeybees and bee pollen are recommended as bioindicators for assessing technogenic pollution levels and timely detection of ecological threats in areas with varying degrees of anthropogenic load.