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Updated: Jul 26, 2026
07:39
Evaluating the Effect of Environmental Chemicals on Honey Bee Development from the Individual to Colony Level
Published on: April 1, 2017
Effects of 'inactive' ingredients on bees
1Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
Current Opinion in Insect Science
|March 29, 2018
Summary
Honey bees are harmed by common agrochemical co-formulants, often more toxic than the active pesticide. Lack of ingredient disclosure hinders understanding of total chemical exposure and pollinator decline risks.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Toxicology
- Apiculture Science
- Chemical Risk Assessment
Background:
- Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are vital pollinators affected by agrochemicals.
- The role of 'inert' or 'inactive' co-formulants in agrochemical formulations on bee health is under-investigated.
- Current pesticide risk assessments often exclude formulation ingredients, underestimating total chemical exposure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the sensitivity of honey bees to agrochemical co-formulants.
- To emphasize the need for disclosure and analysis of formulation ingredients.
- To identify specific co-formulants requiring further risk assessment for pollinators.
Main Methods:
- Literature review on honey bee sensitivity to agrochemical formulations.
- Analysis of existing research methodologies for pesticide exposure studies.
- Identification of key co-formulants implicated in pollinator toxicity.
Main Results:
- Formulations, especially fungicides, can be significantly more toxic (up to 26,000-fold) to honey bees than active ingredients alone.
- Lack of transparency in formulation composition impedes accurate exposure assessment.
- Organosilicone surfactants and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone are identified as potential risks.
Conclusions:
- Agrochemical formulations pose a substantial, under-evaluated risk to honey bees.
- Improved transparency and analytical methods are crucial for assessing total chemical loads on pollinators.
- Specific co-formulants warrant inclusion in future pollinator risk assessments to mitigate decline.
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