PAH7 concentration reflects anthropization: A study using environmental biomonitoring with honeybees

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Ecotoxicology
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are significant environmental pollutants originating mainly from anthropogenic activities.
• Honeybees serve as valuable bioindicators for monitoring environmental contamination due to their widespread presence and interaction with the environment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) pollution levels using honeybees as bioindicators across various industrial sites in France.
• To investigate the influence of land use and landscape context on PAH concentrations.
• To determine the seasonal variations and primary sources of PAHs.

Main Methods:

• Biomonitoring of PAHs in honeybees across 36 industrial sites in 14 French departments (2016-2019).
• Sampling conducted in spring, summer, and autumn.
• Analysis using Cluster and Principal Component Analysis to classify land use and diagnostic ratios to identify PAH sources.

Main Results:

• PAH concentrations, particularly PAH7 (including Benzo[a]Pyrene, Benzo[a]Anthracene, Benzo[b]Fluoranthene, Benzo[j]Fluoranthene, Benzo[k]Fluoranthene, Indeno[1,2,3-c,d]Pyrene, and Dibenz[ah]Anthracene), increased with higher levels of anthropization.
• Five specific PAH compounds (BjF, BaA, Chr, BbF, CPP) were significantly impacted by landscape context.
• Higher concentrations of 3-ringed PAHs were found in autumn samples compared to summer samples, with no significant seasonal effect on PAH7.
• Diagnostic ratios indicated high-temperature processes as the primary source of PAHs, even in semi-natural environments.

Conclusions:

• Honeybees are effective bioindicators for mapping PAH pollution gradients related to land use intensity.
• Anthropogenic activities significantly influence PAH contamination, with specific compounds being more sensitive to landscape context.
• High-temperature industrial processes are the dominant source of PAHs across different environments, highlighting the need for emission control.