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Honeybees as active samplers for microplastics.

Carlos Edo1, Amadeo R Fernández-Alba2, Flemming Vejsnæs3

  • 1Department of Analytical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, E-28871 Madrid, Spain.

The Science of the Total Environment
|January 15, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Honeybees can actively sample microplastics, acting as bioindicators of environmental pollution. This study found microplastics on bees from urban, suburban, and rural areas, highlighting their role in monitoring plastic contamination.

Keywords:
BiosamplingEnvironmental monitoringHoneybeesMicroplastics

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Ecotoxicology

Background:

  • Microplastics are pervasive environmental pollutants, posing sampling challenges.
  • Honeybees (Apis mellifera) forage widely, potentially accumulating environmental contaminants.
  • Understanding honeybee interaction with microplastics is crucial for environmental monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential of worker honeybees as active samplers for microplastics.
  • To identify the types and prevalence of microplastics in honeybees across different environments.
  • To explore the use of honeybees as biosamplers for anthropogenic pollution.

Main Methods:

  • Collection of honeybees from apiaries in urban, semi-urban, and rural areas of Copenhagen.
  • Microscopic analysis to identify and quantify microplastics.
  • Micro-Fourier-transform infrared (Micro-FTIR) spectroscopy to determine polymer composition.

Main Results:

  • Microplastics were detected on honeybees from all sampled locations.
  • Fragments (52%) and fibers (38%) were the dominant microplastic types.
  • Polyester, polyethylene, and polyvinyl chloride were the most common polymers identified.

Conclusions:

  • Worker honeybees can serve as effective active samplers for microplastics.
  • Honeybees can indicate microplastic presence in urban and surrounding environments.
  • This research opens new avenues for using honeybees in bio-monitoring of pollution.