A study carried out by Franco-Swiss researchers and published in the journal Science looks at the sad plight of bees in the world. It shows that three-quarters of the honeys produced on the 5 continents contain traces of neocotinoids, agricultural insecticides which affect reproduction rate bees. This shows that the insecticide is still present on three quarters of the planet.
The idea for the study germinated during an exhibition on beekeeping in 2013 in Neuchâtel (Switzerland). Visitors were invited to bring a jar of honey purchased during their travels abroad. In total, 300 jars were collected from all over the world. In order not to over-represent certain territories, the researchers kept 198 pots and looked for traces of insecticides: imidacloprid, acetamiprid, thiamethoxam, clothianidin and thiacloprid.
In total, 30% of these honeys contained a single neocotinoid and 45% contained between two and five.
Bees develop cognitive impairment
“These findings are alarming” says Chris Connolly, an expert in neurobiology at the University of Dundee, author of an article accompanying the publication of the study. Not for men, since the rates detected are below the limits authorized for consumption in Europe, but for bees.
By foraging on flowers contaminated with neocotinoids, they develop cognitive problems that prevent them from finding their way back to food, which affects their survival.
It is the honeys of North America that are the most affected with 86% that contain neocotinoids. In Europe, 79% of samples tested positive. The honeys that contain the least amount of insecticides come from the South American continent with 57% of the samples contaminated.
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