Pesticide residues in honeybees and some honeybee products in turkey

Abstract

In this study, residues of organochlorine (??) and organophosphate (OP) insecticides such as malathion, coumaphos and amitraz (used for the control of varroa) were analyzed on honey and pollen. Also, the residues of carbosulfan and carbaryl (that are used for the control of hazelnut's pest) were determined on honey bee. Honey and pollen samples were taken from beehives, and dead honeybees were collected from Akcakoca/Sakarya Region were insecticides for control of haselnut pests were used. Extracts obtained for ?? insecticides were analysed for 13 compound residues including a and -BHC, lindane, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, DDT and its derivatives (pp'DDT op'DDD, op'DDT, op'DDE and pp'DDE), heptachlor, and heptachlorepoxide by gas chromatography, using electron capture detector (ECD). OP insecticides in honey, pollen and propolis, and carbosulfan and carbaryl in honeybees were analysed by gas chromatography, using phosphate ionisation detector (FID). Residues of DDT and its derivatives, as well as the residues of aldrin endrin and dieldrin were detected in 6 of the 16 honey samples, and in 2 of the 8 pollen samples, in honey and pollen samples 10 of 13 ? pesticides were found at detectable levels, but the same pesticides were not detectable in propolis samples Detected residues were in ppb's and below the level of toxicity. According to the data obtained, one pollen sample was found to have more kinds of pesticides than the honey. This indicates that the ?? pesticides, before use during the blooming season of the areas where the honeybees wander about, had contaminated pollens and plants; and as a result, these pesticides and their metabolites are still present in honey and pollen due to their persistence, although they have not been used recently. Malathion, coumaphos and amitraz residues were detected at very low levels (0.007, 0.001 and 0.003 ppb, respectively) in one of the 16 pollen samples. Malathion, coumaphos and amitraz residues were not detected in any of the honey or propolis samples. Carbosulfan and carbaryl were detected in dead honeybees, which had been collected from 7 different stations in Akcakoca/Sakarya region.