Potential Risk to Pollinators from Nanotechnology-Based Pesticides.

Louisa A Hooven,Priyadarshini Chakrabarti,Ramesh R Sagili,Bryan J Harper,Stacey L Harper

doi:10.3390/molecules24244458

Louisa A Hooven, Priyadarshini Chakrabarti + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24244458

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Journal: Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)	Publication Date: Dec 5, 2019
Citations: 23	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Oregon State University

Abstract

The decline in populations of insect pollinators is a global concern. While multiple factors are implicated, there is uncertainty surrounding the contribution of certain groups of pesticides to losses in wild and managed bees. Nanotechnology-based pesticides (NBPs) are formulations based on multiple particle sizes and types. By packaging active ingredients in engineered particles, NBPs offer many benefits and novel functions, but may also exhibit different properties in the environment when compared with older pesticide formulations. These new properties raise questions about the environmental disposition and fate of NBPs and their exposure to pollinators. Pollinators such as honey bees have evolved structural adaptations to collect pollen, but also inadvertently gather other types of environmental particles which may accumulate in hive materials. Knowledge of the interaction between pollinators, NBPs, and other types of particles is needed to better understand their exposure to pesticides, and essential for characterizing risk from diverse environmental contaminants. The present review discusses the properties, benefits and types of nanotechnology-based pesticides, the propensity of bees to collect such particles and potential impacts on bee pollinators.

Highlights

Insect pollinators, including both managed and native bees, contribute billions of dollars in value to the agricultural economy [1]
Many current use pesticides are formulated from existing active ingredients and other materials such that the formulated product contains particles ranging in size from nanometers to microns [9]
Since pollinators have structural adaptations to collect and pollen particles [12,13], and electrostatic forces further assist this interaction, it is plausible thatmove pesticide formulations containing electrostatic forces further assist thisexposure interaction, it is plausible that pesticide formulations particles could impact pollinator to pesticide active ingredients in ways thatcontaining were not particles could impact pollinator exposure to pesticide active ingredients in ways that were not predicted by the original regulatory assessments of the active ingredient

Summary

Introduction

Insect pollinators, including both managed and native bees, contribute billions of dollars in value to the agricultural economy [1]. Many current use pesticides are formulated from existing active ingredients and other materials such that the formulated product contains particles ranging in size from nanometers to microns [9]. Since pollinators have structural adaptations to collect and pollen particles [12,13], and electrostatic forces further assist this interaction, it is plausible thatmove pesticide formulations containing electrostatic forces further assist thisexposure interaction, it is plausible that pesticide formulations particles could impact pollinator to pesticide active ingredients in ways thatcontaining were not particles could impact pollinator exposure to pesticide active ingredients in ways that were not predicted by the original regulatory assessments of the active ingredient.

Bees as Environmental Sentinels

Properties and Benefits

Size as an Arbitrary Criterion for Regulation of Nano-Agrotechnology

Risks Posed by Particulate Contaminants on Pollinators

NBP Uncertainties for Pollinators

Findings

Implications