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Environmental exposure to metallic pollution impairs honey bee brain development and cognition

Laboratory studies show detrimental effects of metallic pollutants on invertebrate behaviour and cognition, even at low levels. Here we report a field study on Western honey bees exposed to metal and metalloid pollution through dusts, food and water at a historic mining site. We analysed more than 1...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Monchanin, Coline (Author) , Drujont, Erwann (Author) , Le Roux, Gaël (Author) , Lösel, Philipp (Author) , Barron, Andrew B. (Author) , Devaud, Jean-Marc (Author) , Elger, Arnaud (Author) , Lihoreau, Mathieu (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: 5 March 2024
In: Journal of hazardous materials
Year: 2024, Volume: 465, Pages: 1-11
ISSN:1873-3336
DOI:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133218
Online Access:Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133218
Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304389423025025?via%3Dihub
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Author Notes:Coline Monchanin, Erwann Drujont, Gael Le Roux, Philipp D. Losel, Andrew B. Barron, Jean-Marc Devaud, Arnaud Elger, Mathieu Lihoreau
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Summary:Laboratory studies show detrimental effects of metallic pollutants on invertebrate behaviour and cognition, even at low levels. Here we report a field study on Western honey bees exposed to metal and metalloid pollution through dusts, food and water at a historic mining site. We analysed more than 1000 bees from five apiaries along a gradient of contamination within 11 km of a former gold mine in Southern France. Bees collected close to the mine exhibited olfactory learning performances lower by 36% and heads smaller by 4%. Three-dimensional scans of bee brains showed that the olfactory centres of insects sampled close to the mine were also 4% smaller, indicating neurodevelopmental issues. Our study raises serious concerns about the health of honey bee populations in areas polluted with potentially harmful elements, particularly with arsenic, and illustrates how standard cognitive tests can be used for risk assessment.
Item Description:Gesehen am 10.12.2024
Online verfügbar: 14. Dezember 2023
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:1873-3336
DOI:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133218

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