Honey bees may tell how clean your city is: Study


Team Udayavani, Mar 12, 2019, 6:54 AM IST

Toronto: Honey bees may help monitor pollution in cities and help pinpoint the exact sources of environmental pollutants such as lead, a first-of-its-kind study has found.

The study, published in the journal Nature Sustainability, analysed honey from urban beehives in six Metro Vancouver neighbourhoods.

The researchers tested for minuscule levels of lead, zinc, copper and other elements and carried out lead isotope analyses similar to fingerprinting to identify where the lead came from.

“The good news is that the chemical composition of honey in Vancouver reflects its environment and is extremely clean,” said Kate E Smith, PhD candidate at the University of British Columbia in Canada.

“We also found that the concentration of elements increased the closer you got to downtown Vancouver, and by fingerprinting the lead we can tell it largely comes from manmade sources,” Smith said in a statement.

Metro Vancouver honey is well below the worldwide average for heavy metals like lead, and an adult would have to consume more than 600 grammes, or two cups, of honey every day to exceed tolerable levels, researchers said.

They found the concentration of elements increased closer to areas with heavy traffic, higher urban density and industrial activity such as shipping ports.

Places like the city of Delta showed elevated levels of manganese, which could be a result of agricultural activity and pesticide use in the area.

The researchers also compared the lead fingerprints of the honey to those from other local environmental samples like lichen from around British Columbia, rock from the Garibaldi volcanic belt, sediment from the Fraser River and trees in Stanley Park.

They discovered that the lead fingerprints of the honey did not match any local, naturally-occurring lead.

However, the trees in Stanley Park and the honeys from downtown displayed some striking similarities that pointed to potential manmade sources of lead.

“We found they both had fingerprints similar to aerosols, ores and coals from large Asian cities,” said Dominique Weis, senior author of the study.

“Given that more than 70 per cent of cargo ships entering the Port of Vancouver originate from Asian ports, it is possible they are one source contributing to elevated lead levels in downtown Vancouver,” Weis said.

Honey is able to provide such localised “snapshots” of the environment because honey bees typically forage for pollen and nectar within a two to three-kilometre radius of their hives.

“Honey sampling can easily be performed by citizen scientists in other urban centres, even if they lack other environmental monitoring capabilities,” said Smith.

The team will continue to study how honey analysis might complement traditional air and soil monitoring techniques and test the efficiency of honey as an environmental monitor in other cities.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

Women centric schemes game-changer for Maharashtra, Jharkhand?

AR Rahman sends notice to ‘slanderers’ over speculations surrounding separation with Saira Banu

No anti-government sentiment in Kerala, claims CM Vijayan

Jaiswal’s Perth Simulation: 200 overs in 2 days, inclined concrete slab, lighter synthetic balls

PCB says no meeting with ICC, BCCI officials on November 26 to resolve CT imbroglio

Australia coach McDonald surprised about behaviour of wicket on Day two

Sharad Pawar: Assembly poll rout raises question of existence for patriarch’s political legacy

Related Articles More

Mangaluru: Campco opposes WHO’s claim of arecanut being carcinogenic

10 month baby gets new heart, new life

World COPD Day: Know your lung function

As Delhi chokes with dangerous pollution levels, doctors warn of health risks for all

World Diabetes Day 2024: Kasturba Hospital Manipal Hosts Zumba Session at Malpe Beach to Raise Diabetes Awareness

MUST WATCH

Prakash Belawadi

Naxal Leader Vikram Gowda

Christmas Cake Fruit Mixing

DK Shivakumar

Rose Cultivation


Latest Additions

Satwik, Chirag doubles pair bows out of China Masters semifinals

Puttur: Two arrested for misconduct under influence of drugs

Kaup: Massive campaign and awareness rally Nov 26 for Constitution protection

Never entered into pact to operate airport in Kenya: Adani

Women centric schemes game-changer for Maharashtra, Jharkhand?

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.