PFAS Accumulation Poses Existential Threat to Bees and Honey, New Research Reveals

New research indicates that per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), specifically perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), can accumulate in bees and transfer to their honey. This accumulation poses an existential threat to bee colonies.

A study conducted by the University of New England (UNE) found that prolonged exposure of European honey bees to environmental levels of PFOS impacts cell production. The research, published in Environmental Science & Technology, also demonstrated that PFOS could be transferred to honey in a controlled laboratory environment.

Lead researcher Dr. Carolyn Sonter stated that additional research is necessary to understand the real-world distribution of these "forever chemicals," including their uptake by plants and translocation to flower nectar. Dr. Sonter highlighted that the most significant impacts of PFOS were observed in the next generation of bees.

As PFOS concentrations increased, fewer bees developed and emerged, and those that did were smaller and had lower body weight.

Reduced body weight suggests smaller glands, including the hypopharyngeal gland, which produces royal jelly for feeding larvae. A decrease in royal jelly quality could jeopardize the health and longevity of future colonies.

Wider Implications for Food Security

Dr. Sonter further noted that on a larger scale, bee populations would gradually decline, affecting crop pollination and posing a threat to food security.

Most agricultural crops depend on bees for pollination, meaning reduced bee populations would severely decrease the production of many foods, such as berries, fruit, and most vegetables.

Sources of Contamination and Legacy Risks

PFOS is one of thousands of PFAS compounds. Bees can encounter PFOS through contaminated dust, water, paint on hives, crop protection products, and pollen from plants growing in contaminated soil and water. While PFOS is no longer in use in Australia, legacy contamination continues to present risks.

Broader Scientific Consensus and Call for Regulation

Dr. Katja Hogendoorn, a native bee researcher at the University of Adelaide, emphasized the importance of this study. She noted that similar results regarding the impact of PFOS on insect development and reproduction have been observed in other insects, including bumble bees and mosquitoes.

Dr. Hogendoorn stressed the urgency of the findings given the honey bee's crucial role in crop pollination and advocated for increased regulation to protect bees and other insects.

Future Research

Although Dr. Sonter's experiments were conducted in a controlled setting, research from other countries, such as Austria, shows that foraging bees from managed hives in natural areas accumulate various PFAS in their bodies. Researchers hope these findings will contribute to the development of protective guidelines for bees and are seeking funding to further investigate PFOS uptake in flower nectar.