Comparative Analysis of Pesticide Residues in Hive Products from Rapeseed ( Brassica napus subsp. napus ) and Sunflower ( Helianthus annuus ) Crops Under Varying Agricultural Practices in Romania During the 2020–2021 Beekeeping Seasons

Dan Bodescu, Viorel Fătu, Agripina Şapcaliu, Elena Luiza Bădic, Roxana Zaharia, Dana Tăpăloagă, Alexandru-Dragoș Robu and Radu-Adrian Moraru ()
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Dan Bodescu: Department of Agroeconomy, Faculty of Agriculture, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” Iasi University of Life Sciences, 3 Mihail Sadoveanu Alley, 700489 Iasi, Romania
Viorel Fătu: Ecotoxicology, Physiology and Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Agricultural Biotechnologies and Bioresources, Research Development Institute for Plant Protection Bucharest, 8 Ion Ionescu de la Brad Blvd., District 1, 013813 Bucharest, Romania
Agripina Şapcaliu: Ecotoxicology, Physiology and Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Agricultural Biotechnologies and Bioresources, Research Development Institute for Plant Protection Bucharest, 8 Ion Ionescu de la Brad Blvd., District 1, 013813 Bucharest, Romania
Elena Luiza Bădic: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Spiru Haret University, 13 Ion Ghica Street, District 3, 030045 Bucharest, Romania
Roxana Zaharia: Ecotoxicology, Physiology and Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Agricultural Biotechnologies and Bioresources, Research Development Institute for Plant Protection Bucharest, 8 Ion Ionescu de la Brad Blvd., District 1, 013813 Bucharest, Romania
Dana Tăpăloagă: Department of Animal Production and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 59 Mărăști Blvd., 011464 Bucharest, Romania
Alexandru-Dragoș Robu: Department of Agroeconomy, Faculty of Agriculture, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” Iasi University of Life Sciences, 3 Mihail Sadoveanu Alley, 700489 Iasi, Romania
Radu-Adrian Moraru: Department of Agroeconomy, Faculty of Agriculture, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” Iasi University of Life Sciences, 3 Mihail Sadoveanu Alley, 700489 Iasi, Romania

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 15, 1-24

Abstract: Over the past years, increasing attention has been drawn to the adverse effects of agricultural pesticide use on pollinators, with honeybees being especially vulnerable. The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of residues detectable and/or quantifiable of neonicotinoid pesticides and other pesticides in biological materials (bees, bee brood, etc.) and beehive products (honey, pollen, etc.) applied as seed dressings in rapeseed and sunflower plants in two growing seasons (2020–2021) in fields located in three agro-climatic regions in Romania. The study involved the comparative sampling of hive products (honey, pollen, adult bees, and brood) from experimental and control apiaries, followed by pesticide residue analysis in an accredited laboratory (Primoris) using validated chromatographic techniques (LC-MS/MS and GC-MS). Toxicological analyses of 96 samples, including bees, bee brood, honey, and pollen, confirmed the presence of residues in 46 samples, including 10 bee samples, 10 bee brood samples, 18 honey samples, and 8 pollen bread samples. The mean pesticide residue concentrations detected in hive products were 0.032 mg/kg in honey, 0.061 mg/kg in pollen, 0.167 mg/kg in bees, and 0.371 mg/kg in bee brood. The results highlight the exposure of honeybee colonies to multiple sources of pesticide residue contamination, under conditions where legal recommendations for the controlled application of agricultural treatments are not followed. The study provides relevant evidence for strengthening the risk assessment framework and underscores the need for adopting stricter monitoring and regulatory measures to ensure the protection of honeybee colony health.

Keywords: bees; hive products; pesticide residues (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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