Heavy metal contamination of the trophic chain of honey bees in habitats with a technogenic burden

Nazarova Nadezhda Petrovna, Golovko Marina Viktorovna, Mikhailova Olga Petrovna

Relevance: The lack of full scientific information on the patterns of migration of pollutants in the components of the trophic chain of honey bees in the conditions of oil-producing areas makes it necessary to monitor and analyze the state of the bees' habitat. Purpose: a study of polymetallic contamination of the food chain of honey bees in the conditions of areas of the Republic of Tatarstan with a technogenic burden. Methods: Sampling (soil, plants, pollen, bees, and honey) was carried out in apiaries in 8 districts of Tatarstan (Russia). Determination of heavy metal concentrations in samples was carried out using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Statistical data processing was performed using Statistica 8.0. To determine the value of the technogenic burden on the bee habitat, mathematical calculations of the accumulation factor of heavy metals and the substance transfer factor were performed. Results: High values of the substance transfer factor are typical for areas with an increased technogenic burden. Those areas showed significant contamination of soil, plants, bees, and bee products. In areas with an average technogenic burden, the soil, melliferous plants, bees, and, to a lesser extent, pollen and honey are significantly polluted. Areas with low technogenic burden had insignificant contamination of the soil… honey system. Conclusions: The heavy metal accumulation in the soil-honey system has been analyzed. The mechanism of heavy metal migration has been studied and the most polluted part of the system has been identified. Based on calculations of the accumulation factor and substance transfer factor, areas with high, medium, and low technogenic burdens have been identified.

Keywords:environment; honey bees; heavy metals; accumulation, accumulation factor