title: Bees, honey and pollen as sentinels for lead environmental contamination.
abstract: Three beehive matrices, sampled in eighteen apiaries from West France, were analysed for the presence of lead (Pb). Samples were collected during four different periods in both 2008 and 2009. Honey was the matrix the least contaminated by Pb (min = 0.004 μg g(-1); max = 0.378 μg g(-1); mean = 0.047 μg g(-1); sd = 0.057). The contamination of bees (min = 0.001 μg g(-1); max = 1.869 μg g(-1); mean = 0.223 μg g(-1); sd = 0.217) and pollen (min = 0.004 μg g(-1); max = 0.798 μg g(-1); mean = 0.240 μg g(-1); sd = 0.200) showed similar levels and temporal variations but bees seemed to be more sensitive bringing out the peaks of Pb contamination. Apiaries in urban and hedgerow landscapes appeared more contaminated than apiaries in cultivated and island landscapes. Sampling period had a significant effect on Pb contamination with higher Pb concentrations determined in dry seasons.
authors: LUNAM Université, ONIRIS, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire, Agroalimentaire et de l'Alimentation Nantes-Atlantique, Centre Vétérinaire de la Faune Sauvage et des Ecosystèmes des Pays de la Loire (CVFSE), Atlanpole-La Chantrerie, Nantes, France. olivier.lambert@oniris-nantes.fr
authors: Olivier
authors: O
authors: Lambert
authors: Mélanie
authors: M
authors: Piroux
authors: Sophie
authors: S
authors: Puyo
authors: Chantal
authors: C
authors: Thorin
authors: Michaëlle
authors: M
authors: Larhantec
authors: Frédéric
authors: F
authors: Delbac
authors: Hervé
authors: H
authors: Pouliquen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000737:chemistry*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005602:France; D006722:Honey / Q000032:analysis*; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis*; D011058:Pollen / Q000737:chemistry*; D012621:Seasons
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D007854:Lead