Pollution monitoring of Puget Sound with honey bees

Journal Article · Fri Feb 08 00:00:00 EST 1985 · Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.227.4687.632· OSTI ID:5960672

Bromenshenk, J J; Carlson, S R; Simpson, J C; Thomas, J M

To show that honey bees are effective biological monitors of environmental contaminants over large geographic areas, beekeepers of Puget Sound, Washington, collected pollen and bees for chemical analysis. From these data, kriging maps of arsenic, cadmium, and fluoride were generated. Results, based on actual concentrations of contaminants in bee tissues, show that the greatest concentrations of contaminants occur close to Commencement Bay and that honey bees are effective as large-scale monitors. 27 references, 2 figures.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Montana, Missoula
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 5960672
• Journal Information: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States), Vol. 227
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
ARSENIC
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
BEES
CONTAMINATION
CADMIUM
FLUORIDES
PUGET SOUND
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
MAPS
POLLEN
ANIMALS
ARTHROPODS
DATA
DISTRIBUTION
ELEMENTS
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
GAMETES
GERM CELLS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HYMENOPTERA
INFORMATION
INSECTS
INVERTEBRATES
METALS
NUMERICAL DATA
PACIFIC OCEAN
POLLUTION
SEAS
SEMIMETALS
SURFACE WATERS
560304* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Invertebrates- (-1987)
500200 - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)