Adult honey bee losses in Utah as related to arsenic poisoning
A study has been conducted to determine the source of arsenic that has caused serious losses of honey bees in Utah. Samples of dead and dying bees, pollen, plant blossoms, soil, pond water, algae, and moss were collected and analyzed for the presence of arsenic. Although some of the deaths were caused by improperly timed orchard spraying, a large percentage of arsenical materials found in blossoms must have come from some source other than through plant absorption from the soil. Plants apparently do not take up sufficient quantities of arsenic from the soil to poison bees. The data support the conclusion that most honey bee losses were caused by arsenic containing dusts from the operation of smelters. Some beekeepers reported that losses were especially noticeable after a light rain following a period of drought.
- OSTI ID:
- 6405420
- Journal Information:
- Utah State Univ., Agric. Exp. Stn., Bull.; (United States), Vol. 340
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ALGAE
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
ARSENIC
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
TOXICITY
BEES
MORTALITY
FLOWERS
MOSSES
POLLEN
PONDS
SOILS
UTAH
AIR POLLUTION
DUSTS
FUNGICIDES
POLLUTION SOURCES
SAMPLING
SMELTERS
ANIMALS
ARTHROPODS
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION VIII
GAMETES
GERM CELLS
HYMENOPTERA
INSECTS
INVERTEBRATES
NORTH AMERICA
PESTICIDES
PLANTS
POLLUTION
SEMIMETALS
SURFACE WATERS
USA
560304* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Invertebrates- (-1987)
500200 - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
560303 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Plants- (-1987)
510200 - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)