- Australian scientists warn that toxic "forever chemicals" (PFOS) can accumulate in honeybee colonies and transfer to their honey, posing a threat to food security and human health.
- A new study found that prolonged exposure to PFOS changes protein expression in European honeybees, leading to lower body weight in juvenile bees.
- Researchers suspect PFOS may also affect the quality of royal jelly, which is crucial for feeding larvae, potentially compromising future generations and the entire bee colony's health.
- The decline in bee populations due to PFOS could severely reduce the pollination of agricultural crops, impacting the production of fruits and vegetables.
- Despite being banned in many regions, legacy contamination of PFOS persists, with bees exposed through various environmental pathways, and experts advise avoiding PFAS in garden crop protection products.
IN FULL
Scientists find alarming effect of forever chemicals in honeybees
