Wildflowers could be absorbing toxic metals that pass on to bees, study finds

Wildflowers, which are vital food sources for pollinators in cities, can accumulate arsenic, cadmium, chromium and lead from contaminated soils Photograph: Toni Faint/Getty Images

Wildflowers could be absorbing toxic metals from soil in urban areas and passing toxins on to pollinators, a study has found.

Researchers from the University of Cambridge found that common plants including white clover and bindweed, which are vital forage for pollinators in cities, can accumulate arsenic, cadmium, chromium and lead from contaminated soils.