Honeybees as sentinels of microplastic pollution: a meta-analysis of accumulation, toxicity, and biomonitoring potential
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs), tiny plastic particles less than 5 millimeters in size have become a global environmental concern, infiltrating various ecosystems, including those inhabited by honeybees.Here, we synthesized, with a PRISMA approach, the evidence from 139 peer-reviewed studies to critically evaluate (1) the presence of MPs in honeybees and their hive products, such as honey, wax and pollen, (2) the lethal and sublethal effects of MPs in honeybees that in turn potentially impair their pollination services and food security, and (3) given their extensive foraging range and sensitivity to environmental changes, honeybees can serve as effective bioindicators for monitoring MPs pollution.By analyzing the presence of MPs in bees and their hive products, researchers can assess the level of environmental contamination in a given area.Advanced spectroscopic techniques, such as Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy, are used for their precision in MPs detection.This review proposes a standardized honeybee-based biomonitoring framework to integrate MPs data into predictive models.Future research must refine MPs detection methodologies, assess chronic exposure impacts on honeybee populations, and translate findings into actionable policy interventions, reinforcing the "One Health" paradigm.In summary, we believe that the interaction between honeybees and MPs is a growing area of research.Understanding how MPs accumulate in bees and their products, assessing the…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Green Chemistry: A Framework for a Sustainable Future
- Nano/micro-plastic, an invisible threat getting into the brain
- Emerging contaminants antibiotic resistance genes and microplastics in the environment: Introduction to 21 review articles published in CREST during 2018–2022
- Water Resources and Sustainable Development
- Nano- and microplastics in the workplace
- Water Enclosure and World-Literature: New Perspectives on Hydro-Power and World-Ecology
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.