Pesticides in ”bee-friendly” plants
The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation has carried out a study on perennial plants, marketed as “pollinator-friendly” or “bee-friendly”, together with seed bags. The overall intention was to investigate if bees and other pollinating insects could be at risk from exposure of pesticide residues. The report was recently published on their webpage alongside a scientific paper in Environmental Pollution. In the case of plants flowers, leaves, roots and soils were analysed. The investigation showed that pesticides could be found in 53 out of 54 plants and 36 of 68 seed bags.
The chemical analysis was performed by Eurofins using one of our multi-methods covering more than 500 compounds. All together 68 pesticides were identified of which 16 are not permitted in the EU. The number of substances varied with up to 22 in one plant. Fungicides (29) followed by insecticides (20) were the most common classes. The highest concentrations were seen for the flowers followed by leaves, soil, roots and seeds while the number of pesticides found was in the order soil, roots, leaves, flowers, seeds. All pesticides detected were assessed with regard to EU regulatory status (16 not authorized), harmfulness to bees (22), CMR properties (23 incl suspected), effects on aquatic organisms (57) and PFAS identification (9).
Regarding individual pesticides boscalid (fungicide) was most frequently found while the highest average concentration was determined for folpet (mean 2-4 mg/kg in flower/leaf; max 137 mg/kg). Also the insecticide pirimicarb and fungicide pyraclostrobin were common. In addition, pirimicarb was found in an eatable basil plant at 3.5 mg/kg, above the MRL (max residue level) of 0.8 mg/kg for consumption. The no longer authorized neonicotinoids thiacloprid and imidacloprid were detected in some samples. Moreover, a number of soils and roots contained oxychlordane which is a metabolite to the POP regulated chlordane. Fluopyram, fludioxonil and flonicamid are all examples of so called “PFAS pesticides”, a group that has received much attention recently (see link).
The authors point to the lack of regulation of ornamental plants and that cultivation and handling of plants in floriculture is complex with trading inside and outside EU. Besides the potential effects on bees and other pollinators the environmental and occupational problems that may arise from the pesticide use are discussed as well.
Welcome to contact us if you have any questions about pesticides:
Links
The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (incl link to report)
Env Pollut paper
PFAS pesticides (Eurofins)