Heavy metal pollution affects the cognitive health of bees

02 May 2024 par webmaster
Heavy metals, such as lead and arsenic, are naturally present in soil and water. However, human activities such as mining, metallurgy and car traffic have considerably increased their concentrations, exposing human and animal populations to potentially toxic doses that are still poorly assessed.

Coline Monchanin, Erwann Drujont, Jean-Marc Devaud and Mathieu Lihoreau (CRCA-CBI) and their colleagues have published a study showing the impact of heavy metal pollution on the health of bees, which are essential to the proper functioning of ecosystems.

Reference

Monchanin C, Drujont E, Le Roux G, Lösel PD, Barron AB, Devaud JM, Elger A, Lihoreau M.

Environmental exposure to metallic pollution impairs honey bee brain development and cognition.

J Hazard Mater. 2024 Mar 5;465:133218. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133218. Epub 2023 Dec 14.

© Coline Monchanin

See also