A paper published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry has reported that whilst it is known that emerging contaminants can accumulate in water, soils, and crops this appears to also be the case for honeybees. Using samples collected surrounding arable farming in Great Britain the authors identified 119 suspect chemicals in hives. On average, each hive contained 6.8 (±3.01) active ingredients, these included human pharmaceuticals (64%), industrial chemicals (10%), surfactants (8%), and plasticizers (5%). The reuse of contaminated fertilizers and the spreading of sewage sludge is likely to contribute to the accumulation of contaminants in hives across English landscapes. The authors also point out that most of these contaminants lack toxicity data for honeybees, making it impossible to assess their acute or chronic risks. Unlike pesticides, for which dietary exposure guidelines exist, there are currently no established regulatory thresholds for most contaminants of emerging concern in food products, including honey. The authors highlight that this creates a significant knowledge gap in food safety assessments, particularly given the complex nature of chemical mixtures.
Nightingale, J., Woodcock, B. A., Garazade, N., Pywell, R. F, Carter, L. J. (2026). Presence of Emerging Contaminants in UK Honey─Human Pharmaceuticals a Concern for Honeybees? Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.5c10414
