Toxicology of Polyethylene Microplastics in the Diet of Honey Bee Larvae
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Date
2023-05
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The Ohio State University
Abstract
Modern use of plastic has led to the extensive spread of microplastics in waterways and organisms. Toxicology studies on microplastics have so far been limited. Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are vulnerable to many pollutants and have experienced recent colony losses, so identifying threats to honey bees and their larvae is necessary to prevent further damage. In this study, honey bee larvae were given doses of microplastics mixed in their diets to compare mortality rates. The larvae were grafted and reared in vitro and fed with a diet including polyethylene spheres in the size ranges 10-45 µm, 45-75 µm, and 75-90 µm at concentrations between 1 mg/mL and 100 mg/mL. Only 10-45 μm at 50 and 100 mg/mL and 45-75 μm and 75-90 μm at 100 mg/mL had significant mortality in pairwise comparisons. The results show that spherical microplastics alone are not particularly toxic, but may function as a stressor to honey bee larvae. Further research on different shapes, varying plastics, and additional combinations is necessary to completely understand the risk.
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Keywords
honey bee, larvae, microplastics, toxicology