The aim of investigations was to estimate the influence of consumed pollen in colonies infected with Varroa on the concentration of chlorinated hydrocarbons in bees. Studies were carried out in September in 4 apiaries, from which approximately 300 bees were collected from the randomly chosen colonies. The midgut from 10 insects was isolated and pollen grains were counted. The remaining insects served for the estimation of the level of chlorinated hydrocarbons and Varroa infection. In bee samples only residues of HCH and DDE were found. In the presence of 3.1-3.2 pollen grains in the microscope eyeshot, the HCH and DDE content was the lowest, and it was the highest in the presence of 22.8-37.5 pollen grains. In the other colonies with similar numbers of pollen grains and considerable differences in bee infection with Varroa (about 8 times), the HCH and DDE concentration was respectively: 25 and 13 units higher than in bees with a lesser extensiveness of invasion. In the next apiary, where the number of pollen grains fluctuated between 4.4-4.8 and the invasion extensiveness was 5.95% and 15.4%, the concentration of both pesticides was lower than in the previous one. Similar differences in HCH and DDE levels occurred in bees in which in the ground abdomens were found 10.4 and 22.8 pollen grains. In bees with marginal Varroa infection (0.7%) and the greatest number of pollen (37.5), the concentration of HCH and DDE was respectively: 0.00293 µg/g l.m. and 0.00312 µg/g l.m, and it was the highest in comparison to bees from previous apiaries. The results indicate that bees from highly infected with Varroa destructor colonies consume less protein food than from faintly infected ones.
The aim of the presented study was to determine the concentration of lead and cadmium content in randomly selected apiaries of the Warmia and Mazury province. The study was carried out on apiaries in the central, northern, western and eastern part of the province. Presence of lead and cadmium were found in all bee samples. The highest concentration of Pb (0.531 µg/g) was ascertained in bees in apiaries from the northern part of the province, a little less (0.464 µg/g) from the western part, and the lowest (0.390 µg/g) in the centrally situated districts of the province. In bees from apiaries located in the eastern part of the province, Pb content fluctuated between 0.135 µg/g and 0.190 µg/g in two apiaries and in one, situated north of Śniardwy Lake, the concentration of Pb was 1.421 µg/g. The level of cadmium in bees was considerably lower than that of lead. The highest content of Cd was found in apiaries from central and northern part of the province (0.178 µg/g and 0.166 µg/g, respectively), and the lowest in Piska Forest and at its perimeters (0.081 µg/g). The environment influences the diverse concentration of lead and cadmium in bees in Warmia and Mazury province; in apiaries situated near busy routes as well as in regions with intensive husbandry the level of these elements was higher than in remaining districts.
Taking into consideration the use of Apis mellifera as an indicator of environmental pollution, the residues of chlorinated hydrocarbons were examined in bees flying around the perennial entomophilous plants and rape cultivation. Studies were carried out in two apiaries. In the spring, bees from P apiary flew around the plants in forests, willow trees, dandelion and fruit trees, while those from N apiary flew around dandelion, weeds and maple trees. At the end of May, bees from both apiaries were taken to the rape cultivation, where in the 1980s plants were intensively grown and pesticides were used. Samples of bees were collected twice: in May (before being taken to the rape cultivation) and in July (after return to their previous places). In bees from both apiaries only residues of HCH and DDE were found. Concentration of HCH in bees from P apiary was 0.00097 µg/g of lipid matter (l.m.) and after their return from rape cultivation its level increased to 0.00293 µg/g of l.m. and it was 331% higher than in May. In May, the DDE content was 0.00178 µg/g of l.m. and in July 0.00312 µg/g of l.m. and it was about 57% higher. Residues of chlorinated hydrocarbons in bees from N apiary in May were: 0.00130 µg/g of l.m. for HCH and 0.00319 µg/g of l.m. for DDE. In July, after returning the apiary to its place of residence, the HCH level was 0.00224 µg/g of l.m. and increased by 58% and the DDE concentration was 0.00422 µg/g of l.m. (an increase of 76%). Differences in the level of chlorinated hydrocarbons in bees flying around two various cultivations, in completely different locations with respect to plant cover, confirms the usefulness of bees for monitoring the environment.
W pracy przedstawiono najważniejsze aspekty związane z występowaniem arsenu i niklu w środowisku naturalnym i organizmie zwierząt. Uwzględniono przede wszystkim okoliczności skażeń środowiska, podstawowe funkcje biochemiczne i mechanizm działania, znaczenie w środowisku naturalnym i organizmie zwierząt, a także podstawowe efekty toksykologiczne związane z intoksykacją tymi pierwiastkami.
It is unknown whether bees flying around entomophilous plants at a radius of several kilometers from their hives accumulate similar amounts of HCH and DDT. In view of this, the study aimed to determine the percentage (%) of bee colonies accumulating HCH and DDT in relation to apiary location. Studies were carried out on 4 apiaries with a variety of different nectars. The presence of HCH and DDT was ascertained in bee samples from 2 apiaries, and only HCH in the remaining apiaries. The greatest percentage of colonies in which both pesticides were found was in an apiary located on the outskirts of Olsztyn. 0.0101-0.0500 µg/g of lipid matter (l.m.) of HCH and DDT was found in 20-33% of the colonies in this apiary, vestigial amount of these pesticides (up to 0.0101 µg/g l.m.) in 6.7-13.3%, and the largest concentration of chlorinated hydrocarbons (0.0701-0.0800 µg/g l.m.). Only HCH was contained in 6.7% of the colonies of bees flying around nectar located on sandy soils; 20-40% of the colonies accumulated 0.0201-0.0500 µg/g l.m. of this pesticide, whereas in apiaries where bees mainly accessed Lindens, 66.7% of the colonies had a low HCH concentration and 20% were within a range of 0.00401-0.0500 µg/g l.m. and 6.7% had more than 0.0501 µg/g l.m. In an apiary in the Piska Forest where chlorinated hydrocarbons had been used for pest control as recently as in the 1980's, the presence of trace amounts of HCH and DDT were found in all bee colonies, and HCH in 50%. The remaining bee colonies contained only HCH (0.0201-0.0700 µg/g l.m). The results indicate the consistency in bee's habits of collecting nectar from particular plants and that there is variability within the levels of environmental pollution with chlorinated hydrocarbons. To ensure a conclusive evaluation of residues of chemical compounds in bees and bee products, at least 15 colonies should be examined within each apiary.
This study presents the results of research concerning the effect of single and combined application of pyrantel tartrate and dimethoate on selected antioxidative enzymes: catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), in rat erythrocytes. Pyrantel tartrate was applied twice, at a dose of 85 mg/kg bw at a two week interval, i.e. on day 14 and 28 of the experiment, orally, in a water solution with a stomach tube. Dimethoate was administered with drinking water for 28 days at a dose of 25 mg/kg bw/day. It was found that pyrantel tartrate caused only small changes in the activity of the antioxidative enzymes under analysis. Subchronic exposure of rats to dimethoate caused a significant increase in the activity of CAT, SOD and GPx in erythrocytes, indicating the existence of strong oxidative stress. In combined intoxication, no significant effects of administering pyrantel tartrate on the activity of CAT, SOD and GPx was found in animals poisoned with dimethoate. The profile of changes was similar to that observed in rats exposed only to the organophosphorus insecticide. This may indicate a lack of interaction between the compounds used in the experiment.
The aim of the study was to determine the level of antioxidant vitamins A and E in the liver of rats exposed to chlorpyrifos and/or enrofloxacin. Chlorpyrifos (Group I) was administered at a dose of 0.04 LD50 (6 mg/kg b.w.) for 28 days, and enrofloxacin (Group II) at a dose of 5 mg/kg b.w. for 5 consecutive days. The animals of group III were given both of the mentioned above compounds at the same manner as groups I and II, but enrofloxacin was applied to rats for the last 5 days of chlorpyrifos exposure (i.e. on day 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28). Chlorpyrifos and enrofloxacin were administered to rats intragastrically via a gastric tube. The quantitative determination of vitamins was made by the HPLC method. The results of this study indicated a reduction in the hepatic concentrations of vitamins A and E, compared to the control, which sustained for the entire period of the experiment. The four-week administration of chlorpyrifos to rats resulted in a significant decrease of vitamins in the initial period of the experiment, i.e. up to 24 hours after exposure. For vitamin A the maximum drop was observed after 24 hours (19.24%) and for vitamin E after 6 hours (23.19%). Enrofloxacin caused a slight (3-9%) reduction in the level of the analysed vitamins. In the chlorpyrifos-enrofloxacin co-exposure group reduced vitamins A and E levels were also noted, but changes in this group were less pronounced in comparison to the animals intoxicated with chlorpyrifos only. The decrease in the antioxidant vitamin levels, particularly noticeable in the chlorpyrifos- and the chlorpyrifos combined with enrofloxacin-treated groups, may result not only from the increase in the concentration of free radicals, but also from the intensification of the secondary stages of lipid peroxidation.
The aim of this paper was to compare the residues of chlorinated hydrocarbons in bees from one of the apiaries of Piska Forest in 1996-2005. Furthermore, the content of HCH and DDT was examined in bees from this apiary where, in 2005, a very intensive cultivation of rape seed took place and by 1989 a large amount of pesticides had been applied. It was ascertained that in bees from P. apiary, which for more than ten years had been users of the same field crops (berries, lime-tree), the HCH level decreased from 0.0127 µg/g of l.s. (1996) to 0.0016 µg/g of l.s. (2005), whereas the DDT content was not reduced. This fact seems to indicate a considerably more rapid HCH decomposition in the environment. In bees staying nearly 3 weeks at the site of rape cultivation and examined after their return to the maternal apiary the content of HCH was 0.0236 µg/g of l.s. which was 15 times higher than in bees staying at the same place. The obtained results indicate that chlorinated hydrocarbons are still occurring in the environment and their amount depends on the type of pesticide used. It seems that on sandy soils the decomposition of HCH is considerably more rapid than on heavy clay soils. The diverse level of DDT in bees in P. apiary testifies to a considerable concentration of this pesticide in Piska Forest and to its slow decomposition in the environment or its permanent penetration with air streams from other regions of the world.
Studies were carried out in 2004-2007 in two apiaries which varied in flow terms. In the midsummer, bees from P apiary collected pollen and nectar from mixed forest, pastures and fields, while bees from NJ apiary worked white mustard and weeds on wastelands. The winter scatters were collected for investigations every year, after the first bees’ flight. HCH concentration in bees from P apiary ranged from 0.00102 μg/g of lipid matter (l.m.) to 0.00170 μg/g l.m. and the total amount of DDT was 0.00970-0.03530 μg/g l.m. In the bees’ scatter from NJ apiary the HCH level was 0.00091-0.00530 μg/g l.m. and the total amount of DDT was 0.00171-0.00424 μg/g l.m. Between 2004 and 2007 the level of chlorinated hydrocarbons, mostly HCH, in both apiaries (especially in NJ) was reduced. It shows a progressive decomposition of this compound in the environment. However, the DDT content in the scatter from P apiary in the first two years of investigations as well as in 2007 was 0.00970-0.01280 μg/g l.m., whereas in 2006 it increased up to 0.03530 μg/g l.m. So significant an increase (2.7-3.6 times) in the DDT content towards the end of the investigated period seems to indicate a periodical infiltration of this compound into the region of the Pisz forest, probably from Africa, where this pesticide is still applied for mosquito control.
In the available literature there is lack of information concerning the influence of chlorinated hydrocarbons on bee behavior during the winter which is why it was decided to estimate HCH and DDT concentration in bees leaving the hive and staying inside it during the winter. To gain bees leaving the hive, on 15th of December 2005 traps were put on the entrances of 10 hives. Traps were emptied at one week intervals till 31 January, 2006. Samples of insects were weighted and counted in the laboratory and then the concentration of HCH and DDT was determined. Regardless of external temperature, individual bees left the hive. There was no observed dependence of the influence of external air temperature on the number of bees leaving the hive. The average concentration of HCH in bees leaving the hive during the winter was 0.0031 µg/g of lipid substance (l.s.) and total DDT was 0.0226 µg/g l.s., whereas in bees from the winter cluster 0.0010 µg/g l.s. and 0.0149 µg/ g l.s., respectively, and from the scatter 0.0011 and 0.0112 µg/g l.s. The results obtained indicate that in insects, as opposed to vertebrates, even a slight amount of pesticides seems to cause metabolic disorders and in this way lead to their leaving the hive in the winter.
The aim of the studies was to determine the concentration of lead and cadmium from chosen apiaries of the Warmia and Mazury province. Studies were carried on 15 randomly chosen apiaries, including 12 placed in the northern and 3 in the central part of the province. Presence of lead and cadmium were found in all honey samples, but their concentration was not equal. The highest concentration of lead (0.106-0.354 µg/g) was ascertained in the honey from 3 communes, the lowest (0.018-0.049 µg/g) in 9, and the average (0.066-0.088 µg/g) in 3 remaining ones. Cadmium content in honey samples was considerably lower than lead. The highest concentration of this element (0.037-0.121 µg/g) was in honey from the same 3 communes, where the highest amount of Pb was ascertained. In the samples of honey from remaining apiaries the Cd content ranged from 0.006 to 0.030 µg/g. The highest concentration of the mentioned elements occurred in honey from apiaries surrounded by the take off and landing field for agricultural airplanes. Moreover in these communes phosphorus fertilizers were intensively applied on the fields.
The aim of the study was to determine the influence of Varroa destructor invasions on HCH and DDT concentration in bees from infected colonies. Studies were carried out on 7 apiaries in the Olsztyn area. It was found that HCH and DDT content in bees depended on both apiary location and V. destructor presence in colonies. Bees from infected colonies contained less amounts of chlorinated hydrocarbons. The greatest concentration of HCH and DDT was found in bees from apiaries located on the verge of forests, near allotment gardens, and the least in bees flying around rape, white mustard and weeds on waste ground. Higher HCH and DDT concentrations in bees free from V. destructor invasion indicates their greater activity in the environment and bringing flow to the hive, the amount of which influences the increase of chlorinated hydrocarbons in the organism.
Bees, bee bread and honey from 11 apiaries from Warmia and Mazury region were examined. In apiaries from Olsztyn the average concentration of HCH in bees was 0.0220 ng/g of lipid matter (l.m.), while from the apiaries situated on the fields of the former State Farms and individual farmers was more than twice and from Piska Forest 1.4 time higher than in Olsztyn. In bee bread from Olsztyn apiaries HCH content was 0.0012 Hg/g l.m. whereas in those situated in other locations (fields of the former State Farms, individual farmers and Piska Forest) was from 3.4 to 7 time higher. HCH content in honey from Olsztyn was the least (0.0003 |ig/g l.m.) and the greatest (0.0024 |ig/g l.m.) from fields of former State Farms. Residues of DDT were very high (0.12000.1862 |ig/g l.m.) in bees from all apiaries but low in honey and ranged from 0.0011 |ig/g l.m. (Olsztyn and Piska Forest) to 0.0014 |ig/g l.m. (the remaining apiaries). Concentration of total DDT in bee bread was the least in Olsztyn (0.0001 |ig/ g l.m.) and very high in the others. Particularly high level of this pesticide (0.0927 |ig/g l.m.) was noted in bee bread from Piska Forest.
The aim of this study was to determine the content of vitamin C in the liver of rats exposed to dimethoate or pyrantel embonate as well as co-intoxication with both agents. Investigations were carried out in two stages. At each stage, the rats were divided into three experimental groups (I-III) and a control (C) group. In the first stage, rats from group I were administered pyrantel embonate at a two-week interval at a dose of 1/2 LD50, while the animals from group II received dimethoate for 28 days at a dose of 1/25 LD50, and those from group III - both mentioned compounds in an identical manner as in groups I and II. In the second stage, the rats from group I received pyrantel embonate at a dose of 1/5 LD50 for 3 consecutive days, while the animals from group II received dimethoate at a dose of 1/10 LD50 for 5 consecutive days, and those from III received both compounds, but pyrantel was administered on day 3, 4 and 5 of dimethoate administration. The concentration of vitamin C after pyrantel embonate and dimethoate administration was influenced not only by doses of the compounds used but also by the manner of their application (single or co-administration). Dimethoate delivered at a dose of 1/25 LD50 evoked an increase in vitamin C concentration that was observed to continue up to the 14th day after the exposure, whereas when applied at a dose of 1/10 LD50 it increased the vitamin C level only at the 3rd hour. A considerable decrease in the vitamin C level was reported after pyrantel treatment at a dose of 1/5 LD50. In rats from groups where the compounds were co-administered, increased level of vitamin C was observed at both stages of the experiment only in the first period after intoxication, i.e. up to the 6th hour.