Pesticides in the propolis at São Saulo State, Brazil

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The increasing demand for propolis has caused a raise in its production. However, an increasingly pesticide-dependent agriculture is a great concern with regard to bees, their produce and environmental contamination. Current analysis evaluates the presence of pesticides (organochlorines, organophosphates, pyrethroids, carbamates, herbicides, fungicides and acaricides) in samples of propolis from the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Beekeepers from several localities in the state provided samples of propolis (50), which were collected, stored in non-toxic plastic bags and maintained in a freezer for analyses. Possible pesticide residues were examined by gas chromatography method but no pesticide residues were detected in the examined propolis samples. Propolis analyzed in the state of São Paulo did not show any pesticide contamination.Keywords: environmental, Apis mellifera, agrochemicals, contamination. Pesticidas na própolis do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil RESUMO.A crescente procura pela própolis tem ocasionado aumento em sua produção. Entretanto, uma agricultura cada vez mais dependente de pesticidas representa preocupação com relação à contaminação ambiental, além das abelhas e seus produtos. Neste sentido, a proposta do presente trabalho foi avaliar a presença de pesticidas (organoclorados, organofosforados, piretroides, carbamatos, herbicidas, fungicidas e acaricidas) em amostras de própolis do Estado de São Paulo. Apicultores de diversas localidades do Estado forneceram amostras de própolis (50). Estas foram coletadas, armazenadas em sacos plásticos atóxicos e mantidas em freezer até as análises. Os possíveis resíduos de pesticidas foram analisados por cromatografia gasosa. Não foi observada a presença dos pesticidas analisados nas amostras. Neste caso, a própolis analisada no Estado de São Paulo não apresentou contaminação por pesticidas.

Brazilian Agribusiness and the Consequences of the Intensive Use of Agrochemicals

“…In addition, Porto and Milanez (2009) emphasize that the decision regarding the choice, quantity and quality of pesticides is not always taken considering the damages of their chemical components to health, society and ecosystems, but rather from a vision limited to get a short-term return. According to Orsi et al (2012), the overuse of agrochemicals can damage the environment by contaminating groundwater that moves through the atmosphere, applied to eliminate the natural enemies of crops such as pests and insects, but also these agrochemicals eliminate bees and other pollinators generally. In addition, there are still problems commonly generated by technical drift, as known in the technical jargon of agronomy.…”