A 10 year survey of acaricide residues in beeswax analysed in Italy

Boi, Michela; Serra, Giorgia; Colombo, Roberto; Lodesani, Marco; Massi, S.; Costa, Cecília

doi:10.1002/ps.4161

Cited by 47 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…This has resulted in a growing beeswax adulteration trend ; Serra Bonveh ı & Orantes Bermejo, 2012; Sve cnjak, Sve cnjak et al, 2016Sve cnjak et al, , 2018Wa s et al, 2016). The quality of beeswax is further jeopardized by residues that mostly originate from the pesticides commonly used in the beekeeping technology (primarily acaricides), as well as environmental commercial pesticides widely utilized in agriculture (Bogdanov, 2006;Boi et al, 2016;Bonzini, Tremolada, Bernardinelli, Colombo, & Vighi, 2011;Chauzat & Faucon, 2007;Ravoet et al, 2015;Serra Bonveh ı & Orantes Bermejo, 2010;Tremolada, Bernardinelli, Colombo, Spreafico, & Vighi, 2004;Wallner, 1992Wallner, , 1993Wallner, , 1997Wallner, , 1999Wallner, , 2000. This implies an urgent need for the implementation of mandatory regulations defining the beeswax quality criteria and standardized analytical methods for its testing, as well as routine quality/authenticity control of beeswax prior to its placement on the market.…”

Section: Quality Assurance and Quality Control Reference Materialsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the scientific literature concerning determination of pesticides in wax by GC-MS, prevails the analyses of residues of active ingredients linked to pharmacological treatments in the control of Varroa mite (miticides). Few publications describe analysis methods for pesticides determination in wax (Bogdanov, Kilchenmann, & Imdorf, 1998;Boi et al, 2016;Lodesani, Costa, Serra, Colombo, & Sabatini, 2008;Mullin et al, 2010;Wallner, 1993Wallner, , 1999.…”

Section: Chromatographic Multiresidue Analysis By Gc-msmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Standard methods forApis melliferabeeswax research

Svečnjak

Chesson

Gallina

et al. 2019

Journal of Apicultural Research

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Due to its multifunctional and complex role in the honey bee colony functioning and health (construction material allowing food storage, brood rearing, thermoregulation, mediation in chemical and mechanical communication, substrate for pathogens, toxins and waste), Apis mellifera beeswax has been widely studied over the last five decades. This is supported by a comprehensive set of scientific reports covering different aspects of beeswax research. In this article, we present an overview of the methods for studying chemical, biological, constructional, and quality aspects of beeswax. We provide a detailed description of the methods for investigating wax scales, comb construction and growth pattern, cell properties, chemical composition of beeswax using different analytical tools, as well as the analytical procedures for provenancing beeswax and beeswax-derived compounds based on the hydrogen isotope ratio (IRMS). Along with classical physico-chemical and sensory analysis, we describe more precise and accurate methods for detection of adulterants in beeswax (GC-MS and FTIR-ATR). Moreover, we present methods for studying the influence of beeswax (comb foundation) adulteration on comb construction. Analytical protocols for determining the pesticide residues using different chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques are also described. As beeswax is an agent of high risk for the transmission of bee diseases, we present methods for detection of pathogens in beeswax. To ensure the reproducibility of experiments and results, we present best practice approaches and detailed protocols for all methods described, as well as their advantages and disadvantages.

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Section: Quality Assurance and Quality Control Reference Materialsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Chromatographic Multiresidue Analysis By Gc-msmentioning

confidence: 99%

Standard methods forApis melliferabeeswax research

Svečnjak

Chesson

Gallina

et al. 2019

Journal of Apicultural Research

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“…Today, beeswax is one of the most problematic bee products in terms of residues of varroacides. Due to its lipophilic properties, varroacides as well as some pesticides accumulate in the beeswax . Moreover, a rising number of beeswax foundations adulterated with paraffin and/or stearic acid have appeared in the German and International market in the last years .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification and Quantification of Single and Multi‐Adulteration of Beeswax by FTIR‐ATR Spectroscopy

Tanner

Lichtenberg-Kraag

2019

Euro J Lipid Sci & Tech

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Marketing of adulterated beeswax foundation has recently become a major economic problem for beekeepers. Paraffin contamination leads to collapse of combs, and stearic acid has a negative influence on the development of bee brood. The quality of beeswax for beekeeping has not been standardized in EU regulations. Recently, it was shown that attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR) can be used to determine beeswax adulteration. Differences in the IR spectra of authentic beeswax can be identified and calculated through comparison with authentic beeswax. In this study, the method is further validated by employing a high number of samples of authentic beeswax from different origins. Low quantification and detection limits are achieved for paraffin, stearic acid, tallow, carnauba wax, and candelilla wax. Furthermore, the FTIR-ATR analytical conditions are verified by analyzing 358 samples of commercial and beekeeper-produced beeswax foundations. Multi-adulterated samples with as many as five different additives in beeswax mixtures are identified with the same accuracy as single substances. Additionally, the spectra of a further 14 different natural and synthetic waxes and hardened fats are analyzed and are compared with beeswax. Finally, a spectral library is established that can be used for further studies. Practical Applications: FTIR-ATR is a fast and cost-efficient tool in beeswax analysis for accurately monitoring a high sample volume. Analysis of 358 beeswax foundations showed an adulteration of 21.8% of the samples with paraffin, stearic acid, tallow, and combinations. Based on the results of this study, it is possible to detect beeswax adulteration of less than 3% of these adulterants and their combinations by FTIR-ATR spectroscopy. This method can be used for monitoring beeswax foundations to identify adulterated materials, exclude these materials from the recycling process, and produce high-quality beeswax, which is essential for bee health.

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“…As a lipophilic substance, coumaphos accumulates in various bee products, particularly in beeswax. As a result, residues from coumaphos-containing drugs have been found in the beeswax of European origin, as reported for Belgium (Ravoet et al 2015), France (Chauzat et al 2011), Germany (Wallner 1999), Switzerland (Bogdanov 2006), Italy (Boi et al 2016;Porrini et al 2016;Perugini et al 2018) and Spain (Orantes-Bermejo et al 2010;Calatayud-Vernich et al 2017;Lozano et al 2019), and also reviewed recently in Wilmart et al (2016). Substantial coumaphos levels have also been found in the beeswax of apiaries outside of Europe, such as for example in North America (Mullin et al 2010;Wu et al 2011;Ostiguy et al 2019;Fulton et al 2019) or Uruguay (Harriet et al 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 76%

Distribution of coumaphos in beeswax after treatment of honeybee colonies with CheckMite® against the parasitical mite Varroa destructor

2019

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We studied the distribution of coumaphos in beeswax after a single application of CheckMite® to 15 bee colonies in the fall according to the manufacturer's instruction. Immediately after the treatment, residue levels were especially elevated in the wax that came into contact with the CheckMite® strips. During the following spring season, coumaphos levels ranged from 36 to 159 mg/kg in the wax of the brood frames next to the CheckMite® strips, and residue levels were about 10 times lower in the wax of frames that did not come into contact with the strips. Beeswax that was newly constructed 5 months after removing the treatment strips contained up to 7.3 mg/kg of coumaphos, and up to 0.5 and 2.3 mg/kg was detected in the honeycomb and capping wax, respectively. These results suggest that beeswax exposed to CheckMite® should not be recycled in order to prevent elevated concentrations of coumaphos in new foundations and hence to prevent honeybee larvae from being exposed to detrimental residue levels.beeswax / coumaphos / CheckMite® / honeybees / Apis mellifera / Varroa destructor

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A 10 year survey of acaricide residues in beeswax analysed in Italy

Cited by 47 publications

References 34 publications

Standard methods forApis melliferabeeswax research

Standard methods forApis melliferabeeswax research

Identification and Quantification of Single and Multi‐Adulteration of Beeswax by FTIR‐ATR Spectroscopy

Distribution of coumaphos in beeswax after treatment of honeybee colonies with CheckMite® against the parasitical mite Varroa destructor

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