Honeybees (Apis mellifera) toxicology and detoxification mechanisms

IF 8 1区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Science of the Total Environment Pub Date : 2025-06-18 DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.179902

Jakob A. Shimshoni , Shimon Barel

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Abstract

The critical role of honeybees in pollination underscores their importance in sustaining global food production systems. Recent trends indicating a decline in honeybee populations have raised concerns, particularly in relation to their exposure to a range of xenobiotics. This review synthesizes existing research on the exposure of honeybees to various toxicants, including pesticides, antibiotics, environmental pollutants, and trace elements. It provides a detailed analysis of the acute and chronic toxic effects of these substances on individual bees, the queen, the brood, and, by extension, the entire colony.

Emphasis is placed on the methodologies employed in toxicity testing and the resultant toxicological profiles, highlighting the risks associated with these exposures. This review also explores the underlying mechanisms of toxicity and delineates the complex detoxification strategies honeybees deploy against these xenobiotics. It is observed that susceptibility to these substances varies, with certain pesticides, antibiotics, and heavy metals demonstrating pronounced toxicity. The metabolic pathways involving detoxifying enzymes and the role of beeswax as a sequestration mechanism are discussed, noting the potential for chronic exposure risks.

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蜜蜂（Apis mellifera）毒理学和解毒机制

蜜蜂在授粉中的关键作用凸显了它们在维持全球粮食生产系统中的重要性。最近的趋势表明，蜜蜂数量的下降引起了人们的关注，特别是与它们暴露于一系列外来生物制剂有关。本文综述了目前关于蜜蜂暴露于各种毒物的研究，包括杀虫剂、抗生素、环境污染物和微量元素。它详细分析了这些物质对单个蜜蜂、蜂王、幼蜂以及整个蜂群的急性和慢性毒性作用。重点放在毒性试验所采用的方法和由此产生的毒理学概况上，强调与这些接触有关的风险。本综述还探讨了潜在的毒性机制，并描述了蜜蜂针对这些外源药物部署的复杂解毒策略。人们观察到，对这些物质的敏感性各不相同，某些杀虫剂、抗生素和重金属表现出明显的毒性。讨论了涉及解毒酶的代谢途径和蜂蜡作为隔离机制的作用，并指出了慢性暴露的潜在风险。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Science of the Total Environment 环境科学-环境科学

CiteScore

17.60

自引率

10.20%

发文量

8726

审稿时长

2.4 months

期刊介绍： The Science of the Total Environment is an international journal dedicated to scientific research on the environment and its interaction with humanity. It covers a wide range of disciplines and seeks to publish innovative, hypothesis-driven, and impactful research that explores the entire environment, including the atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and anthroposphere. The journal's updated Aims & Scope emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary environmental research with broad impact. Priority is given to studies that advance fundamental understanding and explore the interconnectedness of multiple environmental spheres. Field studies are preferred, while laboratory experiments must demonstrate significant methodological advancements or mechanistic insights with direct relevance to the environment.