article · Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society
Honey bees, bee-collected pollen, and honey can serve as biological indicators to monitor heavy metal pollution surrounding industrial sites. Research conducted near a cement factory in Al-Ahsa Province measured concentrations of iron, manganese, zinc, copper, and nickel across distances ranging from 3 to 21 kilometres. Heavy metal levels varied significantly based on distance from the plant and the type of sample analysed. The highest metal concentrations generally occurred within three to six kilometres of the facility. Forager bees contained the highest levels of manganese, zinc, and copper, whereas bee pollen accumulated the highest concentrations of iron and nickel. Certain harmful elements, specifically lead, cobalt, and chromium, were not detected in any samples. These findings confirm that industrial emissions create localized heavy metal deposition closest to the source, and demonstrate the viability of using apicultural matrices to track environmental contaminants.
Industrial activities such as cement manufacturing release airborne heavy metals that can settle into nearby ecosystems and food chains. Understanding how contaminants disperse helps environmental regulators and local communities identify high-risk zones. Using honey bees and hive products as natural monitoring tools provides a practical way to track contamination patterns across wide geographic areas without relying solely on complex stationary air-sampling networks.
This work points towards applications in bio-monitoring services and environmental compliance auditing for industrial zones. Potential users include environmental consultancies, regulatory bodies, and industrial plant operators seeking cost-effective methods to track heavy metal dispersion. The technique represents applied research tested in field conditions, though practical adoption would require standardised sampling protocols and commercial analytical testing services before seeing routine market deployment.
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The present study was conducted in a cement production area in Al-Ahsa Province, in eastern Saudi Arabia. The study aimed to investigate the intensity of heavy metal contents at 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 and 21 km from the cement factory by determining, quantifying and measuring certain heavy metal contents in honey, bee collected-pollen and forager bee samples from the hybrid Carniolan honey bee, Apis mellifera carnica Pollmann colonies. Values of iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and nickel (Ni) in honey, bee pollen and forager bees were variable and significantly dependent on the distance from the cement factory. The largest values of tested heavy metals were obtained from samples collected from the 1st location (3 km), except for Cu in honey, and Cu and Ni in forager bees collected from the 2nd location (6 km). In addition, these values were variable and significantly dependent on the type of product. The largest values of Mn, Zn and Cu were obtained from forager bees, while the maximum values of Fe and Ni were found in bee-pollen. On the other hand, harmful elements including lead (Pb), cobalt (Co) and chromium (Cr) were not detected in any of the samples. From results obtained in this study, it can be concluded that heavy metal pollution was most intense in zones closest to the cement-industry area. Finally, honey bees and their products can be used as an indicator of environmental pollution.
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DOI: 10.2317/151230.1
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