Las abejas melíferas (Apis mellifera) como biomonitores de contaminación ambiental mediada por metales pesados

Manuel Cecchi; Marilina Basso; Delfina Cantatore; María de la Paz Moliné; Natalia Fernández; Enzo Domínguez; Sandra Churio; Liesel Brenda Gende

doi:10.52559/eunk.v2i1.31

Authors

Manuel Cecchi National University of Mar del Plata
Marilina Basso National Atomic Energy Commission
Delfina Cantatore Institute of Marine and Coastal Research
María de la Paz Moliné National University of Mar del Plata
Natalia Fernández National University of Mar del Plata
Enzo Domínguez National University of Mar del Plata
Sandra Churio National University of Mar del Plata
Liesel Brenda Gende National University of Mar del Plata

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52559/eunk.v2i1.31

Keywords:

bees, pollen, honey, biomonitors, heavy metals

Abstract

In this work, the use of bee’s colonies (Apis mellifera) as biomonitors of environmental contamination by heavy metals was studied. For this, the concentration of Cd (cadmium), Cr (chromium), Ni (nickel), Pb (lead) and Zn (zinc) in bees, pollen and honey collected in apiaries located in three areas with different sources of contamination was evaluated. The samplings for the determination of heavy metals were carried out in each apiary once a month, for twelve months. The bees and pollen samples were processed by acid digestion and the resulting solutions were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. While the honey samples were processed by microwave digestion and the detection was carried out in an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer by total reflection. The concentrations of each of the metals were determined in relation to the dry weight of the samples. The data obtained indicated that the five metals could be detected in the bee and pollen, and only zinc could be determined in the honey samples. The matrix that best resulted as a biomonitor of contamination by heavy metals turned out to be the bee.

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