How Different Types of Pollution Affect Pollinators

Environmental pollution has a wide range of consequences, with direct and indirect effects on humans. One of the indirect effects on food security is caused by the negative impact of pollution on pollinators. Pollinator diversity and populations are negatively affected by the use of chemicals in agriculture, and other urban and industrial factors. The chemicals and other factors cause different types of pollution, including air, light, soil, and noise pollution. For example, air pollution negatively affects pollinators by weakening their memory; light pollution affects their reproduction; soil pollution impacts pollen/nectar quality; and noise pollution can increase stress levels in larvae. These and other negative effects contribute to 40% of insect pollinators being at risk of extinction, which in turn puts our food security at risk.