Potential Effects of Nanopesticides on Honeybees
摘要
Nanotechnology has found diverse applications across agriculture, industry, and medicine. In agriculture, the prominent focus has been on developing nanomaterials to combat plant diseases and pests. The imperative to satisfy the expanding global food demand, along with rapid nanotechnology progress, has driven the emergence of nanopesticides as potential alternatives to conventional pesticides. These nanopesticides utilize active ingredients formulated at the nanoscale, offering improved stability, heightened efficacy, even dispersion, and controlled release to target organisms, thereby reducing overall pesticide usage. However, the improved chemical stability that enhances nanopesticide performance also raises concerns about their persistence, and the optimized dispersion of these active ingredients raises the possibility of unintended interactions with non-target organisms. Consequently, evaluating the potential toxicity of nanopesticides on non-target organisms, such as honeybees that play a vital role in crop pollination, becomes crucial. The impact of nanopesticides on honeybees has gained significant attention, as their unintended consequences could contribute to the ongoing decline in honeybee populations. Despite the fact that nanopesticides are specifically designed to target pests while minimizing harm to non-target species, traces of these nanoparticles have been identified in pollen grains collected and transported by bees to their hives. This accumulation of nanopesticides in beeswax poses a persistent threat to bee health over time. This chapter addresses the benefits offered by nanopesticides, including enhanced stability, but also sheds light on their potential negative impact on honeybees. The complex interactions between nanoparticles and pollen particles during collection are examined, along with recommended practices aimed at safeguarding honeybee populations from the adverse effects of nanopesticides.