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Methodology for assessing the effect of sublethal doses of pesticides on solitary bees employing the OMICs approach
Erban, Tomáš ; Shcherbachenko, Elena ; Šlachta, Martin ; Cudlín, Pavel ; Chalupníková, Julie ; Halešová, Taťána ; Tomešová, Daniela ; Václavíková, Marta ; Votavová, Alena
Pollinators are potentially exposed to a number of pesticides in the environment. The most important group of hazardous substances comes from the category of plant protection products (PPPs), which are applied not only by farmers but also by small gardeners. Each PPP including the active substance and formulation undergoes a very detailed and thorough evaluation, which is in the European Union (EU) based on Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council. Although the negative effects of PPPs on the environment and non-target organisms are minimized with proper use, we cannot rule out possible hidden effects, especially those of a sublethal nature. Modern analytical approaches, such as the application of high-throughput methods, help to identify hidden side effects. This methodology is focused on the evaluation of the effect of sublethal doses of pesticides on solitary bees employing the OMICs approach. In the risk assessment of pesticides, the honey bee has long been preferred as a model species of pollinator, while solitary bees stay in the background. The methodology contains innovative aspects for experiments, such as a modified isolator, preparation of plants for exposure, the timing of the experiment, monitoring of active substance distribution or proteomic analysis of solitary bees to identify hidden effects of the test substance or its formulation. In this methodology, the model of the solitary bee, red mason bee (Osmia bicornis), is considered. However, the methodology is also applicable to other, especially related species of solitary bees. The methodology can be used in areas of state administration, private laboratories and research activities in the assessment of environmental risks of pesticides on solitary bees. The methodological procedure can confirm or even eliminate environmental risks when registering new products or reevaluating existing products. This methodology therefore has the potential for use in testing new substances intended for plant protection before their registration. In an exemplary embodiment, the effect of acetamiprid in a Careo sticks formulation was tested. The distribution of acetamiprid in the soil substrate and the plant was evaluated. The hazardous metabolite acetamiprid IM-2-1 was identified in plant tissues. However, proteomic analysis indicated a very low risk of acetamiprid for O. bicornis. This result is in agreement with the fact that acetamiprid has been assessed by EFSA to be a low risk for bees and is registered in the EU until 28 February 2033.
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A new approach for assessing the suspected pesticide poisonings of honeybees: certified methodology
Erban, Tomáš ; Kamler, Martin ; Kadlíková, Klára ; Markovič, Martin ; Titěra, Dalibor ; Seifrtová, Marcela ; Halešová, Taťána
Honeybee colonies are exposed to hundreds of plant protection products, which are especially due to improper use possible source of honeybee poisoning. The methodology introduces to the issue of honeybee poisoning including legislation and contributes with novel aspects to the indication and evaluation of the suspected honeybee poisonings, which are anually investigated by the State Veterinary Administration and the Central Institute for Supervising and Testing in Agriculture in Czechia. The methodology provides instructions to identify honeybee posining and notification of that finding. Moreover, possible confusions of the poisonings with honeybee diseases are highlighted. Some sections of the methodology provide innovative recommendations for improvement of honeybee poisoning assessing including determination of the extent of colony contamination. The present methodology is useful for the state administration, beekeepers, scientific and educational purposes.
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