Assessment of heavy metal pollution in Córdoba (Spain) by biomonitoring foraging honeybee

摘要: Due to features that make them outstanding environmental bioindicator, colonies of Apis mellifera are being used study pollution. The primary objective this research was use honeybee identify heavy metals and determine their utility for management. Five stations each with two A. hives were strategically located in urban, industrial, agricultural forested areas within the municipality Cordoba (Spain), foraging bees collected from April December 2007, 2009 2010 analyse spatial temporal variation Pb, Cr, Ni Cd Metal concentrations, milligram per kilogram honeybee, determined by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Significant differences concentrations found among various locations periods. highest number values exceeding upper reference thresholds proposed (Pb, 0.7 mg/kg; 0.12 Ni, 0.3 Cd, 0.1 mg/kg) observed Pb Cr (6.25% respectively), station S4 (13.22%), year 2007 (20.83%) months May July (11.90% each). Regarding which analysed only 2010, 40%. Biomonitoring could contribute improved surveillance control systems atmospheric pollution integrating qualitative quantitative assessments, thus facilitating prevention readiness event crises.