The Value of Hazard Quotients in Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Ecotoxicology: A Review
Estimates of pesticide application hazards have grown to be one of the most common methodologies for evaluating the impact of pest management practices on honey bees. Typically, hazards are estimated by calculating a Hazard Quotient (HQ), which is based on acute toxicity data for different pesticide...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-06-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.824992/full |
| _version_ | 1811244516883038208 |
|---|---|
| author | Emily A. Carlson Emily A. Carlson Andony Melathopoulos Ramesh Sagili |
| author_facet | Emily A. Carlson Emily A. Carlson Andony Melathopoulos Ramesh Sagili |
| author_sort | Emily A. Carlson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Estimates of pesticide application hazards have grown to be one of the most common methodologies for evaluating the impact of pest management practices on honey bees. Typically, hazards are estimated by calculating a Hazard Quotient (HQ), which is based on acute toxicity data for different pesticides and the quantity of those pesticides applied to a field or detected on bees and matrices associated with their hive (honey, wax, pollen, and/or bee bread). Although use of HQ is widespread, there have been few reviews of this methodology, particularly with focus on how effective this method is at predicting effects of pesticides on hives. We evaluated 36 relevant papers, containing calculations of HQ to estimate hazards to honey bees. We observed that HQ was primarily calculated using two different approaches: (1) from the concentration of pesticides in the food, hive, or tissues of honey bees or (2) using the field application rate of the active ingredient as the estimation of pesticide hazard. Within and between HQ calculation methods, thresholds vary widely with some HQ thresholds set below 1 and others set at 10,000. Based on our review we identify key weakness with current HQ methodology and how studies relate HQ to honey bee health endpoints. First, HQ thresholds from studies of pesticides in hives are not based on the same pesticide consumption models from the EPA, potentially overestimating the risk of impacts to colonies. Conversely, HQ estimates calculated from field application rates are not based on eco-toxicological estimates of field exposure, resulting in an overestimation of pesticide reaching colonies. We suggest it is for these reasons that there is poor correspondence between HQ and field-level honey bee health endpoints. Considering these challenges, HQ calculations should be used cautiously in future studies and more research should be dedicated to field level exposure models. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T14:26:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-875b27017c3b4358aadbaf378a8f274d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-701X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T14:26:27Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-875b27017c3b4358aadbaf378a8f274d2022-12-22T03:29:25ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution2296-701X2022-06-011010.3389/fevo.2022.824992824992The Value of Hazard Quotients in Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Ecotoxicology: A ReviewEmily A. Carlson0Emily A. Carlson1Andony Melathopoulos2Ramesh Sagili3Pollinator Health Lab, Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United StatesHoney Bee Lab, Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United StatesPollinator Health Lab, Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United StatesHoney Bee Lab, Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United StatesEstimates of pesticide application hazards have grown to be one of the most common methodologies for evaluating the impact of pest management practices on honey bees. Typically, hazards are estimated by calculating a Hazard Quotient (HQ), which is based on acute toxicity data for different pesticides and the quantity of those pesticides applied to a field or detected on bees and matrices associated with their hive (honey, wax, pollen, and/or bee bread). Although use of HQ is widespread, there have been few reviews of this methodology, particularly with focus on how effective this method is at predicting effects of pesticides on hives. We evaluated 36 relevant papers, containing calculations of HQ to estimate hazards to honey bees. We observed that HQ was primarily calculated using two different approaches: (1) from the concentration of pesticides in the food, hive, or tissues of honey bees or (2) using the field application rate of the active ingredient as the estimation of pesticide hazard. Within and between HQ calculation methods, thresholds vary widely with some HQ thresholds set below 1 and others set at 10,000. Based on our review we identify key weakness with current HQ methodology and how studies relate HQ to honey bee health endpoints. First, HQ thresholds from studies of pesticides in hives are not based on the same pesticide consumption models from the EPA, potentially overestimating the risk of impacts to colonies. Conversely, HQ estimates calculated from field application rates are not based on eco-toxicological estimates of field exposure, resulting in an overestimation of pesticide reaching colonies. We suggest it is for these reasons that there is poor correspondence between HQ and field-level honey bee health endpoints. Considering these challenges, HQ calculations should be used cautiously in future studies and more research should be dedicated to field level exposure models.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.824992/fullhoney beehazard quotientHQecotoxicologyApis melliferapollen hazard quotient |
| spellingShingle | Emily A. Carlson Emily A. Carlson Andony Melathopoulos Ramesh Sagili The Value of Hazard Quotients in Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Ecotoxicology: A Review Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution honey bee hazard quotient HQ ecotoxicology Apis mellifera pollen hazard quotient |
| title | The Value of Hazard Quotients in Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Ecotoxicology: A Review |
| title_full | The Value of Hazard Quotients in Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Ecotoxicology: A Review |
| title_fullStr | The Value of Hazard Quotients in Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Ecotoxicology: A Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Value of Hazard Quotients in Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Ecotoxicology: A Review |
| title_short | The Value of Hazard Quotients in Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Ecotoxicology: A Review |
| title_sort | value of hazard quotients in honey bee apis mellifera ecotoxicology a review |
| topic | honey bee hazard quotient HQ ecotoxicology Apis mellifera pollen hazard quotient |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.824992/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT emilyacarlson thevalueofhazardquotientsinhoneybeeapismelliferaecotoxicologyareview AT emilyacarlson thevalueofhazardquotientsinhoneybeeapismelliferaecotoxicologyareview AT andonymelathopoulos thevalueofhazardquotientsinhoneybeeapismelliferaecotoxicologyareview AT rameshsagili thevalueofhazardquotientsinhoneybeeapismelliferaecotoxicologyareview AT emilyacarlson valueofhazardquotientsinhoneybeeapismelliferaecotoxicologyareview AT emilyacarlson valueofhazardquotientsinhoneybeeapismelliferaecotoxicologyareview AT andonymelathopoulos valueofhazardquotientsinhoneybeeapismelliferaecotoxicologyareview AT rameshsagili valueofhazardquotientsinhoneybeeapismelliferaecotoxicologyareview |