The above results thus led to Dr. Lensky's statements expressed in the January issue of this newsletter about placement of inserts, and treatment with fluvalinate at too high levels for too long. His overriding concern was possible effects of fluvalinate buildup in a honey bee colony. While a beekeeper may feel that extended treatment might provide prolonged protection from Varroa mites, our data indicate that it will result in reduced honey yields and honey and beeswax contamination at levels above established tolerances. This has both good and bad aspects according to one of the pioneers in the field, Dr. Jerry Bromenshenk, University of Montana. Honey bees serve as multi-media samplers that average the concentrations of pollutants over time and throughout large spatial areas.
Some chemicals concentrate in wax, especially the lipophilic ones.
As a consequence, beekeepers should refrain from letting bees collect and consume pollen in industrial areas, near highways, chemical plants, or a local nuclear reactor. Except for tritium or other special elements, levels of contaminants in honey will be the same order of magnitude or lower than those found in bees, pollen, and some wax samples. Even when contaminated, therefore, honey is as good or better than most food products. Propolis, like wax, can contain high levels of contaminants, but levels often change dramatically from one date to the next, much more than in bees or pollen. Beekeepers should take the attitude that monitoring environmental contamination by their bees is a valuable new service that they can provide.