Reflection: "Honey as a Pollution Detector? It’s a Sweet Idea."

This article is different than my usual reflections. It's about air pollution -- a subject I'm still coming to understand. But this is a huge environmental issue and this article by Veronique Greenwood discusses an organic new way of measuring pollutants in the air.

Anything having to do with bees always intrigues me. Ever since Bee Movie came out, I have tried to educate myself on bee preservation. This article discusses a study conducted in Canada that suggests hives and their contents can indicate air quality levels. The study, started by a non-profit called Hives for Humanity, found levels of lead, zinc, iron and others in hives’ honey near urban areas around Vancouver.

Experts believe this could be an inexpensive way to measure what’s in the air. I thought this tied in perfectly to last class’ discussion of air pollution. We discussed how the EPA finds out what’s in the air and learned it was based off emissions. I think tracking pollutants through bees is an organic, interesting way to see what we’re breathing. However, it presented a point I found very interesting and hadn’t thought of: this data shows us where honey is being made.

“The chemistry of different samples can reveal where the honey came from. Volcanoes, river rocks, coal and other natural sources of lead have their own distinctive signatures, based on the ratio of different isotopes of the heavy metal in them, said Kate Smith, a graduate student who worked with Dr. Weis and led the study. It was clear that the ratio of lead isotopes in the honey the team studied did not match the ratios detected in the nearby Fraser River or local sediments.”

We can see how far these insects go to collect, which should matter to us. This study provides an opportunity to naturally track air pollutants while studying bees’ flight patterns and habits. Through analyzing honey, scientists could identify where these harmful substances are coming from and target these areas.

While I think this is a cool, cost-effective way utilize our flying friends, I'm no expert. What do you think about this? Have you ever kept bees or have any experiences with air pollution?