Agricultural, urban, and industrial activities are a major source of pollutants in the environment (soil, air, and water). As a result, this contamination can have a negative impact on living organisms. The environment can be affected by inorganic pollution, for example, due to the presence of toxic and potentially toxic elements, or by pollutants of organic origin, such as persistent chemicals, pesticides, plasticizers, bisphenols, and so on. These contaminants can have dangerous consequences for the environment and can even enter the food chain and thus affect living organisms. It is therefore essential to constantly monitor the level of pollution. To this end, an indirect method based on the use of living organisms, such as beekeepers, can be used to carry out so-called “environmental biomonitoring”.

Bees and bee products, including honey and pollen, provide information on the state of the environment and chemical pollution. Bees are exposed to many pollutants, especially during foraging. As they collect pollen and nectar from flowers, they accumulate xenobiotic residues that are transferred to their products and even reach humans through the food chain. In this context, this Research Topic aims to collect excellent and innovative work on biomonitoring of bees and bee products, not only to ensure product quality and consumer health but also to protect the environment.

Topics of interest include but are not limited to the following:

1. Bees and natural bee products (honey, beeswax, pollen, propolis, and royal jelly) suitable to monitor environmental pollution.

2. Bees and bee products are good indicators of environmental pollution caused by toxic substances, such as toxic elements, radioactive elements, or persistent organic pollutants such as pesticides, PCBs, PAHs, plasticizers, and bisphenols.

3. Original research and review articles on the monitoring of organic (pesticides, PAHs, PCBs, plasticizers, bisphenols, etc.) and inorganic (potentially toxic elements and radioactive elements) contaminants in bees and their products will be considered.

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Frontiers in Food Science and Technology

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