Vineyard footprint revealed by honey bees used as sentinels for organic and inorganic pollutants in contrasted environments

The contamination of non-target organisms and ecosystems by pesticides can adversely affect biodiversity and key ecosystem services such as pollination or natural pest control. In this study, we used honey bee colonies as sentinels of environmental contamination in four distinct habitats--urban, suburban, forest, and vineyard--and collected bees every three weeks from May to November. Pesticide residues were extracted using an adapted QuEChERS method and analyzed by LC-MS/MS, while inorganic elements were measured by ICP-MS and ICP-AES. Our results show that land-use and seasonal changes shape contaminant patterns in bees. Vineyards left the strongest chemical footprint on bees, as indicated by the wide diversity of contaminants detected in this environment. This reflects multiple exposure to both current and historical pesticide inputs--such as copper--which can accumulate over time to potentially harmful levels. Pollinators like honey bees provide effective indicators of environmental risk, as their health and contaminant loads can reveal broader ecological impacts. Overall, environmental exposure and local contaminant inputs determine the pollutant burdens in pollinators, which may affect honey bee health and the ecosystem services they provide.