Characterization of Microplastics in Bees and Their Products in Urban and Rural Areas of the Sabana De Bogotá, Colombia

Abstract

Microplastics, plastic fragments smaller than 5 mm present in the environment due to the decomposition of larger plastics, can cause damage to various ecosystems and species of pollinating insects, such as Apis mellifera bees. These bees play a crucial role in the ecology and production of honey and pollen, also serving as bioindicators of environmental quality as they are sensitive to contaminants such as microplastics. In this study, we evaluated the presence of microplastics in these insects and their products—pollen, and honey—collected in August 2021 and August 2023 in rural areas (Tabio and Guasca) of Cundinamarca, Colombia, and urban areas (Universidad Nacional de Colombia and Pontificia Universidad Javeriana) of Bogotá, Colombia. Each year, 24 bees, 10 g of honey, and 5 g of pollen were collected per sampling point. Microplastics in bees and their products were identified and quantified by stereomicroscopy, with or without hydrogen peroxide digestion pretreatment. Microplastics were found in bees, pollen, and honey in both periods, with an increase in their quantity observed over time due to increasing environmental pollution. Blue fibers were the most common microplastics, with a greater amount recorded in 2023 compared to 2021.