A Systematic Review on Silent Pollution: Pesticides and Antibiotics in Bee Products and their Health Implications

Safia Ben  Amor; Asma  Abid; Maria  Chikha; Ibrahim Elkhalil  Behmene; Walid  Boussebaa; Nour  Elhouda-Mekhadmi; Samia  Meliani; Magda H.  Abdellattif

doi:10.56093/aaz.v65i1.174659

Authors

Safia Ben Amor Saharan Area Laboratory for Agricultural Modernization and Advancement (SALAMA - LAB) Higher School of Saharan Agriculture, El-Oued PB 90, El Oued 39011, Algeria
Asma Abid Laboratory of Valorization and Promotion of Saharan Resources (VPRS), Faculty of Mathematics and Matter Sciences, University of Ouargla, Road of Ghardaia, 30000, Ouargla, Algeria
Maria Chikha Mohamed Cherif Messaadia University, Institute of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, BP 41000 Souk Ahras, Algeria
Ibrahim Elkhalil Behmene Saharan Area Laboratory for Agricultural Modernization and Advancement (SALAMA - LAB) Higher School of Saharan Agriculture, El-Oued PB 90, El Oued 39011, Algeria
Walid Boussebaa Laboratory of Valorization and Promotion of Saharan Resources (VPRS), Faculty of Mathematics and Matter Sciences, University of Ouargla, Road of Ghardaia, 30000, Ouargla, Algeria
Nour Elhouda-Mekhadmi Department of Biology, University of El-Oued, El-Oued, Algeria
Samia Meliani Saharan Area Laboratory for Agricultural Modernization and Advancement (SALAMA - LAB) Higher School of Saharan Agriculture, El-Oued PB 90, El Oued 39011, Algeria
Magda H. Abdellattif Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Taif University, Al-Haweiah, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia

https://doi.org/10.56093/aaz.v65i1.174659

Keywords:

Silent Pollution, Bee Products, Honey Residues, Food Safety and Chemicals, Veterinary antibiotics, Pesticides.

Abstract

Bee products such as honey, beeswax, propolis, and royal jelly are highly regarded for their nutritional, medicinal, and economic significance; however, they are increasingly impacted by “silent pollution” resulting from pesticide and veterinary antibiotic residues. Although many studies have documented individual contaminants within specific matrices, a comprehensive understanding of their simultaneous occurrence, transfer mechanisms, persistence, and implications for human and ecosystem health remains incomplete. This review offers a thorough and current synthesis of pesticide and antibiotic contamination in various bee products, with specific focus on matrix-specific accumulation, bioavailability, and long-term persistence within colonies. In contrast to prior evaluations, this study rigorously synthesizes global residue data with analytical techniques, sampling methodologies, regulatory standards, and exposure pathways to underscore systemic deficiencies in monitoring and risk evaluation. The review additionally assesses the cumulative and synergistic impacts of chemical mixtures, correlating residue profiles with risks to consumer health, pollinator well-being, and ecosystem stability. By presenting bee products as both essential food commodities and bioindicators of environmental contamination, this review emphasizes the critical importance of establishing standardized monitoring programs, enhancing regulatory supervision, and implementing effective residue mitigation strategies. These insights offer a new framework to promote safer apicultural practices and inform evidence-based policy formulation.

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