Neonicotinoid concentrations in UK honey from 2013

BACKGROUND: Concentrations of the neonicotinoid insecticides clothianidin, thiamethoxam and imidacloprid were determined in honey collected in Spring 2013 from a variety of locations in England. The honey was produced before the moratorium in the EU on the use of neonicotinoids in pollinator-attractive crops became effective. RESULTS: Neither imidacloprid nor its metabolites were detected in any honey samples. Concentrations of clothianidin ranged from <0.02 to 0.82 µg kg(-1) , and thiamethoxam concentrations were between <0.01 and 0.79 µg kg(-1) . CONCLUSION: Neonicotinoid concentrations were below those likely to cause any chronic mortality. The concentrations detected should provide a useful baseline against which the effectiveness of the moratorium in reducing exposure of honeybees can be measured. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.