Designing and conducting studies that are practical, realistic and meaningful is increasingly challenging, as more endpoints and details boost complexity. However, some limitations for all different study types remain and are currently unresolved, and cause challenges both for study conduct as well as risk assessment. In addition, newer studies – such as on chronic toxicity, larval toxicity or homing success raise additional questions on the suitability of endpoints gained. Studies in laboratory on adult and larval acute and chronic toxicity, may breach triggers and indicate potential risks - however, with a varying level of certainty on study outcomes, use of endpoints, and their interpretation it is essential to design suitable follow up-studies to refine the risk for products.  In the talk, two examples of currently debated topics – mixture toxicity and microbial testing- will be investigated with analyses and an attempt for an answer which and how much more tests which and how much more specific advancements are needed to cover realistic agricultural and real life scenarios. Furthermore, the potential benefit, but also possibilities and limitations of monitoring and incident investigation opposed to regimented toxicity studies in assessing the potential for pesticides to affect bee colonies and feedback for risk assessment is discussed presenting newer and historical data.

Assessing side effects of pesticides on honey bees to cover agricultural reality: Adult and larval toxicity, exposure, and effect studies

ACS Fall 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.