Bees exposed to microplastic pollution struggle to remember floral scents linked to food rewards, a disruption that could have sweeping effects on agriculture and ecosystems.
Marta Zaraska reports for The Washington Post.
In short:
- Microplastics from products like packaging and cosmetics are contaminating soil, air, and vegetation, and bees are ingesting them through nectar and the environment.
- Research shows microplastics can enter bees’ guts and brains, damaging memory, weakening immune responses, and increasing death rates.
- Flowers and crops are also directly harmed, as microplastics can clog plant structures necessary for pollination and reduce flowering rates.
Key quote:
"If plastic is adding to all the stressors that pollinators are facing already, I think we really might be in a tricky position."
— Thomas Cherico Wanger-Guerrero, agroecologist at Agroscope, Switzerland’s agricultural research center
Why this matters:
Pollinators like bees are vital to global food production, with over one-third of the crops we eat relying on them. Microplastics, now pervasive across ecosystems, are emerging as a hidden but potent threat to these species. When bees ingest or come into contact with microplastics, their health declines — weakening their ability to forage, reproduce, and survive. This is particularly alarming as bees already face mounting pressure from pesticides, habitat loss, and climate change; the contamination of honey with microplastics highlights a direct route for these particles into the human food chain. Beyond the health of individual bees or plants, the broader implications touch nearly every level of the food system.
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