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. 2016 May 31;7:11629. doi: 10.1038/ncomms11629

Table 3. The average risk (%) posed by pesticide residues in pollen collected by honey bees placed in a non-agricultural area.

Date Active Ingredient (AI)
Synergies Total Weekly Risk
  Clothianidin Coumaphos Diazinon Dinotefuran Imidacloprid Phenothrin Prallethrin Tetramethrin Thiamethoxam λ-cyhalothrin Propiconazole+λ -cyhalothrin  
Use* ST DP, S DP, G, LC G, S C, G, D, ST D, S S S ST C, D C, D  
24-May 0
31-May C: 0.02 C: 0.03 O: 0.02C: 0.05 C: 6.1 C: 184 C: 0.09 O: 0.03C: 0.13 O: 0.05C: 191
7-Jun O: 0.13C: 0.19 C: 0.01 O: 0.11C: 0.42 O: 0.04C: 0.34 C: 13.5 O: 0.28C: 14.4
14-Jun C: 171 O: 0.02C: 0.14 C: 5.5 O: 0.02C: 177
20-Jun 0
27-Jun O: 0.08C: 0.48 C: 9.0 O: 0.08C: 9.5
5-Jul C: 81.3 O: 0.02C: 0.18 C: 6.9 O: 0.02C: 88.4
12-Jul C: 0.01 C: 0.02 O: 0.08C: 0.48 O: 0.02C: 0.06   C: 27.7 C: 0.01 O: 0.10C: 0.37 O: 0.20C: 28.7
19-Jul C: 5.0 O: 0C: 5.0
26-Jul C: 16.2 O: 0C: 16.2
2-Aug C: 78.8 O: 0C: 78.8
9-Aug C: 66.9 O: 0C: 66.9
16-Aug C: 34.8 C: 17.2 O: 0C: 52.0
23-Aug O: 0.10C: 0.63 C: 20.2   O: 0.10C: 20.8
30-Aug C: 61.2 C: 18.6 O: 0C: 79.7
13-Sep C: 42.2 O: 0C: 42.2
Total seasonal risk/AI 0.32 0.04 0.05 1.85 0.15 164.5 675.7 0.10 1.16 0.74 25.9  

Oral (O) and contact (C) risks are based on the residue load, frequency of detection, and reported individual or synergistic lethal doses (LD50) of active ingredients. Low risk values: 0.1–1.0; Moderate risk values: 1–5; High risk values: >5. Risk values < 0.01 not shown. Note: Dashes denote no detection of active ingredients. Italicized values denote relevant seasonal risk values for honey bees.

*C, liquid, soluble, or emulsifiable concentrate; D, dusts or dustable powder; G, granules; S, spray; SD, soil drench; ST, seed treatment.