Evaluation of element accumulation and oxidative stress in bees due to a landfill waste fire event

Landfill fires can contribute significantly to air pollution (1). Several pollutants can be emitted during waste combustion, such as toxic or potentially toxic elements (1,2). In particular, chemicals have environmental and health impacts that can also affect bee’s health (2,3). The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of air pollution from waste fires on bee health, in terms of oxidative stress and metal accumulation, as well as the possible beneficial effect of feeding probiotics and Quassia amara to bees. Six beehives were considered near the Malagrotta landfill, central Italy (41°51'49.9 N 12°19'46.5 E) before and after a landfill fire event on 15 June 2022. Bees were analyzed for elemental content by a quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry (2,3), oxidative stress by hydrogen peroxide and protein carbonyl group contents (3), and metabolic profiles by 1H-NMR (3). Compared with control bees, lower concentrations of As, B, Ba, Cd, Co, Fe, Li, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sn, Ti, and U were found in probiotic-fed bees, and Ba, Be, Cd, Co, Fe, Li, Mn, Sn, Ti, and U in Q. amara-fed bees, indicating a possible protective action of probiotics and medicinal plants against the accumulation of toxic or potentially toxic elements (2,3). The administration of probiotics and Q. amara to bees has also shown a protective effect against the oxidative stress caused by the fire of landfill waste (3). The comparison of the metabolic profiles through pre- and post-event PCA analyses showed that bees treated with different feeds react differently to the environmental event. The greatest differences in metabolic profiles were observed between the placebo-fed bees compared to the others. This study can help to understand how some stress factors can affect the health of bees and to take measures to protect these precious insects. Acknowledgements: The authors wish to thank Marco Papi, Marco Papi Azienda Agricola ed Apistica, Rome (Italy), for the study’s precious support and all the sampling stages. We acknowledge the Ph.D. programs on green topics, PON Research and Innovation 2014–2020 project, funded by FSE REACT-EU. References [1] Dabrowska D., Rykala W., Nourani V. Sustainability, 2023, 15(7), 5713. 10.3390/su15075713 [2] Astolfi M.L., Conti M.E., Messi M., Marconi E. Chemosphere, 2022, 308, 136261. 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136261 [3] Giampaoli O., Messi M., Merlet T., Sciubba F., Canepari S., Spagnoli M, Astolfi M.L. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2023, 1-17. 10.1007/s11356-023-31561-x