There is an interesting note at the end of this NY Times article about 
honey bees being used to measure nuclear contamination.
- Paul

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/15/science/earth/15rabbit.html?ref=science

As the federal government pursues cleanups at various nuclear sites, 
experts have deliberately contaminated a species to further their 
efforts: honeybees. The Environmental Protection Agency says honeybees 
have been used to map radioactive materials on five federal nuclear 
reservations, including Hanford, as well as heavy metal pollutants.

Workers position a hive at a suspect area and wait to see what the bees 
come back with. Researchers can measure the radioactive content of the 
bees’ honey or wax, but “the recommended sample is the bee itself,” the 
agency said.

             ***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html

Access BEE-L directly at:
http://community.lsoft.com/scripts/wa-LSOFTDONATIONS.exe?A0=BEE-L