I agree that Dee and beekeepers in rural parts of many western states would 
 test for little or NO pesticides, but there are other ag chemicals and  
industrial pollutants that can enter in.  I've never found a beehive  anywhere 
that I couldn't document a fair number of less than 'organic'  residues.  
One of the worst are heavy metals in areas where ORGANIC gardens  
proliferated in the 60s.  Many bought vacant lots and abandoned factory  areas - cheap 
land.  And then used lots of composted materials, which often  tend to 
concentrate heavy metals.
 
I can normally find anywhere from 200-220 volatile and semi-volatile  
chemicals in any bee colony, including everything from 'natural' chemicals like  
terpenes from  trees and shrubs to industrial solvent and the BTEX  
breakdown products of gasoline and diesel.  So it all depends on what  analyses you 
run, what you are looking for.
 
Jerry
 
 

             ***********************************************
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

Guidelines for posting to BEE-L can be found at:
http://honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/guidelines.htm