Allen Dick said (about renewing brood comb):

> to avoid build-up of chemicals from the environment.  This is an interesting
> matter on which I have not heard definitive information.  Are there chemicals in
> the combs after a few years, and is new comb better in this regard?

Not only yes, but heck, yes.

PDB, all the Varroa treatments, you name it, it is all "in there", in detectable
levels.  Given that old comb is recycled into new foundation, the level of
contamination of commercial foundation will only continue to increase over time.
The Lusbys have (forgive the pun) "waxed philosophical" on this point at length:

   http://www.beesource.com/pov/lusby/part10.htm
   http://www.beesource.com/pov/lusby/part11.htm
   http://www.beesource.com/pov/lusby/part12.htm
   http://www.beesource.com/pov/lusby/part13.htm

I've never seen anyone who sells PDB admit that it contaminates wax.
Of course, many of the same people buy wax, form it into foundation,
and re-sell it.

The good news is that one can ask that one's own wax be converted to
foundation, but this is only practical for "the big operators".

I've got a whole list of citations of papers published on the subject, but a simple
google search with the search terms ("comb" or "wax") and ("PDB" or
"paradichlorobenzene") should be enough to get the basic facts.

I dunno what happens when the use of organophosphate Varroa controls
becomes more common, but this stuff, even in trace levels, is bad news.

It is kinda strange.  If one looks at beekeeping as a "normal business", one's
most valuable "tangible asset" is supers of drawn comb.  The good news is
that (except for PDB), the contamination is focused on the brood comb.

My solution?  I find that I can sell my cappings wax and "retired" combs
for a much better price as valued-added products.  I wish that "brood comb"
would never be recycled into foundation, but I am a dreamer.

        jim

        farmageddon