Dee Lusby writes:
But I thought that Peter had access to library and sat there a lot
and could read an index like me.

Reply:
Don't expect me to do your homework for you. If you are going to
quote articles, it is your responsibility cite references. Otherwise,
your statements amount to nothing but hearsay. Unfortunately, people
may say they got the information from BEE-List and let it go at that.

* * *

Data on coumaphos contamination (residues in parts per million):

number of treatments/ brood comb/ honey comb/ honey

1/ 4.3/ .7/ .013
2/ 7.4/ .5/ .010
5/ 5.8/ .5/ .005

explanation:

After 5 treatments the residue in the supers was less than 10 percent
that of the residue in the brood combs. The residue in the honey was
one thousandth of the amount in the brood combs.

At 5.8 ppm, the amount in the brood comb was still far below the 100
parts per million allowed for wax. The level in honey was 5 parts per
BILLION, much smaller than the .1 ppm (100 parts per billion) allowed.

Capping wax was not studied, but it would likely have levels like
that of the honey, which were were PARTS PER BILLION. THESE ARE
EXTREMELY SMALL NUMBERS!

Additional data were collected from commercial beeswax. From 1991 to
1998 the level of coumaphos in beeswax (not cappings) went from
slightly over 1 ppm to slightly under 1 ppm (100 ppm allowed).
Fluvalinate residues went from 0 to almost 3 parts per million during
this time.

Info from:
Acaricide residues in honey, wax and propolis. Bogdanov, et al. Swiss
Bee Research Centre. Dairy Research Station, Bern.

* * *

Coumaphos residues are not expected to exceed 0.1 part per million
(ppm) in honey and 100 ppm in beeswax. The Agency has determined that
these residue levels are *adequate to protect the public health*.
Time-limited tolerances at these levels have been established and
will expire December 31, 2002. These tolerances will be extended to
support the 2002 use season.

Treatments must be applied at a time when bees are not producing a
surplus honey crop. Chemical resistant gloves must be worn when
handling strips.

Info from:
New York Department of Environmental Conservation Division of Solid
and Hazardous Materials Bureau of Pesticides Management, 625
Broadway, Albany, New York 12233-7254, January 18, 2002

--

Peter Borst <[log in to unmask]>