Hi Randy and All

> Chlorpyrifos was the most common ag pesticide found,  just below
> the frequency of beekeeper applied miticides.  The high level
> for chlorpyrifos was 890 ppb.

This something that puzzled me.  The hives tested by Penn State had alarming 
levels of the two miticides, fluvalinate and coumaphos.  The mean level of 
fluvalinate in wax  was recorded as about half of the LD50, even though US 
beekeepers had apparently moved on from that particular pesticide some years 
before.  The lowish levels and low frequencies of all but one other pesticide 
were no doubt mostly from farm operations.  However chlorpyriphos was up there 
with the miticides.  Why?

This report, on p8, reveals that chlorpyriphos is used around and even on hives 
to control fire ants:

http://gallus.tamu.edu/library/extpublications/B-1536.PDF

So is that it, all three of the big contaminants were put there by the 
beekeepers?  Happy to be corrected by those who know ...

all the best

Gavin

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