Christina,
  He's talking about "Log P" coefficients which is a way of determining relative distribution of generally "small molecules" in a water/octanol partition.  It a very rough calculation that has been used as a way to attempt to get some predictive idea of a substance behaves in a biological environment that simultaneously has water like (blood), and oil like (fat bodies) compartments, and all those in between ie plasma proteins, various cellular compartments.  Additionally things like membrane permeability are loosely related to "Log P".   
   In this instance, believe that the idea is that things that would be "dissolved" in beeswax would probably not have a strong affinity for the more aqueous environments of living organisms so the rate at which movement of "residues" from combs to bees is probably not well defined by diffusion, since that would imply equal affinity or solubility for both aqueous and lipid like environments.  I think the reasonable assumption is if a "chemical agent" significantly partitions into beeswax, it's not very likely it is going to partition back out into the more aqueous environment of bee insides.  I suppose this begs the question, has anyone looked at the rate at which comb contaminants are transferred to the bees that emerge from those cells, and their hive mates.  Most "bioactive" organic compounds, be they drugs or pesticides usually demonstrate a mixed affinity for lipid and aqueous, which usually makes them poorly soluble in very greasy non-polar environments such as wax, as well as very watery polar environments like nectar or honey.  It makes one wonder if comb residues are really a significant issue in regards to hive health....  Certainly most of us don't worry about lead paint in our homes in the absence of some disturbance that might cause particulates to be inhaled or ingested...  Mark

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