
Honey as a pollution detector
Why is it in news?
- In a recent survey of urban beehives around Vancouver, published recently in Nature Sustainability , showed that the hives’ honey contained minute levels of lead, especially downtown and near the city’s port.
- The readings suggest that honey can be a sensitive indicator of air quality.
More in news
- Other natural pollution indicators:(1) Tree rings can tell scientists what the atmosphere was like when the tree was young.(2) Lichens can reveal local air pollution levels.
- Way forward: Scientists may be able to track improvements or declines in air quality by monitoring the beehives and analysing the honey.
Source
The Hindu