DAVIS–

A study by researchers at the University of Maryland at College Park shows that crop fungicides thought to be harmless to bees in fact may affect their health. The study confirms what UC Davis bee expert Eric Mussen has suspected for years: that farm chemicals may contribute to the die-off of colonies of bees in recent years.

The study found nine chemicals in the pollen collected from various crops. Some of them are intended to protect bees from mites, but instead cause them harm.

“Pesticides, insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, it really doesn’t matter … all have some degree of negative consequences on the physiology of the bee.  It’s just a matter of how much, ” said Mussen.

While the chemicals don’t kill bees outright, Mussen says it can mess with their immune system, or their growth cycle, causing populations to decline.

Mussen says while the information in the study is new, it’s not surprising that farm chemicals thought to be safe have unintended consequences for bees.

“We’re getting a better understanding, but the understanding is that it’s horribly complex. There are a lot of factors and they’re all impinging on the bees at one time,” said Mussen.