Study of acaricide stability in honey. Characterization of amitraz degradation products in honey and beeswax

J Agric Food Chem. 2001 Dec;49(12):5835-42. doi: 10.1021/jf010787s.

Abstract

A study on the possible degradation of amitraz, bromopropylate, coumaphos, chlordimeform, cymiazole, flumethrin, and tau-fluvalinate during the storage of honey was carried out by HPLC. Except amitraz, the other acaricides are stable in this medium for at least 9 months. Degradation studies of amitraz in honey and beeswax were carried out; the degradation products detected in both matrices were 2,4-dimethylphenylformamide (DMF) and N-(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-N'-methylformamidine (DPMF). The reaction rate constants and the half-lives of the amitraz degradation in honey and wax were calculated. Amitraz was nearly completely degraded within 1 day in beeswax and within 10 days in honey. When amitraz-spiked combs are recycled into new beeswax, DMF was found to be the principal degradation product left in pure wax.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bees
  • Biodegradation, Environmental
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Half-Life
  • Honey / analysis*
  • Insecticides / pharmacokinetics
  • Kinetics
  • Time Factors
  • Toluidines / pharmacokinetics
  • Waxes / chemistry*

Substances

  • Insecticides
  • Toluidines
  • Waxes
  • beeswax
  • amitraz