Cyanide residue levels in extracted honey, comb honey and wax cappings¹

Publication No. 1011 Chemistry and Biology Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario

Publication No. NRG 78–3 Research Station, Agriculture Canada, Beaverlodge, Alberta

Abstract

Cyanide (CN) residue levels were determined in samples of extracted honey, comb honey and wax cappings at 1 hr, 24 hr, and 48 hr intervals after destroying the bees in honey bee colonies, with normal (ca 8.5 g) and twice normal (ca. 17 g) doses of Cyanogas^R A‐dust. Applications of Cyanogas^R A‐dust, administered by means of a dust pump at normal and twice normal doses, gave an average residue of 0.01 and 0.04 μg CN/g of extracted honey, 0.01 and 0.02 μg CN/g of comb honey and 0.04 and 0.06 μg CN/g of wax cappings, respectively. When the Cyanogas^R A‐dust (ca. 17 g) was placed on a tray and placed on the bottom board of the hive, the average residue levels for extracted honey, comb honey and wax cappings were <0.004, 0.01 and 0.02 μg CN/g, respectively. Random honey samples from beekeepers, who used Cyanogas^R to destroy bees, had a median level of 0.031 μg CN/g, whereas honey from a packing plant and other commercial samples contained <0.004–0.026, median <0.004 μg CN/g. Based on residue data from this study, the temporary registration for Cyanogas^R, to kill honey bees after crop removal, was revised to a full registration in May 1977.

Key words:

• Cyanogas^R
• Cyanide
• honey
• bees

Notes

Publication No. 1011 Chemistry and Biology Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario

Publication No. NRG 78–3 Research Station, Agriculture Canada, Beaverlodge, Alberta