KRZYSZTOF BUCZEK, MARIUSZ CHEŁMIŃSKI, LASSI KAUKO
Immunotoksyczne i immunosupresyjne działanie środowiska na organizm pszczoły miodnej (Apis mellifera L.)
Immunotoxic and immunosuppressive action of environment on the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.)

Sumary. Immunosuppression as a result of environment pollution and polluted ford plays a bigger and bigger role in the pathology of human beings and animals. It is a well known deleterious effect of heavy metals, pesticides, fertilizers, plastics on the immune system of the honey bee. The in-creased levels, even at permissible limits, of iron, manganese, zinc, copper, nickel, cadmium and lead, destroy the haemocytic immune responses. The level of protective immunity in wintering honey bees is lower than that in bees before and after wintering. Even sublethal pesticide intoxica-tions suppress the immune responses of the honey bee brood and bees.

Key words: honey bee, immunotoxicology, immunosuppression