Residues of para-dichlorobenzene in honey and beeswax

Para-dichlorobenzene (PDCB) is an insecticide used in beekeeping for wax moth control. Analysis of PDCB residues were carried out on Swiss retail market honey samples by the cantonal food control authorities in 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001 and 2002. 173 Swiss honeys and 287 imported samples were analysed. On average, 30% of the Swiss honeys contained PDCB, 13% of them being above the Swiss tolerance value of 10 mug/kg. On the other hand, only 7% of the imported honeys were contaminated. The minimum values were 2 mug/kg, the maximum ones 112 mug/kg. Long-term monitoring of Swiss beeswax, carried out from 1993 to 2000, showed that most of the comb foundation beeswax produced in Switzerland is contaminated by PDCB with values ranging from one to 60 mg/kg. The results show that the reason for this contamination is the use of PDCB for the control of wax moth. These residues can be avoided as wax moth can be controlled successfully with alternative methods, carried out according to good apicultural practice.