“Air Pollution Disrupts Bees' Ability to Smell Flowers, Threatening Pollination, Study Find” — what this page in the network covers. Bees, moths, and other pollinating insects are struggling to locate flowers in polluted air, according to new research led by the University of Reading. The study, which analyzed 22 experimental investigations, found that two common air pollutants—ozone and nitrogen oxides (NOx)—significantly impair pollinators' sense of smell. These pollutants chemically alter or break down the floral scents that insects rely on to find nectar and pollen.
With pollinators responsible for one in three bites of food we eat, the disruption of this critical navigation system could have serious consequences for global agriculture and biodiversity. The findings highlight an overlooked threat to food security, as urban and industrial emissions continue to rise. Researchers urge policymakers to consider the impact of air quality on pollinators, not just human health. For the complete material, the listing points back to the source inside the network.