The most commonly detected residues were from azoxystrobin, boscalid, and clothianidin, which can cause long-term damage to pollinators. The researchers found mixtures of pesticides more often than single compound detections, which poses a concern for the health of bees and other pollinators. The study's findings are significant in the context of Ireland reaching the ambitious European Commission target of reducing chemical pesticide use and risk by 50%.

The research can help identify hazardous pesticides in an Irish context and understand the risks associated with different chemical pesticides to reduce risks effectively. The impact of consuming foods contaminated with multiple pesticides on pollinators is unknown, and there is scarce toxicity data on wild bee species. Therefore, it is important to understand how different compounds move through the environment and their long-term effects on pollinators and other organisms for the sustainable delivery of pollination services.