Industrialization and legacy pollution have increased the concentrations and environmental persistence of heavy metals (e.g., Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Ni, As) in soils, vegetation, nectar, pollen, and water. Pollinators — including honey bees (Apis spp.), bumblebees (Bombus spp.), solitary bees, butterflies, and other floral visitors — are exposed to these contaminants while foraging and nesting, with consequences ranging from sublethal physiological and behavioral impairment to colony-level declines. This review synthesizes evidence (2015–2020) on sources and landscape distribution of metals in industrial contexts, exposure pathways into pollinator habitats, the physiological and behavioral effects on pollinators, ecological and trophic-level consequences, the role of pollinators as biomonitors, and mitigation strategies. We highlight consistent findings that (1) pollinators accumulate metals in predictable ways related to proximity to point and diffuse sources; (2) even environmentally realistic, sublethal metal concentrations can impair cognition, development, and reproductive success; and (3) metal contamination interacts additively or synergistically with other stressors (pesticides, pathogens, poor nutrition), amplifying ecological risk. We identify key knowledge gaps and propose research priorities and practical interventions to reduce risk to pollinators in industrial landscapes.
