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Mititelu M, Udeanu DI, Docea AO, Tsatsakis A, Calina D, Arsene AL, Nedelescu M, Neacsu SM, Bruno Ștefan Velescu, Ghica M. New method for risk assessment in environmental health: The paradigm of heavy metals in honey. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 236:115194. [PMID: 36587723 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.115194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The release of heavy metals into the natural environment creates problems due to their persistence. They can accumulate in the food chain presenting a dangerous sign for ecosystems and human health. The metals in honey could be of agrochemical or industrial origin. Regular consumption of honey and bee products contaminated with various pollutants in high concentrations can cause serious health problems due accumulation of toxic substances in the body. In the current study, we aimed to determine the concentrations of chromium, cadmium, zinc, copper, lead and nickel in four types of honey (linden, acacia, rapeseed and polyfloral honey) and soil collected from three regions with different degrees of pollution. For the risk characterization, we used a new methodology that calculated the corrected estimated daily intake and the source hazard quotient for each metal and the adversity-specific hazard index. There was a strong influence of the degree of environmental pollution on the level of contaminants in the honey samples. In the case of a single chemical assessment, an HQ above 10 was obtained for Cd in linden, rapeseed and polyfloral honey from area 1 and an HQ above 1 was obtained for Cd in the other honey samples from the 3 areas, for Cu in all honey samples from all the 3 areas, for Pb in linden, rapeseed and polyfloral honey from area 1 and for Cr in linden honey for area 2. HIA calculated as a sum of all HQS of heavy metals in food reveals an increase and moderate risk for nephrotoxicity, bone demineralisation, cardiotoxicity, developmental toxicity, small decrease in body weight or body weight gain after consumption of honey impurified with heavy metals. A strict monitorization of heavy metals in honey samples from farmers should be done in order to protect the consumers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Mititelu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory and Food Hygiene Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
| | - Denisa Ioana Udeanu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory and Food Hygiene Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
| | - Anca Oana Docea
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Craiova, Romania.
| | - Aristidis Tsatsakis
- Laboratory of Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, 71003, Heraklion, Greece.
| | - Daniela Calina
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Craiova, Romania.
| | - Andreea Letitia Arsene
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Carol Davila, Bucharest, Romania.
| | - Mirela Nedelescu
- Department of Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 8 Eroii Sanitari Blvd, 020956, Bucharest, Romania; Department of Food Hygiene and Nutrition, National Institute of Public Health, National Centre for Envi-ronmental Hazards Monitoring, 1-3 Dr. Leonte Street, 020956, Bucharest, Romania.
| | | | - Bruno Ștefan Velescu
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bu-charest, Romania.
| | - Manuela Ghica
- Department of Mathematics and Biostatistics, Faculty of Pharmacy, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
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