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Mushtaq A, Khalid S, Noor MJ, Khanoranga. Honey Bee Products as Bio Indicator of Heavy Metals Pollution and Health Risk Assessment Through the Consumption of Multifloral Honey Collected in Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. Biol Trace Elem Res 2024:10.1007/s12011-024-04313-2. [PMID: 39066963 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-024-04313-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
The study assessed the health risks associated with heavy metal ingestion and explored the use of honey bee products as a bio-indicator for heavy metal pollution. All honey bee products tested showed heavy metals, but some honey samples had concentrations exceeding permissible limits for Cd, Pb, Ni, and Cr. The mean concentrations of heavy metals (mg/kg) in the honey, propolis, bee wax, and bee pollen were Fe (1.32) > Zn (1.31) > Pb (0.46) > Ni (0.18) > Cr (0.16) > Cu (0.14) > Co (0.12) > Mn (0.05) > Cd (0.03), Fe (8) > Zn (1.13) > Mn (0.59) > Pb (0.13) > Ni (0.07) > Cu (0.06) > Co (0.05) > Cr (0.03) > Cd (0.02), Fe (1.31) > Pb (0.41) > Ni (0.407) > Zn(0.25) > Mn (0.12) > Co(0.10) > Cu (0.07) > Cr (0.05) > Cd (0.002), and Fe (2.2) > Zn (0.75) > Ni (0.25) > Pb (0.16) > Cu (0.05) > Mn (0.045) > Co (0.04) > Cr (0.01) > Cd(0.002), respectively. Similarly, the mean concentration of heavy metals (mg/kg) in the soil, flowers and pine pollen was Fe (539.08) > Zn (89.53) > Mn (66.91) > Ni (58.5) > Co (19.2) > Cr (11.42) > Pb (6.58) > Cu (5.71) > Cd (0.19), Fe (3.12) > Zn (0.95) > Mn (0.72) > Ni (0.29) > Cu (0.16) > Cr (0.14) > Pb (0.059) > Co (0.057) > Cd (0.003) and Fe (2.59) > Zn (1.75) > Mn (0.43) > Pb (0.34) > Co (0.1) > Cr (0.07) > Cu (0.06) > Cd (0.039) > Ni (0.03), respectively. The atomic absorption spectrophotometry procedure was validated through a recovery study and achieved accuracy through the limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ). The mean Bio concentration factor (BCF) indicated that the transfer from soil to honey was higher than from soil to flower. The metal pollution index (MPI) of the selected indicators was in descending order: soil > honey > flowers > propolis > pine pollen > beeswax > bee pollen. The hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard index (HI) were below one, showing no chronic health risk. The carcinogenic risk (CR) of Cd, Cr, and Ni in honey for children, male and female adults for the consumers exceeds the acceptable level, making Cd, Cr, and Ni the most concerning heavy metals in honey. The study suggests that regular monitoring of heavy metal pollution is essential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayesha Mushtaq
- Environmental Sciences Department Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - Sofia Khalid
- Environmental Sciences Department Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Mehwish Jamil Noor
- Environmental Sciences Department Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - Khanoranga
- Sardar Bahadur Khan Women's University, Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan.
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Praus L, Urbanová S, Száková J. Honey Bees and Associated Matrices as Biomonitors of Soil Trace Elements: Assessment of their Sensitivity in a Regional Rural Environment. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2024; 43:288-298. [PMID: 37988263 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
Honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) represent a random biosampler integrating pollutants over space and time. An effective biomonitor for trace element (TE) pollution should provide a linear response to TE levels in the environment. However, uncertainties in detecting TEs originating in soil limit their use. To address this, nine experimental sites with multiple apiaries were established in the Upper Palatine Forest, Czech Republic. The soils surrounding the hives were characterized by estimations of the pseudototal and (bio)available pools of TEs. Our study aimed to (1) quantify the linear relationships between soil TE indices and TE contents in bees, bee bread, honey, and wax, and (2) verify the biobarrier function protecting honey from TE contamination. Lead (0.046-0.140 µg g-1 ) and nickel (0.12-4.30 µg g-1 ) contents in bees showed strong linear correlations with (bio)available Pb (0.012-0.254 µg g-1 ) and pseudototal Ni (17.1-36.4 µg g-1 ) in soil (Pearson's r = 0.95 and 0.88, p < 0.005), providing high spatial resolution. A weaker, insignificant correlation was observed for chromium (Cr; r = 0.65) and vanadium (V; 0.44), while no correlation was found for cadmium (Cd). However, the lack of associations for Cr, V, and Cd may result from the low soil TE levels in the region, negligible differences among the majority of sites, and temporal concerns related to different time scales of the biomonitors, impacting the linear model's sensitivity. Biochemical traits in bees, such as the biobarrier function, and different bioavailability of TEs from ingested matter may affect the matrix-to-matrix transfer of TEs in an element-dependent manner. Consequently, the linear response of bee-related biomonitors to TE levels in the environment may significantly deteriorate. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:288-298. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukáš Praus
- Department of Agro-Environmental Chemistry and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Suchdol, Czech Republic
| | - Sára Urbanová
- Department of Agro-Environmental Chemistry and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Suchdol, Czech Republic
| | - Jiřina Száková
- Department of Agro-Environmental Chemistry and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Suchdol, Czech Republic
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Barbeș L, Bărbulescu A, Dumitriu CŞ. Human Health Risk Assessment to the Consumption of Medicinal Plants with Melliferous Potential from the Romanian South-Eastern Region. TOXICS 2023; 11:520. [PMID: 37368620 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11060520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
This study presents the impact on human health by consuming medicinal herbs with high melliferous potential (HMPs) from botanical areas with different pollution levels. First, the bioaccumulation of the plants' parts has been determined. The study assessed the potential health risks associated with the ingestion of various mineral species (macroelements-K, Ca, Mg, Na; microelements-Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, and one trace element Cd) from three types of HMPs (Sambucus nigra (SnL), Hypericum perforatum (Hp), and Tilia tomentosa (Tt)). The average concentrations of these elements were not similar even in the same type of HMPs. Nevertheless, all samples contained detectable levels of the studied elements. The average concentrations of the studied elements were very low (significantly lower than the legal limit set by the WHO). The study's findings indicated that the potential health risks associated with ingesting the elements in HMPs were within acceptable limits for children and adults. The hazard quotient (HQ) for Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, and Cd and the hazard index (HI) for the minerals from HMPs were significantly lower than the acceptable limit (HQ and HI = 1). Similarly, the carcinogenic risk for chemical substances (Riskccs) were lower than or close to the acceptable limit (1 × 10-4).
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucica Barbeș
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, "Ovidius" University of Constanța, 124 Mamaia Bd., 900112 Constanta, Romania
- Doctoral School of Biotechnical Systems Engineering, Politehnica University of Bucharest, 313 Splaiul Independentei, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Alina Bărbulescu
- Department of Civil Engineering, Transilvania University of Brașov, 5 Turnului Str., 900152 Brasov, Romania
| | - Cristian Ştefan Dumitriu
- Faculty of Mechanical and Robotic Engineering in Construction, Technical University of Civil Engineering of Bucharest, 124 Lacul Tei Av., 020396 Bucharest, Romania
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Tarapoulouzi M, Mironescu M, Drouza C, Mironescu ID, Agriopoulou S. Insight into the Recent Application of Chemometrics in Quality Analysis and Characterization of Bee Honey during Processing and Storage. Foods 2023; 12:473. [PMID: 36766000 PMCID: PMC9914568 DOI: 10.3390/foods12030473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The application of chemometrics, a widely used science in food studies (and not only food studies) has begun to increase in importance with chemometrics being a very powerful tool in analyzing large numbers of results. In the case of honey, chemometrics is usually used for assessing honey authenticity and quality control, combined with well-established analytical methods. Research related to investigation of the quality changes in honey due to modifications after processing and storage is rare, with a visibly increasing tendency in the last decade (and concentrated on investigating novel methods to preserve the honey quality, such as ultrasound or high-pressure treatment). This review presents the evolution in the last few years in using chemometrics in analyzing honey quality during processing and storage. The advantages of using chemometrics in assessing honey quality during storage and processing are presented, together with the main characteristics of some well-known chemometric methods. Chemometrics prove to be a successful tool to differentiate honey samples based on changes of characteristics during storage and processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Tarapoulouzi
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Pure and Applied Science, University of Cyprus, P.O. Box 20537, Nicosia 1678, Cyprus
| | - Monica Mironescu
- Faculty of Agricultural Sciences Food Industry and Environmental Protection, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Bv. Victoriei 10, 550024 Sibiu, Romania
| | - Chryssoula Drouza
- Department of Agricultural Production, Biotechnology and Food Science, Cyprus University of Technology, P.O. Box 50329, Limassol 3036, Cyprus
| | - Ion Dan Mironescu
- Faculty of Agricultural Sciences Food Industry and Environmental Protection, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Bv. Victoriei 10, 550024 Sibiu, Romania
| | - Sofia Agriopoulou
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of the Peloponnese, Antikalamos, 24100 Kalamata, Greece
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Sharma A, Pant K, Brar DS, Thakur A, Nanda V. A review on Api-products: current scenario of potential contaminants and their food safety concerns. Food Control 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2022.109499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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Kędzierska-Matysek M, Teter A, Skałecki P, Topyła B, Domaradzki P, Poleszak E, Florek M. Residues of Pesticides and Heavy Metals in Polish Varietal Honey. Foods 2022; 11:foods11152362. [PMID: 35954127 PMCID: PMC9368611 DOI: 10.3390/foods11152362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Abstract
The levels of chemical pollutants were determined in 30 samples of varietal honey from southeastern Poland, including 223 pesticides (insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, acaricides, plant growth regulators, and veterinary drugs) and 5 heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Hg, Cu, and Zn). In 10% of the samples, no pesticide residues were found. The most frequently identified pesticides were thiacloprid (90% of the samples, max 0.337 mg/kg), acetamiprid (86.6%, max 0.061 mg/kg), carbendazim (60%, max 0.049 mg/kg), DMF (56.6%, max 0.038 mg/kg), total amitraz (53.3%, max 0.075 mg/kg), thiamethoxam (26.6%, max 0.004 mg/kg), thiacloprid-amide (13.3%, max 0.012 mg/kg), dimethoate (10%, max 0.003 mg/kg), azoxystrobin (10%, max 0.002 mg/kg), tebuconazole (6.66%, max 0.002 mg/kg), and boscalid (3.33%, max 0.001 mg/kg). The acceptable limits for the compounds were not exceeded in any sample. The Pb content ranged between 0.044 and 0.081 mg/kg. The concentration of Hg and Cd did not exceed 5.0 µg/kg and 0.02 mg/kg, respectively. The honey variety significantly (p < 0.01) influenced the content of Cu, which ranged from 0.504 (rapeseed honey) to 1.201 mg/kg (buckwheat). A similar tendency (p > 0.05) was observed for the Zn content, which ranged from 0.657 mg/kg (linden) to 2.694 mg/kg (buckwheat). Honey produced in southeastern Poland was shown to be safe for human consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Kędzierska-Matysek
- Department of Quality Assessment and Processing of Animal Products, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
| | - Anna Teter
- Department of Quality Assessment and Processing of Animal Products, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
- Correspondence:
| | - Piotr Skałecki
- Department of Quality Assessment and Processing of Animal Products, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
| | - Barbara Topyła
- Department of Quality Assessment and Processing of Animal Products, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
| | - Piotr Domaradzki
- Department of Quality Assessment and Processing of Animal Products, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
| | - Ewa Poleszak
- Chair and Department of Applied and Social Pharmacy, Laboratory of Preclinical Testing, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki Street 1, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Mariusz Florek
- Department of Quality Assessment and Processing of Animal Products, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
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Bărbulescu A, Barbeș L, Dumitriu CŞ. Impact of Soil Pollution on Melliferous Plants. TOXICS 2022; 10:239. [PMID: 35622652 PMCID: PMC9147493 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10050239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
This study aims at providing bee products and derivatives of medicinal plant consumers with a multifaceted perspective on mineral elements occurring in the soils of two forest zones in the vicinity of North Dobrogea (Romania) by (1) analyzing the pollution levels of the soils at three sites (denoted by DS, PH, and ST) in the study region, using different indicators; (2) providing the results of the transfer of metals from the soil to Sambucus nigra L. (SnL), Hypericum perforatum (Hp), and Tilia tomentosa (Tt). The statistical analysis of the series collected at these locations shows no difference between the elements' concentrations (as a whole). Still, the values of the geo-accumulation index (Igeo) classify the soils as being soils that are moderately to highly contaminated with Cd (and not contaminated with Cu, Mn, or Zn) with respect to the European background values. The cumulative indices-the degree of contamination (DC), the pollution load index (PLI), the Nemerow integrated pollution index (NIPI), and the potential ecological risk index (PERI) indicated the highest contamination in DS (which is a tourist area). To assess the accumulation of different metals in plants, the enrichment factors (EF) were computed. In over 75% of cases, EF was above 1, indicating a high degree of enrichment with different metals. The highest values were those for Cu (41.10 in DS for SnL), and Cd (12.85 in DS for Tt). The results showed that there were different degrees of accumulation between microelements and trace elements in the plants. Tt acted as a bioaccumulator for almost all of the studied elements (K, Mg, Na, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, and Cd).
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Affiliation(s)
- Alina Bărbulescu
- Department of Civil Engineering, Transilvania University of Brașov, 5 Turnului Str., 900152 Brasov, Romania;
| | - Lucica Barbeș
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Ovidius University of Constanța, 124 Mamaia Bd., 900527 Constanta, Romania
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Tomczyk M, Bocian A, Sidor E, Miłek M, Zaguła G, Dżugan M. The Use of HPTLC and SDS-PAGE Methods for Coniferous Honeydew Honey Fingerprinting Compiled with Mineral Content and Antioxidant Activity. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27030720. [PMID: 35163985 PMCID: PMC8838849 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27030720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Fir honeydew honey is a uniquely beneficial product which is often subjected to adulteration; however, pollen analysis is not useful to verify this honey type. Fourteen samples of EU protected designation of origin fir honeydew honey gathered directly from apiaries were studied. Standards of legal requirements and additional parameters, i.e., specific optical rotation, mineral content, and antioxidant activity, were tested. Five nectar honeys of different varieties were used as a comparative material. HPTLC and SDS-PAGE methods were used to fingerprint the honey types. All honeys tested fulfilled the quality requirements in terms of water content, pH, total acidity, conductivity, HMF, and diastase number. They were defined as dark amber on the Pfund scale and exhibited positive specific rotation (+2.5 to 25). Honeydew honey surpassed the tested nectar honeys in terms of mineral content and antioxidant activity as well as total polyphenolic content, except for buckwheat honey. The sugar and polyphenolic profile obtained by HPTLC allowed to distinguish honeydew from nectar honeys. The same was achieved by SDS-PAGE protein profiling. Both techniques seem to be cheap and quick tools for precisely distinguishing honeydew honey.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Tomczyk
- Department of Chemistry and Food Toxicology, Institute of Food Technology and Nutrition, College of Natural Sciences, University of Rzeszow, 35–601 Rzeszow, Poland; (A.B.); (E.S.); (M.M.); (M.D.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-17872-17-21
| | - Aleksandra Bocian
- Department of Chemistry and Food Toxicology, Institute of Food Technology and Nutrition, College of Natural Sciences, University of Rzeszow, 35–601 Rzeszow, Poland; (A.B.); (E.S.); (M.M.); (M.D.)
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Faculty of Chemistry, Rzeszow University of Technology, 35–959 Rzeszow, Poland
| | - Ewelina Sidor
- Department of Chemistry and Food Toxicology, Institute of Food Technology and Nutrition, College of Natural Sciences, University of Rzeszow, 35–601 Rzeszow, Poland; (A.B.); (E.S.); (M.M.); (M.D.)
- Doctoral School, University of Rzeszow, Poland, 35–959 Rzeszow, Poland
| | - Michał Miłek
- Department of Chemistry and Food Toxicology, Institute of Food Technology and Nutrition, College of Natural Sciences, University of Rzeszow, 35–601 Rzeszow, Poland; (A.B.); (E.S.); (M.M.); (M.D.)
| | - Grzegorz Zaguła
- Department of Bioenergetics, Food Analysis and Microbiology, Institute of Food Technology and Nutrition, College of Natural Sciences, University of Rzeszow, 35–601 Rzeszow, Poland;
| | - Małgorzata Dżugan
- Department of Chemistry and Food Toxicology, Institute of Food Technology and Nutrition, College of Natural Sciences, University of Rzeszow, 35–601 Rzeszow, Poland; (A.B.); (E.S.); (M.M.); (M.D.)
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Quality Control of Different Types of Honey and Propolis Collected from Romanian Accredited Beekeepers and Consumer’s Risk Assessment. CRYSTALS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/cryst12010087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Honey is a natural product recognized and appreciated for its nutritional value and therapeutic potential. However, the quality of bee honey is essential because various contaminants can seriously affect consumers’ health. In the experimental part of the work, we analyzed different types of honey (linden, black locust, rapeseed and multifloral honey) and propolis, which were collected from Romanian accredited beekeepers who placed beehives in two areas characterized by different industrial activity: area 1 (A1) is an area with intense industrial activity, with other industries existing nearby, including a refinery, while area 2 (A2) is entirely devoid of industrial activity, but with moderate agricultural activity. A total of 144 samples were collected, twelve samples for each variety of honey, propolis and soil, corresponding to each area analyzed. In addition, seven heavy metals and three pesticides were tested for in the samples collected. Finally, the correlation between the degree of contamination with soil pollutants and the contamination of the bee products harvested from the analyzed areas was studied. Cadmium, lead, copper, zinc and the sum of DDT metabolites exceeded the maximum allowable levels in honey samples, with differences between different types of honey.
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