The abundances of selected elements in different environmental compartments, namely soil, honey, and bee pollen, was determined in this study. For that purpose, sixteen soil and honey samples, and nine pollen samples were taken in the region of Mitrovica, Kosovo. The concentration of elements was measured by ICP-AES and ICP-MS. Pollution level concentrations of Pb, Zn, As, and Cd were observed in soil. The level of soil pollution was estimated by calculating pollution indices. Pb was also observed at high concentrations in honey, as was Cd and Pb in pollen. Pearson’s correlation coefficients revealed mostly weak and moderate correlations of the concentrations of the eight selected elements among the soil, honey, and pollen samples. Several groups of elements with geogenic and anthropogenic origin were identified by hierarchical cluster analysis. The concentrations of selected heavy metals for soil and honey were compared to those in neighboring countries, and those for pollen with samples from Turkey, Serbia, and Jordan.

This study evaluated the physicochemical properties (moisture, pH, electrical conductivity, free acidity, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), proteins, insoluble solids, and ash) of 45 Kosovo’s and imported honey samples, using methods provided by national and international standards. The moisture values of all honey samples analyzed were below 20%. The free acidity was above 50.0 meq kg−1 in 14 out of 33 samples (42%) collected in Kosovo, while 2 out of 12 imported honey samples (16.7%) showed higher values than 50 meq kg−1. In this study, 7 out of 33 honey samples (21%) from Kosovo and one out of 12 honey samples from imports had soluble solids content below 80 °Brix. In terms of HMF, 5 out of 33 Kosovo honey samples (15%) and 4 out of 12 imported honey samples (33%) exceeded 40 mg/kg, which is the maximum content of HMF set in standards. The values of some physicochemical parameters (free acidity, HMF, and soluble solids) of local and imported honey samples are not within the quality limits set in legislation. Further studies are needed to evaluate the properties of fresh honey produced in Kosovo and the stability of honey during prolonged storage.

No abstract

No abstract

The use of food additive nitrite as curing agents is common in meat products, but their concentration in these products has raised the interest of researchers, because of the possible toxicity to humans.  The aim of this study is to assess the nitrite concentration in meat products, which are highly used by all population groups in Kosovo. A total of 44 different meat products samples available on sale to the population, were assessed for residual nitrite using the spectrophotometric method that uses absorption in visible part of spectra. The amount of residual nitrites was detected in 19 (43%) of the samples, which included beef and chicken sausages, chicken & beef salami as well as beef prosciutto samples. The nitrite residue ranged between 0.1 and 11.5 mg/kg and was below the limits on the concentration of nitrites in meat products established by EU regulation 601/2014.  Although these findings show that, the nitrite residue in the analyzed meat products is within the permitted limits, the highest presence of residual nitrite in industrial and low-cost meat products indicates a need for further assessments of nitrite exposure among consumers.