Honeybees and their products as bioindicators for heavy metal pollution in Malta

Abstract

In this study, honeybees, propolis, air, soil and plant samples were gathered from two contrasting sites Ħal Luqa (industrial area) and L-Imġarr (agricultural area) in mainland Malta. Superficial heavy metals were extracted from the samples and tested using microwave plasma-atomic emission spectrometry in order to determine the concentrations of Ag, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Sn, Zn, Ni and Hg. The honeybee and propolis samples were digested using nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide and then ashed using a muffle furnace in order to prepare mineral solutions. Simultaneously the air samplers, soil and plant samples were washed using de-ionised water in order to extract the heavy metals settling on sample surfaces. Different methods of filtration were used in order to extract the metals from the surfaces of the samples. The most abundant metals in honeybees and propolis, and on plant and soil samples, were Sn and As (p<0.0001). In air samples0, the most abundant metal was Pb followed by Sn (p<0.05). These findings indicate that the honeybee and its propolis are good indicators for Sn and As contamination.

The Importance of Measuring Arsenic in Honey, Water, and PM10 for Food Safety as an Environmental Study: Experience from the Mining and Metallurgical Districts of Bor, Serbia

“…In general, the results of previous studies have mainly indicated an increased concentration of heavy metals and arsenic in honey produced near mining areas; however, in most cases, they did not exceed illegal limits [12], and hence, honey is safe for use and human health [66,67]. However, some authors have called for caution [18,63,68,69], which is also the case with the authors of this study.…”

Use of Foods Based on Bee Drone Brood: Their Sensory and Microbiological Evaluation and Mineral Composition

“…1881/2006 for crustaceans (0.4 µg/g) [32]. Because the drone brood used in our research came from an industrial area, high heavy metal limits could have been the cause behind this factor, similar to [33,34]. This was contrary to another document [35], which identified the drone brood as a toxicologically safe raw material.…”

Heavy Metals in Cosmetics

“…Particularly in living matrices, heavy metals may interfere with beneficial metals some of the latter being replaced by heavy metals that would result in the erratic physiological functioning of bodily systems. This is not an issue related only to mammals and humans, but such erratic behavior, in terms of morbidity and mortality has been observed in other animals, such as insects [13], and also in plants. Some of these heavy metals accumulate in biological systems and one source for such accumulation is the daily and/or repeated use of cosmetic products such as face powders, lipsticks and eye shadows [2].…”