The Influence of Chemical Contaminants on the Physicochemical Properties of Unifloral and Multifloral Honey

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the effect of antibiotic and pesticide residues on the physicochemical properties of unifloral and multifloral honey. The mineral elements content of honey was analyzed and correlated with antibiotic and pesticide residues, and a positive correlation was found between manganese and neonicotinoids. Potassium was found to be the most abundant mineral compound. Correlations were found between mineral content, color, and the content of antibiotic and pesticide residues of honey. In meadow honey, residues of antibiotics and pesticides were undetectable. In some of the other types of honey, the maximum residue limits regulated by European legislation were exceeded. Endosulfan residue was found in mint and rapeseed, honey with 0.42 and 5.14 ng/g, respectively. Neonicotinoids were found in 27% of the analyzed honey samples. Chloramphenicol was identified only in rapeseed honey, with concentrations ranging from 0.2 ng/g to 0.8 ng/g. Nitrofurans were found in 14%, and nitroimidazoles were found in 6% of the analyzed samples. According to EU legislation that is in force, the use of antibiotics in beekeeping is not allowed. The MRLs for neonicotinoids are 50 ng/g, and for coumaphos, the maximum limit is 100 ng/g. For the other pesticide residues, the maximum limit is 10 ng/g. The results of statistical analysis obtained using principal component analysis (PCA) showed a major difference in the levels of contamination of raspberry and meadow honey and the other types of honey.

Quality Assessment of Goldenrod, Milkweed and Multifloral Honeys Based on Botanical Origin, Antioxidant Capacity and Mineral Content

“…Besides the antioxidant activities and mineral contents, values of vitamin B2 classified Turkish honeys from different botanical origin [ 20 ]. Scripcă et al (2021) [ 24 ] also performed chemometric methods to emphasize the differences among eight Romanian honey types, based on mineral content, color, antibiotic and pesticide residues. However, the PCA of physicochemical parameters was only partly successful in identification of honey types with similar characteristics from different regions in Romania [ 23 ].…”

“…Fewer studies were devoted to analyzing the correlation between antioxidant activity and minerals [ 20 , 21 , 22 ]. Principal component analysis (PCA) was successfully used for characterization of honeys based on several factors, such as mineral, physicochemical and enzymatic analysis; antioxidants and physicochemical properties; metal content and contamination (antibiotic and pesticides residues); browning index and antioxidant activity [ 21 , 23 , 24 , 25 ], respectively.…”

Chemical Elements and the Quality of Mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium) Honey

“…It is also possible that the elements in our mānuka honey samples did not originate from floral nectar. Elements in honey can derive from environmental pollution, agrochemicals, or natural non-nectar sources that the bees are in contact with when foraging, including air, water, and soil [ 52 , 67 , 68 ]. Elements can also be introduced during honey processing [ 27 ].…”

Detection and Concentration of Neonicotinoids and Other Pesticides in Honey from Honey Bee Colonies Located in Regions That Differ in Agricultural Practices: Implications for Human and Bee Health

“…Imidacloprid, in particular, is one of the most commonly used neonicotinoid insecticides and, thus, has been found in honey samples in previous reports [8,36]. A recent example is the study of Scripcâ and Amariei [50], which showed that neonicotinoids were the most commonly detected pesticides in monofloral and multifloral honey samples and that the main source of these pesticides were agricultural crops. Similarly, Valdovinos-Flores et al [38] also found imidacloprid in honey samples collected in central Mexico, where pesticides are widely used in agricultural settings.…”