ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METALS CONTENT IN POLLEN FROM THE COMBS (BEE BREAD) IN REGIONS WITH DIFFERENT ANTHROPOGENIC IMPACT

Abstract

The object of this study was the pollen carried by bees and stored in the combs. The aim of the study was to assess the heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Ni, Mn and Fe) quantity in the pollen from different villages of South-Central Bulgaria with different anthropogenic impact. Samples are obtained by extracting the pollen from cells of honeycombs, originating from 8 villages, situated in 5 municipalities in the Stara Zagora region: municipality of Gurkovo-Gurkovo town; municipality of Maglizh-Yagoda village; municipality of Stara Zagora-Stara Zagora town, Equestrian grounds, Preslaven village and Arnautito village; municipality of Radnevo-Polski Gradets village; municipality of Galabovo-Mednikarovo village and Pomoshtnik village. A total of 68 samples of pollen were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry. It has been found that the studied elements are arranged in the following descending order: Fe>Mn>Zn>Cu>Pb>Ni>Cd. In some of the settlements there is a difference in the Cu, Zn and Mn position in the established range. These results may be explained by the origin of pollen, soil type, the presence of anthropogenic influence in the region, etc.