A comparative study of metal content in selected polish and Roamnia Honey Samples

Abstract

The aim of the study was to compare the heavy metal contamination and study the mineral content of Polish and Romanian honeys. We used Polish varietal honeys (n=18) produced in the year 2013-2014 in ecologically clean Podkarpackie region, and Romanian honeys (n=36) from Bihor district produced in 2013. The heavy metals concentration as well as mineral composition of honey was assayed by ICP-OES method with prior microwave mineralization. The cadmium and lead level in tested Polish honeys ranged from 0.007 to 0.021mg/kg and 0.02 to 0.098 mg/kg, respectively. Cadmium was not detected in Romanian honeys, and the lead contamination was lower than in Polish honey (0.018-0.05 mg/kg). Mercury was not detected in any tested honey samples. The aluminum content in Polish honeydew honeys was 34.6-times higher than in Romanian honeys. Honey samples from Poland were richest in potassium (2.5-fold for honeydew, lime and acacia, excluding heather), but they included less calcium. Generally, dark honeys include the highest mineral concentration and are more contaminated by heavy metals. However, all tested samples met the legal requirements for heavy metals residues. The geographical origin and soil composition strongly influenced honey chemical composition and the crucial factor for heavy metal transfer seems to be soil pH.