The Honey as a Bioindicator of the Environment

Sager, Manfred

doi:10.1515/eces-2017-0038

Abstract

Monofloral rape, sunflower, linden and acacia honeys as well as honeys sampled within and around the Austrian towns Vienna and Linz, as well as in rural areas in Lower Austria, were analysed for main and trace elements. The results were tested to be used as indication of urban dust exposure. Main elements of the ash are K, P, and B, which are specific for plant origin. Ash based data correct for dilutions by the sugar matrix. They showed enrichments of Cu, Zn and Mo, whereas the contaminant elements Cd, Pb and Co were found at about the same levels as expectable in dust. Ash-based Al, Fe, Cr and Li were much lower than soil levels obtainable from aqua regia. Among the monofloral honey samples, the effect of adjacent soil was largest for Mn. Most differences between rural areas and urban areas in Vienna and Linz were within experimental errors, both per sample weight and per ash weight. In cases honey samples are considered to trace contaminations, the additional use of ash-based data is recommended.

References

[1] Leita L, Muhlbachova G, Cesco S, Barbattini R, Mondini C. Investigation of the use of honey bees and honey bee products to assess heavy metals contamination. Environ Monit Assessm. 1996;43(1):1-9. DOI: 10.1007/BF00399566.10.1007/BF0039956624193729
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
[2] Sager M, Pechhacker H, Pechhacker M. Trace elements in honey. Chem Inż Ekol - Ecol. Chem Eng. 2002;9(4):461-472.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
[3] Sager M, Maleviti E. Elemental composition of honeys from Greece - possible use as environmental indicators. J Nutrition Food Sci. 2014;S8:002. DOI: 10.4172/2155-9600.S8-002.10.4172/2155-9600.S8-002
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
[4] Pechhacker M, Sager M, Pechhacker H. About the influence of soil on the trace element composition of honey. In: Szilágyi M, Szentmihályi K, editors. Trace Elements in the Food Chain Vol. 3. Deficiency or Excess in the Environment as a Risk to Health. Working Committee on Trace Elements of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (HAS), Institute of Materials and Environmental Chemistry of the HAS, Budapest, Hungary. 2009; 61-65. ISBN 978-963-7067-19-8.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
[5] Gautam I. Antibacterial activity and element spectrum of Nepali honey from different bee species (Hymenoptera: apidae). [PhD Thesis]. Vienna: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences; 2004. http://lib.icimod.org/record/324/files/324.pdf.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
[6] Schachner D. Möglichkeiten und Grenzen der Prüfung der Authentizität von Honig (Possibilities and limitations to check authenticities of honey). Institut für Lebensmittelsicherheit Linz; AGES Report 2013.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
[7] Sager M, Pechhacker H, Burgstaller H. Vergleich der Spurenelementzusammensetzung historischer und rezenter Honige Tirols (Comparison between trace element compositions of historic and recent honeys from the Tyrol). Wien: ALVA Tagung; 2004.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
[8] Jones KC. Honey as an indicator of heavy metal contamination. Water Air Soil Pollut. 1987;33:179-189. ISSN: 0049-6979.10.1007/BF00191386
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
[9] Dobrzanski Z, Roman A, Gorecka H, Kolacz R. Zawartość pierwiastków szkodliwych oraz makro- i mikroelementów w miodach pszczelich z rejonów skażeń przemysłowych. (Metals and micro and macroelements content of beehoney gained from the areas contained by industrial plants). Brom Chem Toksykol. 1994;27(2):157-160.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
[10] Bulinski R, Wyszogrodzka-Koma L, Marsec Z. Badanie zawartości niektórych pierwiastków śladowych w produktach spożywczych krajowego pochodzenia. (Study of some trace elements content of home food products). Bromat Chem-Toksykol. 1995;28(2):151-154. bwmeta1.element.agro-article-3113fee2-dd67-49d9-abed-ee49fbbaf7f9.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
[11] Conti ME, Botre F. Honeybees and their products as potential bioindicators of heavy metals contamination. Environ Monit Assess. 2001;69(3):267-282. DOI: 10.1023/A:1010719107006.10.1023/A:1010719107006
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
[12] Fernandez-Torres R, Pérez-Bernal JL, Bello-López MÁ, Callejón-Mochón M, Jiménez-Sánchez JC, Guiraúm-Pérez A. Mineral content and botanical origin of Spanish honeys. Talanta. 2005;65:686-691. DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2004.07.030.10.1016/j.talanta.2004.07.03018969853
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
[13] Freitas MC, Pacheco AMG, Ferreira E. Nutrients and other elements in honey from Azores and mainland Portugal. J Radioanalyt Nuclear Chem. 2006;270(1):123-130.10.1007/s10967-006-0318-z
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
[14] Fredes C, Montenegro G. Heavy metals and other trace elements contents in Chilean Honey. Ciencia e Investigacion Agraria. 2006;33(1):48-55. www.rcia.uc.cl/index.php/rcia/article/view/328/252.10.7764/rcia.v33i1.328
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
[15] Rashed MN, Soltan ME. Major and trace elements in different types of Egyptian mono-floral and non-floral bee honeys. J Food Composit Analysis. 2004;17:725-735. DOI: 10.1016/j.jfca.2003.10.004.10.1016/j.jfca.2003.10.004
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
[16] Tuzen M, Silici S, Mendil D, Soylak M. Trace element levels in honeys from different regions of Turkey. Food Chem. 2007;103:325-330. DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2006.07.053.10.1016/j.foodchem.2006.07.053
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
[17] Molan PC. The antibacterial activity of honey. Bee World. 1992;5-28. DOI: 10.1080/0005772X.1992.11099109.10.1080/0005772X.1992.11099109
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article

The Honey as a Bioindicator of the Environment

Abstract

Paradigm

My account