Analysis of Mercury Concentration in Honey from the Point of View of Human Body Exposure

Agnieszka Fischer,Joanna Bem,Barbara Brodziak-Dopierała,Bożena Ahnert

doi:10.1007/s12011-021-02744-9

Agnieszka Fischer, Joanna Bem + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-021-02744-9

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Abstract

Honey is a highly valued product due to its nutritional value, pro-health and healing properties. Pollutants from the environment penetrate into nectar, honeydew, pollen and next into bee products and can cause human exposure after ingestion. Mercury (Hg) is a toxic metal to living organisms. This is why it was important to determine the level of Hg in consumed honey.The aim of this manuscript is to analyse mercury concentration in honeys collected on the territory of Poland. A total of 108 samples of honey purchased in regional apiaries and hypermarkets were tested. The concentration of Hg was analysed in various types of honey (multifloral, honeydew, linden, goldenrod, acacia, buckwheat, rapeseed, sunflower, heather, dandelion, phacelia). The values of the Estimated Daily Intake (EDI), Estimated Weekly Intake (EWI) and % Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake (% PTWI) were calculated. This allowed estimating the amount of Hg taken during consumption of the tested honeys.The concentration of Hg ranged from 0.01 to 1.71 µg/kg and was 0.43 µg/kg on average. A higher concentration of Hg, which was statistically significant, was recorded in honeydew honey, then in compound honeys. Honeys produced from one raw material had the lowest concentration of Hg. There were no significant differences in the concentration of Hg depending on the origin of honey. The calculations have shown that consumption of a portion (19 g) of the tested honey per week is safe for both adults and children according to the applicable standards.

Highlights

The development of the economy, in particular the industry, has contributed to an increase in the standard of human life, and in environmental pollution by heavy metals [1]
The most similar results of the concentration of Hg in the samples were found for phacelia honey
Our research showed no statistically significant differences in the concentration of Hg depending on the origin of honey

Summary

Introduction

The development of the economy, in particular the industry, has contributed to an increase in the standard of human life, and in environmental pollution by heavy metals [1]. Bees are exposed to different sources of contaminants through pollen and nectar that contain heavy metals of natural and anthropogenic origin. There are more and more reports of the possible contamination of honey and other bee products [2,3,4,5]. When in a methylated form, its capacity to penetrate the biological barriers of the human organism is high [7]. It crosses the blood–brain barrier through LAT-type

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