Abstract
A method development for determination of neonicotinoid residues in honey samples was developed. The proposed methodology consisted in QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe). That was used for sample preparation and UHPLC/UV (ultra-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection) utilized for chromatographic analysis. The developed method proved to be sensitive, with LOD (Limit of detection) value in the range of 60.80 to 80.98 ng/g hence LOQ (Limit of quantification) value was in the range of 184.26 to 245.40 ng/g. The method has tested on Polish honey and applied to honey from various countries (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Australia, Brazil, Cameroon, Russia, USA and Turkey). Several honey types were tested, while physicochemical properties of all honeys and were investigated. The methodology for general characterization of pollen grains originated from selected plants, to confirm the type of honey was also presented. There was a total lack of the mentioned neonicotinoids in sunflower honey. Except of this, only two samples of rapeseed and two samples of acacia honey (from Poland and Romania) were neonicotinoids free. In 19 samples the targeted pesticides were detected above LOQ. In all other investigated samples, the neonicotinoids were found at least at the LOD or LOQ level.
Highlights
IntroductionHoney is an important natural sweetener produced by bees and obtained from floral nectar
Honey is an important natural sweetener produced by bees and obtained from floral nectar.The market for honey is anticipated to increase in the near future due to the consumers’ awareness of the beneficial properties of this foodstuff
The type of floral source; time of day when bees collect pollen and mix it with nectar from proventriculus; the way how honey is extracted from honeycombs by beekeepers
Summary
Honey is an important natural sweetener produced by bees and obtained from floral nectar. Some farmers hold the view that the decision to withdraw the mortar could be unnecessary Their lack caused the necessity of applying sprays, which, in the opinion of agricultural organizations, more than mortars increase the threat to bees and burden the environment. They affect the increase in production costs and contribute to the increase of pests [16]. The specific mechanisms linking activation of the nAChR to adverse effects on learning and memory are not fully confirmed It still lacks clear connections between observed impacts on individual bees and colony level effects [37,38,41,42]. The obtained results allowed discussing the impact of the origin and geographical traceability for the concentration level of selected neonicotinoids in honey
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