Abstract
Twenty fresh clover honey, ten beeswax and ten bee bread samples represented contaminated and non-contaminated areas were collected directly from the apiaries during 2015 .The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of toxic metals ( Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu) and Zinc (Zn)) in honey, beeswax and bee bread stored inside honey bee colonies. The highest lead contents (0.5488 mg/kg) was estimated in honey samples collected from industrialized area The lowest Pb content were estimated in honey samples collected from rural area (0.5096 mg/kg).The lowest Cd concentration (0.0961 mg/kg). However, the highest content of Cd (0.1042 mg/kg) was recorded in honey samples collected from urbanized areas. High concentration of (Cu) was estimated in honey samples collected from apiaries located in industrialized area (0.0757 mg/kg) while the lowest were recorded in rural area (0.0432 mg/kg) . Zn occurred in low concentration in honey samples The highest value was recorded in honey samples from rural area (0.241) mg/kg and the lowest in honey samples from apiaries located in Reclaimed soils (0.185) mg/kg. Heavy metalconcentrations of Pb, Cd, Fe, Cu and Zn in beeswax samples collected from contaminated and non-contaminated areas were 1.388, 0.194, 16.696, 0.619 and 4.606 mg/kg. While the averages of heavy metal concentrations in non contaminated area decreased to 1.175; 0.160; 15.466; 0.391 and 2.520 mg/kg, respectively. Contamination in bee bread samples showed that lead concentration (1.094 mg/kg to 1.338 mg/kg) was detected in bee bread samples collected from honey bee colonies located in non-contaminated areas and samples collected from( industrialized and urban areas).
Highlights
The most important parameters to evaluate honey quality are floral origins, the area of production, freshness and safety
Assessment of heavy metals contamination in honey bee products: Honey bee products obtained from twenty commercial apiaries located in contaminated and noncontaminated area in Upper Egypt region
All samples were subjected to determine the residual levels of Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu) and Zinc (Zn) in honey, beeswax and bee bread stored inside honey bee colonies
Summary
The most important parameters to evaluate honey quality are floral origins, the area of production, freshness and safety. Some apiaries are located in areas exposed to different kinds and level of pollution. Honey bees may forage over a distance of several kilometers from the hives and they effectively sample the environment for contaminats in plants, soil and the atmosphere (Przybylowski and Wilczynska, 2001). Large concentrations of heavy metals were found in bee honey from hives located in industrial areas. This is why honey and other bee products are considered good materials for monitoring environmental contaminations (Omran, 2017 and Omar, 1994). The present investigation has been carried out to monitor the impact of environmental pollution by heavy metals on quality of bee products
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