Naccari Clara, Ferrantelli Vincenzo, Cammilleri Gaetano, Barbaccia Giuseppe, Riolo Pietro, Ferrante Maria Carmela, Procopio Antonio, Palma Ernesto
Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia "A. Mirri", 90129 Palermo, Italy.
Foods. 2025 Jun 4;14(11):1986. doi: 10.3390/foods14111986.
Honey is a beekeeping product with high nutritional value, considered a bio-indicator of environmental pollution. The aim of this study was to determine the mineral content in honey by analyzing toxic metals in accordance with EU regulations and evaluating the intake of microelements through honey consumption.
Honey samples of different floral origins were subjected to ICP-MS analysis for the determination of toxic metals and metalloids (Cd, Pb, As) as well as microelements (Cu, Zn, Se, Fe, Mn, Co, and Al). The data were considered significant for -values < 0.05.
All analyzed minerals were detected above the limit of detection (LOD) in every sample. Among toxic metals, lead (Pb) levels exceeded the maximum residue limit (MRL) of 0.1 mg/kg, as established by EU Regulation 2023/915, in most samples. However, these levels corresponded to a small percentage of the Provisional Tolerable Weekly and Daily Intake. The concentrations of microelements significantly contributed to the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA).
This study documents the presence of toxic metals in the analyzed honey, with lead (Pb) levels exceeding the MRL. The microelement content provides adequate nutritional intake through honey consumption. Therefore, studying the mineral profile can be used to monitor environmental pollution in the areas where the apiaries are located and to assess the safety of honey.
蜂蜜是一种具有高营养价值的养蜂产品，被视为环境污染的生物指标。本研究的目的是根据欧盟法规分析蜂蜜中的有毒金属，以确定蜂蜜中的矿物质含量，并评估通过食用蜂蜜摄入的微量元素。
对不同花源的蜂蜜样品进行电感耦合等离子体质谱（ICP-MS）分析，以测定有毒金属和类金属（镉、铅、砷）以及微量元素（铜、锌、硒、铁、锰、钴和铝）。-值<0.05时的数据被认为具有显著性。
在每个样品中均检测到所有分析的矿物质，且含量均高于检测限（LOD）。在有毒金属中，大多数样品中的铅（Pb）含量超过了欧盟法规2023/915规定的0.1 mg/kg的最大残留限量（MRL）。然而，这些含量仅占临时每周和每日可耐受摄入量的一小部分。微量元素的浓度对推荐每日摄入量（RDA）有显著贡献。
本研究记录了所分析蜂蜜中有毒金属的存在，其中铅（Pb）含量超过了最大残留限量。蜂蜜中的微量元素含量可为通过食用蜂蜜提供充足的营养摄入。因此，研究矿物质概况可用于监测养蜂场所在地区的环境污染，并评估蜂蜜的安全性。
