Assessment of heavy metal levels in bee pollen (Apis mellifera L) from urban and rural areas of Egypt: implications for bioindication and food safety

Abstract This study examined pollen samples from several parts of Egypt to assess the heavy metal levels present. Assessment of the performance of bee pollen (Apis mellifera L) as a bioindicator for the presence of Zn, Cd, Fe, Cu, Ni, Pb, Mo, and Cr in municipal and countryside areas was the main ob...

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Main Authors: H. Mousa, DS. Farghaly, E. Nafea, Z. Al Dhafar, A. Metwally, H. Kadada
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Instituto Internacional de Ecologia 2025-03-01
Series:Brazilian Journal of Biology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1519-69842025000100132&lng=en&tlng=en
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author H. Mousa
DS. Farghaly
E. Nafea
Z. Al Dhafar
A. Metwally
H. Kadada
author_facet H. Mousa
DS. Farghaly
E. Nafea
Z. Al Dhafar
A. Metwally
H. Kadada
author_sort H. Mousa
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study examined pollen samples from several parts of Egypt to assess the heavy metal levels present. Assessment of the performance of bee pollen (Apis mellifera L) as a bioindicator for the presence of Zn, Cd, Fe, Cu, Ni, Pb, Mo, and Cr in municipal and countryside areas was the main objective of this research and concurrently the study's central premise. Four places were in rural areas, and one was near the city center, giving five locations for three honeybee colonies. In order to compare pollen samples from urban and rural locations, heavy metal (Zn, Cd, Fe, Cu, Ni, Pb, Mo, and Cr) levels were measured in those gathered from these colonies. The study found that there were no significant differences in the levels of Cd in the pollen samples collected from different sites. Compared to urban areas, pollen sample heavy metal values in countryside regions generally decreased (P <0.05). It was determined that the concentrations of Cr, Fe, Cu, Ni, Mn, and Zn in pollen specimens varied significantly (P< 0.05) across the localities. Consistent with International Food Standards, the levels of heavy metals in pollen specimens collected from diverse areas were determined to be acceptable.
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publisher Instituto Internacional de Ecologia
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spelling doaj-art-56e5ecb7a4734e2c910d13cc2ea7d4d82025-08-20T02:16:22ZengInstituto Internacional de EcologiaBrazilian Journal of Biology1678-43752025-03-018510.1590/1519-6984.288043Assessment of heavy metal levels in bee pollen (Apis mellifera L) from urban and rural areas of Egypt: implications for bioindication and food safetyH. Mousahttps://orcid.org/0009-0000-9591-9594DS. Farghalyhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5137-4550E. Nafeahttps://orcid.org/0009-0004-1006-3918Z. Al Dhafarhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5875-6615A. Metwallyhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2917-3234H. Kadadahttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9217-9575Abstract This study examined pollen samples from several parts of Egypt to assess the heavy metal levels present. Assessment of the performance of bee pollen (Apis mellifera L) as a bioindicator for the presence of Zn, Cd, Fe, Cu, Ni, Pb, Mo, and Cr in municipal and countryside areas was the main objective of this research and concurrently the study's central premise. Four places were in rural areas, and one was near the city center, giving five locations for three honeybee colonies. In order to compare pollen samples from urban and rural locations, heavy metal (Zn, Cd, Fe, Cu, Ni, Pb, Mo, and Cr) levels were measured in those gathered from these colonies. The study found that there were no significant differences in the levels of Cd in the pollen samples collected from different sites. Compared to urban areas, pollen sample heavy metal values in countryside regions generally decreased (P <0.05). It was determined that the concentrations of Cr, Fe, Cu, Ni, Mn, and Zn in pollen specimens varied significantly (P< 0.05) across the localities. Consistent with International Food Standards, the levels of heavy metals in pollen specimens collected from diverse areas were determined to be acceptable.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1519-69842025000100132&lng=en&tlng=enbee pollenheavy metalsApis melliferaEgypt
spellingShingle H. Mousa
DS. Farghaly
E. Nafea
Z. Al Dhafar
A. Metwally
H. Kadada
Assessment of heavy metal levels in bee pollen (Apis mellifera L) from urban and rural areas of Egypt: implications for bioindication and food safety
Brazilian Journal of Biology
bee pollen
heavy metals
Apis mellifera
Egypt
title Assessment of heavy metal levels in bee pollen (Apis mellifera L) from urban and rural areas of Egypt: implications for bioindication and food safety
title_full Assessment of heavy metal levels in bee pollen (Apis mellifera L) from urban and rural areas of Egypt: implications for bioindication and food safety
title_fullStr Assessment of heavy metal levels in bee pollen (Apis mellifera L) from urban and rural areas of Egypt: implications for bioindication and food safety
title_full_unstemmed Assessment of heavy metal levels in bee pollen (Apis mellifera L) from urban and rural areas of Egypt: implications for bioindication and food safety
title_short Assessment of heavy metal levels in bee pollen (Apis mellifera L) from urban and rural areas of Egypt: implications for bioindication and food safety
title_sort assessment of heavy metal levels in bee pollen apis mellifera l from urban and rural areas of egypt implications for bioindication and food safety
topic bee pollen
heavy metals
Apis mellifera
Egypt
url http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1519-69842025000100132&lng=en&tlng=en
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