Comprehensive Assessment of Potentially Toxic Element (PTE) Contamination in Honey from a Historically Polluted Agro-Industrial Landscape: Implications for Agricultural Sustainability and Food Safety
Honey is increasingly recognized not only as a functional food but also as a potential bioindicator of environmental pollution. This study assessed the concentrations of four potentially toxic elements (PTEs)—lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn)—in 48 multifloral honey samples collect...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-05-01
|
| Series: | Agriculture |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/11/1176 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850212117710372864 |
|---|---|
| author | Ioana Andra Vlad Szilárd Bartha Győző Goji Ioan Tăut Florin Alexandru Rebrean Laviniu Ioan Nuțu Burescu Călin Gheorghe Pășcuț Petrică Tudor Moțiu Adrian Tunduc Claudiu Ion Bunea Florin-Dumitru Bora |
| author_facet | Ioana Andra Vlad Szilárd Bartha Győző Goji Ioan Tăut Florin Alexandru Rebrean Laviniu Ioan Nuțu Burescu Călin Gheorghe Pășcuț Petrică Tudor Moțiu Adrian Tunduc Claudiu Ion Bunea Florin-Dumitru Bora |
| author_sort | Ioana Andra Vlad |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Honey is increasingly recognized not only as a functional food but also as a potential bioindicator of environmental pollution. This study assessed the concentrations of four potentially toxic elements (PTEs)—lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn)—in 48 multifloral honey samples collected in 2023 from seven locations across a historically polluted agro-industrial region in Romania. Samples were analyzed using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FAAS) and Graphite Furnace AAS (GFAAS), with quality control ensured through certified reference materials. Results revealed that Pb (0.72–1.69 mg/kg) and Cd (0.02–0.37 mg/kg) levels consistently exceeded international safety thresholds, while Cu (0.62–2.22 mg/kg) and Zn (0.91–1.93 mg/kg), although essential nutrients, were found in elevated concentrations. Spatial analysis indicated a general trend of higher contamination in sites located closer to former industrial facilities, influenced by factors such as altitude and atmospheric transport. These findings confirm the persistent environmental burden in post-industrial landscapes and support the use of honey as a cost-effective tool for pollution monitoring. The study underscores the need for targeted environmental policies, sustainable apicultural practices, and continued surveillance to protect ecosystem health and food safety. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7d372d8ae0b546a9900fc4c1bbaa64fd |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2077-0472 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agriculture |
| spelling | doaj-art-7d372d8ae0b546a9900fc4c1bbaa64fd2025-08-20T02:09:24ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722025-05-011511117610.3390/agriculture15111176Comprehensive Assessment of Potentially Toxic Element (PTE) Contamination in Honey from a Historically Polluted Agro-Industrial Landscape: Implications for Agricultural Sustainability and Food SafetyIoana Andra Vlad0Szilárd Bartha1Győző Goji2Ioan Tăut3Florin Alexandru Rebrean4Laviniu Ioan Nuțu Burescu5Călin Gheorghe Pășcuț6Petrică Tudor Moțiu7Adrian Tunduc8Claudiu Ion Bunea9Florin-Dumitru Bora10Department of Food Engineering, University of Oradea, 1 University Street, 410087 Oradea, RomaniaDepartment of Forestry and Forest Engineering, University of Oradea, 1 University Street, 410087 Oradea, RomaniaTechnological High School Ștefan Manciulea, 3 Piața 1848, 515400 Blaj, RomaniaDepartment of Forestry, Faculty of Forestry and Cadastre, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 3-5 Mănăștur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaDepartment of Forestry, Faculty of Forestry and Cadastre, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 3-5 Mănăștur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaDepartment of Forestry and Forest Engineering, University of Oradea, 1 University Street, 410087 Oradea, RomaniaDepartment of Forestry and Forest Engineering, University of Oradea, 1 University Street, 410087 Oradea, RomaniaDepartment of Forestry and Forest Engineering, University of Oradea, 1 University Street, 410087 Oradea, RomaniaDepartment of Forestry and Forest Engineering, University of Oradea, 1 University Street, 410087 Oradea, RomaniaViticulture and Oenology Department, Advanced Horticultural Research Institute of Transylvania, Faculty of Horticulture and Business in Rural Development, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Mănăștur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaViticulture and Oenology Department, Advanced Horticultural Research Institute of Transylvania, Faculty of Horticulture and Business in Rural Development, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Mănăștur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaHoney is increasingly recognized not only as a functional food but also as a potential bioindicator of environmental pollution. This study assessed the concentrations of four potentially toxic elements (PTEs)—lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn)—in 48 multifloral honey samples collected in 2023 from seven locations across a historically polluted agro-industrial region in Romania. Samples were analyzed using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FAAS) and Graphite Furnace AAS (GFAAS), with quality control ensured through certified reference materials. Results revealed that Pb (0.72–1.69 mg/kg) and Cd (0.02–0.37 mg/kg) levels consistently exceeded international safety thresholds, while Cu (0.62–2.22 mg/kg) and Zn (0.91–1.93 mg/kg), although essential nutrients, were found in elevated concentrations. Spatial analysis indicated a general trend of higher contamination in sites located closer to former industrial facilities, influenced by factors such as altitude and atmospheric transport. These findings confirm the persistent environmental burden in post-industrial landscapes and support the use of honey as a cost-effective tool for pollution monitoring. The study underscores the need for targeted environmental policies, sustainable apicultural practices, and continued surveillance to protect ecosystem health and food safety.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/11/1176honeypotentially toxic elements (PTEs)cadmiumleadcopperzinc |
| spellingShingle | Ioana Andra Vlad Szilárd Bartha Győző Goji Ioan Tăut Florin Alexandru Rebrean Laviniu Ioan Nuțu Burescu Călin Gheorghe Pășcuț Petrică Tudor Moțiu Adrian Tunduc Claudiu Ion Bunea Florin-Dumitru Bora Comprehensive Assessment of Potentially Toxic Element (PTE) Contamination in Honey from a Historically Polluted Agro-Industrial Landscape: Implications for Agricultural Sustainability and Food Safety Agriculture honey potentially toxic elements (PTEs) cadmium lead copper zinc |
| title | Comprehensive Assessment of Potentially Toxic Element (PTE) Contamination in Honey from a Historically Polluted Agro-Industrial Landscape: Implications for Agricultural Sustainability and Food Safety |
| title_full | Comprehensive Assessment of Potentially Toxic Element (PTE) Contamination in Honey from a Historically Polluted Agro-Industrial Landscape: Implications for Agricultural Sustainability and Food Safety |
| title_fullStr | Comprehensive Assessment of Potentially Toxic Element (PTE) Contamination in Honey from a Historically Polluted Agro-Industrial Landscape: Implications for Agricultural Sustainability and Food Safety |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comprehensive Assessment of Potentially Toxic Element (PTE) Contamination in Honey from a Historically Polluted Agro-Industrial Landscape: Implications for Agricultural Sustainability and Food Safety |
| title_short | Comprehensive Assessment of Potentially Toxic Element (PTE) Contamination in Honey from a Historically Polluted Agro-Industrial Landscape: Implications for Agricultural Sustainability and Food Safety |
| title_sort | comprehensive assessment of potentially toxic element pte contamination in honey from a historically polluted agro industrial landscape implications for agricultural sustainability and food safety |
| topic | honey potentially toxic elements (PTEs) cadmium lead copper zinc |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/11/1176 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ioanaandravlad comprehensiveassessmentofpotentiallytoxicelementptecontaminationinhoneyfromahistoricallypollutedagroindustriallandscapeimplicationsforagriculturalsustainabilityandfoodsafety AT szilardbartha comprehensiveassessmentofpotentiallytoxicelementptecontaminationinhoneyfromahistoricallypollutedagroindustriallandscapeimplicationsforagriculturalsustainabilityandfoodsafety AT gyozogoji comprehensiveassessmentofpotentiallytoxicelementptecontaminationinhoneyfromahistoricallypollutedagroindustriallandscapeimplicationsforagriculturalsustainabilityandfoodsafety AT ioantaut comprehensiveassessmentofpotentiallytoxicelementptecontaminationinhoneyfromahistoricallypollutedagroindustriallandscapeimplicationsforagriculturalsustainabilityandfoodsafety AT florinalexandrurebrean comprehensiveassessmentofpotentiallytoxicelementptecontaminationinhoneyfromahistoricallypollutedagroindustriallandscapeimplicationsforagriculturalsustainabilityandfoodsafety AT laviniuioannutuburescu comprehensiveassessmentofpotentiallytoxicelementptecontaminationinhoneyfromahistoricallypollutedagroindustriallandscapeimplicationsforagriculturalsustainabilityandfoodsafety AT calingheorghepascut comprehensiveassessmentofpotentiallytoxicelementptecontaminationinhoneyfromahistoricallypollutedagroindustriallandscapeimplicationsforagriculturalsustainabilityandfoodsafety AT petricatudormotiu comprehensiveassessmentofpotentiallytoxicelementptecontaminationinhoneyfromahistoricallypollutedagroindustriallandscapeimplicationsforagriculturalsustainabilityandfoodsafety AT adriantunduc comprehensiveassessmentofpotentiallytoxicelementptecontaminationinhoneyfromahistoricallypollutedagroindustriallandscapeimplicationsforagriculturalsustainabilityandfoodsafety AT claudiuionbunea comprehensiveassessmentofpotentiallytoxicelementptecontaminationinhoneyfromahistoricallypollutedagroindustriallandscapeimplicationsforagriculturalsustainabilityandfoodsafety AT florindumitrubora comprehensiveassessmentofpotentiallytoxicelementptecontaminationinhoneyfromahistoricallypollutedagroindustriallandscapeimplicationsforagriculturalsustainabilityandfoodsafety |