Multiresidue Methods Analysis to Detect Contamination of Selected Metals in Honey and Pesticides in Honey and Pollen

Honey, a natural food with a rich history, is produced by honeybees and other species of bees from nectar, other plant fluids, and honeydew of sap-sucking insects. During foraging, these bees may be exposed to plant protection products (PPPs), metals, and metalloids, potentially leading to residues...

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Main Authors: Mattia Casula, Francesco Corrias, Alessandro Atzei, Massimo Milia, Nicola Arru, Alberto Satta, Ignazio Floris, Michelina Pusceddu, Alberto Angioni
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Foods
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/24/4099
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author Mattia Casula
Francesco Corrias
Alessandro Atzei
Massimo Milia
Nicola Arru
Alberto Satta
Ignazio Floris
Michelina Pusceddu
Alberto Angioni
author_facet Mattia Casula
Francesco Corrias
Alessandro Atzei
Massimo Milia
Nicola Arru
Alberto Satta
Ignazio Floris
Michelina Pusceddu
Alberto Angioni
author_sort Mattia Casula
collection DOAJ
description Honey, a natural food with a rich history, is produced by honeybees and other species of bees from nectar, other plant fluids, and honeydew of sap-sucking insects. During foraging, these bees may be exposed to plant protection products (PPPs), metals, and metalloids, potentially leading to residues in honey and hive products that could have a negative impact on human safety. Recognizing the lack of an appropriate methodology for pesticide contamination of honey and other hive products, this research aims to support the need for studies on residues in pollen and bee products for human consumption to establish safe maximum residue levels (MRLs) for consumers. A UHPLC-MS/MS residues method and a modified QuEChERS extraction were applied to simultaneously determine 237 pesticide residues in honey and pollen. The study in North Sardinia analyzed honey and pollen samples from six areas for pesticide residues and verified 27 heavy metals and metalloid residues using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). The data obtained showed residues at levels close to the LOQ of the method, cycloate in a few samples of pollen, and dichlorvos, zoxamide, cycloate, and chlorantraniliprole in honey samples. All samples showed the absence of heavy metal contamination. Overall, no risk to human health was identified. The results of this study confirm that honey and pollen may be a good bioindicator of environmental contamination of a wide area surrounding honeybee hives.
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spelling doaj-art-7f71224e113a4bdea028fbeb0ac57e8a2025-08-20T02:53:43ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582024-12-011324409910.3390/foods13244099Multiresidue Methods Analysis to Detect Contamination of Selected Metals in Honey and Pesticides in Honey and PollenMattia Casula0Francesco Corrias1Alessandro Atzei2Massimo Milia3Nicola Arru4Alberto Satta5Ignazio Floris6Michelina Pusceddu7Alberto Angioni8Food Toxicology Unit, Department of Life and Environmental Science, University Campus of Monserrato, University of Cagliari, SS 554, 09042 Cagliari, ItalyFood Toxicology Unit, Department of Life and Environmental Science, University Campus of Monserrato, University of Cagliari, SS 554, 09042 Cagliari, ItalyFood Toxicology Unit, Department of Life and Environmental Science, University Campus of Monserrato, University of Cagliari, SS 554, 09042 Cagliari, ItalyFood Toxicology Unit, Department of Life and Environmental Science, University Campus of Monserrato, University of Cagliari, SS 554, 09042 Cagliari, ItalyFood Toxicology Unit, Department of Life and Environmental Science, University Campus of Monserrato, University of Cagliari, SS 554, 09042 Cagliari, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Sassari, Viale Italia 39A, 07100 Sassari, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Sassari, Viale Italia 39A, 07100 Sassari, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Sassari, Viale Italia 39A, 07100 Sassari, ItalyFood Toxicology Unit, Department of Life and Environmental Science, University Campus of Monserrato, University of Cagliari, SS 554, 09042 Cagliari, ItalyHoney, a natural food with a rich history, is produced by honeybees and other species of bees from nectar, other plant fluids, and honeydew of sap-sucking insects. During foraging, these bees may be exposed to plant protection products (PPPs), metals, and metalloids, potentially leading to residues in honey and hive products that could have a negative impact on human safety. Recognizing the lack of an appropriate methodology for pesticide contamination of honey and other hive products, this research aims to support the need for studies on residues in pollen and bee products for human consumption to establish safe maximum residue levels (MRLs) for consumers. A UHPLC-MS/MS residues method and a modified QuEChERS extraction were applied to simultaneously determine 237 pesticide residues in honey and pollen. The study in North Sardinia analyzed honey and pollen samples from six areas for pesticide residues and verified 27 heavy metals and metalloid residues using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). The data obtained showed residues at levels close to the LOQ of the method, cycloate in a few samples of pollen, and dichlorvos, zoxamide, cycloate, and chlorantraniliprole in honey samples. All samples showed the absence of heavy metal contamination. Overall, no risk to human health was identified. The results of this study confirm that honey and pollen may be a good bioindicator of environmental contamination of a wide area surrounding honeybee hives.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/24/4099industrial processinghoneybeeLC-MS/MSpesticide residuesheavy metal and metalloidICP-OES
spellingShingle Mattia Casula
Francesco Corrias
Alessandro Atzei
Massimo Milia
Nicola Arru
Alberto Satta
Ignazio Floris
Michelina Pusceddu
Alberto Angioni
Multiresidue Methods Analysis to Detect Contamination of Selected Metals in Honey and Pesticides in Honey and Pollen
Foods
industrial processing
honeybee
LC-MS/MS
pesticide residues
heavy metal and metalloid
ICP-OES
title Multiresidue Methods Analysis to Detect Contamination of Selected Metals in Honey and Pesticides in Honey and Pollen
title_full Multiresidue Methods Analysis to Detect Contamination of Selected Metals in Honey and Pesticides in Honey and Pollen
title_fullStr Multiresidue Methods Analysis to Detect Contamination of Selected Metals in Honey and Pesticides in Honey and Pollen
title_full_unstemmed Multiresidue Methods Analysis to Detect Contamination of Selected Metals in Honey and Pesticides in Honey and Pollen
title_short Multiresidue Methods Analysis to Detect Contamination of Selected Metals in Honey and Pesticides in Honey and Pollen
title_sort multiresidue methods analysis to detect contamination of selected metals in honey and pesticides in honey and pollen
topic industrial processing
honeybee
LC-MS/MS
pesticide residues
heavy metal and metalloid
ICP-OES
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/24/4099
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