Monitoring of honey contamination with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Herzegovina region

ABSTRACT

In order to determine the degree of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon pollution, a biomonitoring study was conducted using honey as a bioindicator. Bees are good bioindicators of environmental pollution, either via the presence of toxic molecules in their bodies or via the presence of residues in their products. In this study we investigated 10 honey samples collected from polluted and unpolluted areas in Herzegovina region for their contamination with 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Extraction was done in ultrasonic bath and was followed by chromatographic analysis by HPLC with UV/Vis detector. Results showed no presence of PAHs in six honey samples, while in four of them we detected low PAH concentrations with maximum values never higher than 7 µgkg⁻¹ of fresh weight for the honey. Benzo⦋a⦌pyrene, which is the most potentially carcinogenic PAH, was detected in one sample. Indeno[1,2,3-c,d]pyrene was found in all samples where PAHs were detected in the range < LOD to 2.56 µgkg⁻¹ FW. Concentrations of all PAHs detected in investigated honey samples were low and safe to consume. The results of this study show that honey can be used as a bioindicator to assess environmental pollution.

KEYWORDS:

• Honey
• PAHs
• bioindicator
• environmental pollution

Notes on contributors

Maja Kazazic is associate professor of Biochemistry at the Dzemal Bijedic University of Mostar.

Maida Djapo-Lavic is assistant professor of Organic chemistry.

Emina Mehic, MSc, is working at the Dzemal Bijedic University of Mostar as teaching assistant in the field of Inorganic chemistry.

Lejla Jesenkovic-Habul is Quality assurance manager working at the Institute for Public health of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Science Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.