Author/Authors :
Mohammadi Aghamirlou، Hasan نويسنده 1Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Poursina St, Keshavarz Blvd, PO BOX: 6446-14155, Tehran, Iran , , KHADEM، MONIREH نويسنده Department of Occupational Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , , Rahmani، Abdolrasoul نويسنده MSc. student of occupational safety & health, Department of Occupational health , , Sadeghian، Marzieh نويسنده M.Sc of Occupational health Department of Occupational health , , Mahvi، Amir Hossein نويسنده Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health; National Institute of Health Research; Center for Solid Waste Research, Institute fo , , Akbarzadeh، Arash نويسنده 1Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Hormozgan, Bandar Abbas, Iran , , Nazmara، Shahrokh نويسنده 1Center for Environmental Research and Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran ,
Abstract :
Background: Honey contains a complex mixture of carbohydrates and other minor substances. Elements are minor
constituents of honey that may threaten the human health in excess concentrations. So, determining the metals in
honey helps its quality control as a food product. The aim of this study was to determine the concentrations of
some metals in Iranian honey.
Methods: This study was performed in four regions of Ardabil, a province of Iran. Honey samples (n = 25) were
digested in microwave oven by nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide, then analyzed using inductively coupled
plasma– optic emission spectrophotometry (ICP-OES).
Results: No significant differences were observed in cadmium, zinc, nickel, and chromium levels between regions
(P > 0.05). Zinc was the most abundant metal in honey samples (1481.64 ?g/kg). Some metals had higher
concentrations in the East region because of existence more industries there. The highest mean of lead level was
935.48 ?g/kg in the East and the lowest was 205.4 ?g/kg in the South region. The concentrations of metals were
compared with recommended limits for foods. Some of them were higher than standard levels (lead) and some
were lower than those (cadmium).
Conclusions: Metals are released into the environment through their use in industrial processes and enter the food
chain from uptake by plants from contaminated soil or water. Metals concentration in various places depends on
many variables, leading to their different concentrations in honey. Some control measures like the quality control of
food products, monitoring the soil in agricultural regions and limiting the use of fertilizers are recommended.
