Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Toxic Metals and Trace Elements in Artisanal Honeys from the Canary Islands

  • Published:
Biological Trace Element Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Honey is a natural product made by honey bees from the nectar of flowers or secretions produced by other living plant parts. The metal content of the honeys is related to the levels of metals in the environment. Due to the importance of honey in the human diet and the increase of environmental pollution, it is necessary to determine the content of metals in honey to evaluate the toxicological risk derived from its consumption. The objective of this study was to determine the content of 20 metals (Al, B, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Pb, Sr, V, and Zn) in different samples of artisanal honey from the Canary Islands (Spain) in order to evaluate the dietary intake derived from the consumption of these honeys. A total of 161 samples of different types of Canary honey were analyzed by ICP-OES (inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry). K (825 mg/kg) was the macroelement found in highest concentration, while B (4.25 mg/kg) was the trace element with the highest mean concentration. Al (3.33 mg/kg) was the most abundant toxic metal, followed by Pb (0.040 mg/kg) and Cd (0.002 mg/kg). A mean consumption of 25 g/day of honey mainly contributes to the recommended daily intake of Cu (1.34% adults) and K (0.67% adults). As regards the toxic metals, the contribution percentage to the TDI (tolerable daily intake) of Pb at 2.92% for adults is noteworthy. However, the consumption of honey does not imply a high intake of metals and, therefore, does pose a risk to the health of adult men and women.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Samarghandian S, Farkhondeh T, Samini F (2017) Honey and health: a review of recent clinical research. Pharm Res 9(2):121–127

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Khan SU, Anjum SI, Rahman K, Ansari MJ, Khan WU, Kamal S, Khattak B, Muhammad A, Khan HU (2018) Honey: single food stuff comprises many drugs. Saudi J Biol Sci 25(2):320–325

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Hernández OM, Fraga JMG, Jiménez AI, Jiménez F, Arias JJ (2005) Characterization of honey from the Canary Islands: determination of the mineral content by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Food Chem 93:449–458

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. González-Miret ML, Terrab A, Hernanz D, Fernández-Recamales MA, Heredia FJ (2005) Multivariate correlation between color and mineral composition of honeys and by their botanical origin. J Agric Food Chem 53(7):2574–2258

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Lachman J, Kolihova D, Miholova D, Kosata J, Titra D, Kult K (2007) Analysis of minority honey components: possible use for the evaluation of honey quality. Food Chem 101:973–979

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Przybytowski P, Wilczynska A (2001) Honey as an environmental marker. Food Chem 74:289–229

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Celli G, MacCagni B (2003) Honey bees as bioindicators of environmental pollution. Bull Insectol 56(1):137–139

    Google Scholar 

  8. Sager M (2017) The honey as a bioindicator of the environment. Ecol Chem Eng S 24(4):583–594

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Pisani A, Protano G, Riccobono F (2008) Minor and trace elements in different honey types produced in Siena County (Italy). Food Chem 107:1553–1560

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Rashed MN (2010) Monitoring of contaminated toxic and heavy metals, from mine tailings through age accumulation, in soil and some wild plants at Southeast Egypt. J Hazard Mat 178(1–3):739–746

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Rodriguez-Otero JL, Paseiro P, Simal J, Cepeda A (1994) Mineral content of the honeys produced in Galicia (North-West Spain). Food Chem 49:169–171

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Yilmaz H, Yavuz O (1999) Content of some trace metals in honey from south-eastern Anatolia. Food Chem 65:475–476

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Buldini PL, Cavalli S, Mevoli A, Sharma JL (2001) Ion chromatographic and voltammetric determination of heavy and transition metals in honey. Food Chem 73:487–495

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Sangiuliano D, Rubio C, Gutiérrez AJ, González-Weller D, Revert C, Hardisson A, Zanardi E, Paz S (2017) Metal concentrations in samples of frozen cephalopods (cuttlefish, octopus, squid, and shortfin squid): an evaluation of dietary intake. J Food Prot 80(11):1867–1871

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Rubio C, Paz S, Tius E, Hardisson A, Gutiérrez AJ, González-Weller D, Caballero JM, Revert C (2018) Metal contents in the most widely consumed commercial preparations of four different medicinal plants (aloe, senna, ginseng, and ginkgo) from Europe. Biol Trace Elem Res. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-018-1329-7

  16. Rubio C, Ojeda I, Gutiérrez AJ, Paz S, González-Weller D, Hardisson A (2018) Exposure assessment of trace elements in fresh eggs from free-range and home-grown hens analysed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). J Food Compos Anal 69:45–52

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Rubio C, Napoleone G, Luis-González G, Gutiérrez AJ, González-Weller D, Hardisson A, Revert C (2017) Metals in edible seaweed. Chemosphere 173:572–579

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Rubio C, Paz S, Ojeda I, Gutiérrez AJ, González-Weller D, Hardisson RC (2017) Dietary intake of metals from fresh cage-reared hens’ eggs in Tenerife, Canary Islands. J Food Qual. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/5972153

  19. Altundag H, Bina E, Altintig E (2016) The levels of trace elements in honey and molasses samples that were determined by ICP-OES after microwave digestion method. Biol Trace Elem Res 170:508–514. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-015-0468-3

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Altun SK, Dinç H, Paksoy N, Temamogullari FK, Savrunlu M (2017) Analyses of mineral content and heavy metal of honey samples from south and east region of Turkey by using ICP-MS. Int J Anal Chem 2017:1–6. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/6391454

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Luis G, Hernández C, Rubio C, González-Weller D, Gutiérrez AJ, Revert C, Hardisson A (2012) Trace elements and toxic metals in intensively produced tomatoes (Lycopersicom esculentum). Nutr Hosp 27(5):1605–1609

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. IUPAC (1995) International union of pure and applied chemistry, nomenclature in evaluation of analytical methods including detection and quantification capabilities. Pure Appl Chem 67:1699–1723

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Pohl P (2009) Determination of metal content in honey by atomic absorption and emission spectrometries. Trends Anal Chem 28(1):117–128

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Giri S, Singh AK (2017) Human health risk assessment due to dietary intake of heavy metals through rice in the mining areas of Singhbhum Copper Belt, India. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24:14945–14956

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Truhaut R (1991) The concept of the acceptable daily intake: an historical review. Food Addit Contam 8(2):151–162

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Choy EHS, Scott DL, Kingsley GH, Thomas S, Murphy AGU, Staimos N, Panayi GS (2001) Control of rheumatoid arthritis by oral tolerance. Arthritis Rheum 44:1993–1997

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Pan G (2002) Confidence intervals for comparing two scale parameters based on Levene’s statistics. J Nonparametr Stat 14(4):459–476

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Xu P, Huang S, Zhue R, Han X, Zhou H (2002) Phenotophic polymormorphism of CYP2A6 activity in a Chinese population. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 58:333–337

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Garcilope d A, Gallego Picó A, Bravo Yagüe JC, Garcinuño Martínez RM, Fernández Hernando P (2012) Characterization of Spanish honeys with protected designation of origin “Miel de Granada” according to their mineral content. Food Chem 135:1785–1788

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Chudzinska M, Baralkiewicz D (2010) Estimation of honey authenticity by multielements characteristics using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) combined with chemometrics. Food Chem Toxicol 48:284–290

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Terrab A, Recamales AF, González-Miret ML, Heredia FJ (2005) Contribution to the study of avocado honeys by their mineral contents using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Food Chem 92:305–309

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Perna A, Intaglietta I, Sominotti A (2014) Metals in honeys from different areas of southern Italy. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 92(3):253–258

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Kędzierska-Matysek M, Florek M, Wolanciuk A, Barlowska J, Litwińczuk Z (2018) Concentration of minerals in nectar honeys from direct sale and retail in Poland. Biol Trace Elem Res. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-018-1315-0

  34. Terrab A, González AG, Díez MJ, Heredia FJ (2003) Mineral content and electrical conductivity of the honeys produced in Northwest Morocco and their contribution to the characterisation of unifloral honeys. J Sci Food Agric 83:637–643. https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.1341

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. European Regulation (2006) Commission Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs. Off J Eur Union L364/5

  36. European Regulation (2015) Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/1005 of 25 June 2015 amending Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 as regards maximum levels of lead in certain foodstuffs. Off J Eur Union L161/9

  37. Ru Q-M, Feng Q, He J-Z (2013) Risk assessment of heavy metals in honey consumed in Zhejiang province, southeastern China. Food Chem Toxicol 53:256–262

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Frías I, Rubio C, González-Iglesias T, Gutiérrez AJ, González-Weller D, Hardisson A (2007) Metals in fresh honeys from Tenerife Island, Spain. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 80:30–33

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Fernández-Torres R, Pérez-Bernal JL, Bello-López MA, Callejón-Mochón M, Jiménez-Sánchez JC, Guiraúm-Pérez A (2005) Mineral content and botanical origin of Spanish honeys. Talanta 65:686–691

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Rashed MN, Soltan ME (2004) Major and trace elements in different types of Egyptian mono-floral and non-floral bee honeys. J Food Comp Anal 17:725–735

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (2011) Statement on the evaluation on a new study related to the bioavailability of aluminum in food. EFSA J 9(5):2157

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. EFSA (2011) Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM). Statement on tolerable weekly intake for cadmium. EFSA J 9(2):1975

    Google Scholar 

  43. WHO (World Health Organization) (2010) Strontium and strontium compounds.Concise International Chemical Assessment Document 77. World Health Organization, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  44. SCHER (Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risk) (2012) Assessment of the tolerable daily intake of barium. Eur Commission. https://doi.org/10.2772/49651

  45. EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (2015) Scientific opinion on the risks to public health related to the presence of nickel in food and drinking water. EFSA J 13(2):4002

    Google Scholar 

  46. AECOSAN (Agencia Española de Consumo, Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutrición) (2012) Report of the Scientific Committee of the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) of the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) regarding criteria for the estimation of concentrations for the discussion of proposals for migration limits of certain heavy metals and other elements from ceramic articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs. Rev Com Cient 16:11–20

    Google Scholar 

  47. IOM (Institute of Medicine) (2001) Food and nutrition board, panel on micronutrients. arsenic, boron, nickel, silicon, and vanadium. In: Dietary reference intakes for vitamin a, vitamin K, arsenic, boron, chromium, copper, iodine, iron, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, silicon, vanadium, and zinc. National Academies Press (US), Washington (DC)

  48. FESNAD (Federación Española de Sociedades de Nutrición, Alimentación y Dietética) (2010) Ingestas Dietéticas de Referencia (IDR) para la Población Española. Act Diet 14(4):196–197

    Google Scholar 

  49. AECOSAN (2006) Spanish diet model for the determination of consumer exposure to chemical substances. Ministry of Health and Consumption, Madrid

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Toxicology, Universidad de La Laguna, La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

    Saray Díaz, Soraya Paz, Carmen Rubio, Ángel J. Gutiérrez, Consuelo Revert & Arturo Hardisson

  2. Health Inspection and Laboratory Service, Canary Health Service S/C de Tenerife, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

    Dailos González-Weller

  3. Casa de la Miel, Unidad de Valorización de Productos Agroalimentarios, Área de Agricultura, Ganadería y Pesca, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

    Antonio Bentabol

Authors
  1. Saray Díaz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Soraya Paz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Carmen Rubio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ángel J. Gutiérrez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Dailos González-Weller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Consuelo Revert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Antonio Bentabol
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Arturo Hardisson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ángel J. Gutiérrez.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Díaz, S., Paz, S., Rubio, C. et al. Toxic Metals and Trace Elements in Artisanal Honeys from the Canary Islands. Biol Trace Elem Res 190, 242–250 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-018-1538-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-018-1538-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation