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Characterization, chemometric evaluation, and human health-related aspects of essential and toxic elements in Italian honey samples by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

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Abstract

Concentration values of 24 elements (Al, As, Ba, Be, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ge, Hg, Mn, Mo, Pb, Sb, Se, Sn, Sr, Ti, Tl, U, V, and Zn) were determined in 72 honey samples produced in Italy by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Considering the recommended established heavy metal daily intakes for humans, in this perspective, an equilibrated and ordinary honey consumption should not be considered matter of concerns for human health, even if particular attention should be addressed if honey is consumed by children, due to different maximum daily heavy metal intakes. Chemometric analysis of the results obtained highlights heavy metal content differences in honey samples obtained from notoriously polluted zones, confirming then that honey can be considered a bio-indicator of environmental pollution. Finally, Pearson coefficients highlighted correlations among element contents in honey samples.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of the Science of Agriculture, Food and Environment (SAFE), via Napoli 25, 71122, Foggia, Italy

    Maurizio Quinto, Giuseppina Spadaccino & Diego Centonze

  2. Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata, Via Manfredonia 20, 71121, Foggia, Italy

    Oto Miedico, Giuseppe Paglia, Michele Mangiacotti & A. Eugenio Chiaravalle

  3. Center for Biomedicine, EURAC Research, Via Galvani 31, 39100, Bolzano, Italy

    Giuseppe Paglia

  4. Key Laboratory of Natural Resource of the Changbai Mountain and Functional Molecular (Yanbian University), Ministry of Education, Park Road 977, Yanji City, Jilin Province, 133002, China

    Donghao Li

Authors
  1. Maurizio Quinto
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  2. Oto Miedico
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  3. Giuseppina Spadaccino
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  4. Giuseppe Paglia
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  5. Michele Mangiacotti
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  6. Donghao Li
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  7. Diego Centonze
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  8. A. Eugenio Chiaravalle
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Correspondence to Maurizio Quinto.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Quinto, M., Miedico, O., Spadaccino, G. et al. Characterization, chemometric evaluation, and human health-related aspects of essential and toxic elements in Italian honey samples by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 25374–25384 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7662-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7662-5

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