Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Monitoring of trace elements in honey from the Republic of Macedonia by atomic absorption spectrometry

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Contents of Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, Cd, Na, K, Ca and Mg in 123 honey samples from different regions of the Republic of Macedonia were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. A microwave digestion system was applied for digestion of the samples. The mean content for the elements determined was found to be: 2.252, 0.696, 1.885, 1.752, 0.004, 29.52, 984.8, 40.11, 18.24 mg kg−1 for Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, Cd, Na, K, Ca and Mg, respectively. Based on a comparison of statistical parameters, the spatial distribution of particular elements in Macedonian honey and the results of factor analysis, two natural and one anthropogenic geochemical associations were identified. The natural geochemical associations (Mg, Mn, Ca, K and Fe, Zn, Ca, –K, –Na) are influenced mainly by lithology. The anthropogenic associations (Cd and –Cu) are mostly a result of metallurgical activities, namely lead production in the town of Veles.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anklam, E. (1998). A review of the analytical methods to determine the geographical and botanical origin of honey. Food Chemistry, 63, 549–562.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arvanitoyannis, I. S., Chalhoub, C., Gotsiou, P., Lydakis-Simantiris N., & Kefalas, P. (2005). Novel quality control methods in conjunction with chemometrics (multivariate analysis) for detecting honey authenticity. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 45, 193–203.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Buldini, P. L., Cavalli, S., Mevoli, A., & Sharma, J. L. (2001). Ion chromatographic and voltammetric determination of heavy and transition metals in honey. Food Chemistry, 73, 487–495.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Čelechovská, O., & Vorlová, L. (2001). Groups of honey – physicochemical properties and heavy metals. Acta Veterinaria Brno, 70, 91–95.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, J. C. (1986). Statistic and data analysis in geology (646). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Devillers, J., Doré, J. C., Marenco, M., Poirier-Douchêne, F., Galand, N., & Viel, C. (2002). Chemometrical analysis of 18 metallic and nonmetallic elements found in honeys sold in France. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 50, 5998–6007.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Erbilir, F., & Erdoğrul, Ö. (2005). Determination of heavy metals in honey in Kahramanmaraş City, Turkey. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 109, 181–187.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fernández-Torres, R., Pérez-Bernal, J. L., Bello-López, M. Á., Callejón-Mochón, M., Jiménez-Sánchez, J. C., & Guiraúm-Pérez, A. (2005). Mineral content and botanical origin of Spanish honeys. Talanta, 65, 686–691.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Golob, T., Doberšek, U., Kump, P., & Nečemer, M. (2005). Determination of trace and minor elements in Slovenian honey by total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. Food Chemistry, 91, 593–600.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • González-Miret, M. L., Terrab, A., Hernanz, D., Fernández-Recamales, M. Á., & Heredia, F. J. (2005). Multivariate correlation between color and mineral composition of honeys and by their botanical origin. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 53, 2574–2580.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • González Paramás, A. M., Gómez Bárez, J. A., Garcia-Villanova, R. J., Palá, T. R., Albajar, R. A., & Sánchez, J. S. (2000). Geographical discrimination of honeys by using mineral composition and common chemical quality parameters. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 80, 157–165.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hernández, O. M., Fraga, J. M. G., Jiménez, A. I., Jiménez, F., & Arias, J. J. (2005). Characterization of honey from the Canary Islands: Determination of the mineral content by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Food Chemistry, 93, 449–458.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ioannidou, M. D., Zachariadis, G. A., Anthemidis, A. N., & Stratis, J. A. (2005). Direct determination of toxic trace metals in honey and sugars using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Talanta, 65, 92–97.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lattore, M. J., Peña, R., Pita, C., Botana, A., García, S., & Herrero, C. (1999). Chemometric classification of honeys according to their type. II. Metal content data. Food Chemistry, 66, 263–268.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Le Maitre, R. W. (1982). Numerical petrology: Statistical interpretation of geochemical data. Amsterdam: Elsevier.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matei, N., Birghila, S., Dobrinas, S., & Capota, P. (2004). Determination of C vitamin and some essential trace elements (Ni, Mn, Fe, Cr) in bee products. Acta Chimica Slovenica, 51, 169–175.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Muñoz, E., & Palmero, S. (2006). Determination of heavy metals in honey by potentiometric stripping analysis and using continuous flow methodology. Food Chemistry, 94, 478–483.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nalda, M. J. N., Yagüe, J. L. B., Calva, J. C. D., & Gómez, M. T. M. (2005). Classifying honeys from the Soria province of Spain via multivariate analysis. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 382, 311–319.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perišić, M. (1983). Applied geostatistics (534). Belgrade: Mining Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Przybylowsky, P., & Wilczy´ska, A. (2001). Honey as an environmental marker. Food Chemistry, 74, 289–291.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reimann, C., Filzmoser, P., & Garrett, R. G. (2002). Factor analysis applied to regional geochemical data: Problems and possibilities. Applied Geochemistry, 17, 185–206.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rodríguez García, J. C., García, G. B., Herrero Latorre, C., García Martín, S., & Peña Crecente, R. M. (2005). Direct and combined methods for the determination of chromium, Cu, and nickel in honey by electrothermal atomic absorption spectroscopy. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 53, 6616–6623.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sanna, G., Pilo, M. I., Piu, P. C., Tapparo, A., & Seeber, R. (2000). Determination of heavy metals in honey by anodic stripping voltammetry at microelectrodes. Analytica Chimica Acta, 415, 165–173.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Taddia, M., Musiani, A., & Schiavi, S. (2004). Determination of heavy metals in honey by Zeeman electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. Annali di Chimica, 94, 107–111.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Terrab, A., Hernanz, D., & Heredia F. J. (2004). Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometric determination of minerals in thyme honeys and their contribution to geographical discrimination. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 52, 3441–3445.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Terrab, A., Recamales, A. F., González-Miret, M. L., & Heredia, F. J. (2005). Contribution to the study of avocado honeys by their mineral contents using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Food Chemistry, 92, 305–309.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tuzen, M., & Soylak, M. (2005). Trace heavy metal levels in microwave digested honey samples from Middle Anatolia, Turkey. Journal of Food and Drug Analysis, 1, 343–347.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yilamaz, H., & Yavuz, Ö. (1999). Content of some trace metals in honey from south-eastern Anatolia. Food Chemistry, 65, 475–476.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Sts. Cyril and Methodius University, P.O. Box 162, 1000, Skopje, Macedonia

    Elena Stankovska & Trajče Stafilov

  2. Geological Survey of Slovenia, Dimičeva ul. 14, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Robert Šajn

Authors
  1. Elena Stankovska
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Trajče Stafilov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Robert Šajn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Trajče Stafilov.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Stankovska, E., Stafilov, T. & Šajn, R. Monitoring of trace elements in honey from the Republic of Macedonia by atomic absorption spectrometry. Environ Monit Assess 142, 117–126 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-007-9913-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-007-9913-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation