The determination of metal contents of honey and propolis samples produced in Hakkari province and its surroundings

The aim of the present work was to determine iron, zinc, copper, cobalt, chromium, cadmium, nickel, selenium, lead and arsenic content of in honey (n = 60) and propolis (n = 40) samples collected from different villages beekeepers in the Hakkari province in Turkey between November and December 2022. The samples were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) after dry ashing sample preparation technique. The order of the metals content in honey samples according to their concentration levels was in the following order Fe>Zn>Cu>Cr=Pb=As>Ni>Co>Se and analized metals mean were found as 1.775, 0.933, 0.115, 0.029, 0.029, 0.029, 0.029, 0.027, 0.021, 0.018 ppm respectively. The order was as such Fe>Zn>Pb>Cr>Ni>Cu>Co>As>Se>Cd for propolis samples, the means were 433.367, 44.229, 3.425, 1.715, 1.644, 0.920, 0.608, 0.462, 0.254, 0.007 ppm respectively. Levels of cadmium in all honey investigated samples were below the limit of detection and in all investigated propolis samples were below the limit of detection except five samples. A descriptive statistical analysis of the variables was performed, and Nonparametric tests of Kruskal–Wallis and Mann– Whitney were performed carried out to confirm the differences in metal levels. Statistically significant differences were found among honey samples in terms of Zn, Cu, Co, As and Fe while among propolis samples in terms of Cr, Ni, Zn, Pb, Co, Cd, As and Fe from different villages beekeepers. The results showed that honey and propolis samples may be considered useful parameters to evaluate the presence of metal contamination.