Investigation of heavy metal and other elements levels presence in honey collected from Afyonkarahisar

Honey contains amino acids, vitamins, phenols, enzymes and minerals, especially carbohydrates. The composition of honey may vary depending on the nectars, botanical origin, climate, geographic structure, honey bee species, harvest, packaging and storage. The metal concentration it contains depends largely on the botanical origin and geographic structure. Environmental pollution caused by heavy metals is also a worldwide problem. Bees accumulate chemicals in their bodies as well as in their products. For this reason, the amount of heavy metals in honey samples gives information about metal pollution in that region, and bees are very important bioindicators. In this study, within the borders of Afyonkarahisar city center and affiliated district centers; metal and heavy metal levels were determined by collecting 40 honey samples from beekeepers in 19 bee accommodation areas by ICP / MS / MS in honey samples in terms of sodium (Na), magnesium (Mg), aluminum (Al), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), iron ( Fe), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), barium (Ba), tin ( Sn) and selenium (Se). It has been observed that the honey collected from Afyonkarahisar is of good quality in terms of heavy metal, but not completely devoid of heavy metal. It was concluded that the heavy metal concentration in the honey samples was within acceptable limits.