Radioactivity and heavy metal analysis in various honey samples

In this study, the contents of natural radionuclide 40K and fission product 137Cs and also heavy metal concentrations in floral honey samples from Rize, Erzurum, Ankara cities in Turkey and Batum from Gerorgia, were investigated. The results indicated that 80% of honey samples was contaminated by 137Cs, but the 137Cs contamination of 50% of the honey samples reached values lower than 10 Bqkg-1. Activity concentrations of honey samples for 137Cs , ranged between 1.28±0.30 Bq/kg and 105.09±0.97 Bq/kg, and ranged for 40K between 7.12±1.57 Bq/kg and 168.95±6.77 Bq/kg. In addition, the contents of heavy metals like cadmium, chrome, iron, lead, zinc, copper, nickel, cobalt and manganese in honey samples were analyzed using ICP-OES. Metal concentrations of honey samples ranged for Cr between 0.004±0.0003 µg/g and 0.029±0.0003 µg/g; for Mn between, 0.023±0.0000 µg/g and 3.898 ±0.0136 µg/g; for Fe between 0.160±0.0008 µg/g and 0.693±0.0024 µg/g; for Cu between 0.044±0.0004 µg/g and 0.116±0.0007 µg/g; for Zn between 0.771±0.0004 µg/g and 9.576±0.0985 µg/g; for Cd between 0.008±0.0003 µg/g and 0.016±0.0007 µg/g; for Pb between 0.036±0.0038 µg/g and 0.185±0.0065 µg/; for Co between 0.009±0.0001 µg/g and 0.013±0.0005 µg/g and for Ni between 0.018±0.0016 µg/g and 0.065±0.0013 µg/g. The found activities of honey samples didn't exceed the highest permitted level of the radionuclide for food. Results also indicated that mean intake of heavy metals due to daily honey consumption would be generally tolerable and fairly satisfactory.