Analysis of Environmental Contaminants in Australian Honey and Comparison to Stingless Bee Honey from Queensland and Malaysia
Natasha L. Hungerford,
Benjamin L. L. Tan,
Ujang Tinggi,
Norhasnida Zawawi,
Madeleine Farrell,
Heng Hang Tsai,
Darina Hnatko,
Lorinda J. Swann,
Cassandra L. Kelly,
Shalona R. Anuj,
Dennis C. Webber,
Stephen T. Were,
Mary T. Fletcher
Affiliations
Natasha L. Hungerford
Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), The University of Queensland, Health and Food Sciences Precinct, Coopers Plains, Qld 4108, Australia
Benjamin L. L. Tan
Forensic and Scientific Services, Queensland Health, Coopers Plains, Qld 4108, Australia
Ujang Tinggi
Forensic and Scientific Services, Queensland Health, Coopers Plains, Qld 4108, Australia
Norhasnida Zawawi
Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
Madeleine Farrell
Forensic and Scientific Services, Queensland Health, Coopers Plains, Qld 4108, Australia
Heng Hang Tsai
Forensic and Scientific Services, Queensland Health, Coopers Plains, Qld 4108, Australia
Darina Hnatko
Forensic and Scientific Services, Queensland Health, Coopers Plains, Qld 4108, Australia
Lorinda J. Swann
Forensic and Scientific Services, Queensland Health, Coopers Plains, Qld 4108, Australia
Cassandra L. Kelly
Forensic and Scientific Services, Queensland Health, Coopers Plains, Qld 4108, Australia
Shalona R. Anuj
Forensic and Scientific Services, Queensland Health, Coopers Plains, Qld 4108, Australia
Dennis C. Webber
Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Health and Food Sciences Precinct, Coopers Plains, Qld 4108, Australia
Stephen T. Were
Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Health and Food Sciences Precinct, Coopers Plains, Qld 4108, Australia
Mary T. Fletcher
Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), The University of Queensland, Health and Food Sciences Precinct, Coopers Plains, Qld 4108, Australia
Honey is a widely available natural sweetener containing sugars, and small quantities ofvitamins and minerals, proteins, amino acids and fatty acids. Owing to its nutritious components,commercial honeys are sold in bulk blends or as trendy and premium products. Meanwhile, honeybees are considered as environmental monitors and have the potential to transfer environmentalcontaminants, if present, to honey. In high density urban and industrial environments polycyclicaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals can be prevalent, whilst pesticides and mineraland trace elements are ubiquitous. Honey hives are traditionally located in rural and forested areas,but there is a growing trend to locate hives in urban areas. This project has investigated the presenceof environmental contaminants in honey samples from high density urban, peri-urban as well asrural areas. Australian honey samples (n = 211) were purchased between 2016 and 2018, including52 honeys claiming to be of urban origin purchased online. Stingless bee honeys (n = 36) fromQueensland and Malaysia were compared. Processed samples were analysed by UHPLC-MS/MS(herbicides), GC-MS/MS (pesticides and PAHs) and ICP-MS and ICP-OES (elemental analyses). Theresults showed low or negligible pesticide, herbicide, and PAH contamination, and that these lowresults were similar regardless of urban or rural origins. Wide variations of essential trace element(Fe, Zn, Cu, Mo, Co, Mn, Cr) and mineral levels (K, Na, P, Mg, Ca) were found in honey products,which are a good dietary source of K and Zn. Relatively low levels of toxic heavy metals were foundin honeys.
