DOI: https://doi.org/10.5513/JCEA01/25.2.4210
Original scientific paper
Toxicological assessment of honey from conventional and organic production and risk assessment for public health
2024, 25 (2) p. 554-566
Nikola Puvača, Vojislava BURSIĆ, Ivana BRKIĆ, Jelena VAPA TANKOSIĆ, Radivoj PRODANOVIĆ, Gorica VUKOVIĆ, Sunčica VJEŠTICA, Snežana LEKIĆ, Ivana VAPA, Sonja GVOZDENAC
Abstract
Honey has become a focal point of concern due to the potential presence of pesticide residues originating from agricultural practices. This study undertakes a comprehensive toxicological assessment of pesticide residues in conventional and organic honey, as well as a risk assessment employing estimated daily intakes (EDIs) in the evaluation of the potential risks of these agrochemicals to public health. A total of 200 honey samples originating from conventional and organic producers were collected and analyzed by a Quick Easy Cheap Effective Rugged Safe method (QuEChERS). Analysis of organic honey didn’t detect any residue of investigated pesticides. The most detected pesticides in conventional honey samples were boscalid (0.01 μg/kg), and coumaphos ranging between 0.012 μg/kg to 0.016 μg/kg, respectively. Detected pesticides such as acetamiprid, pyraclostrobin, thiacloprid, and azoxystrobin were under the reporting level (RL). Results obtained by EDI indicated that all investigated honey samples are safe for human consumption. In conclusion, this research contributes to the understanding of the toxicological implications of pesticide residues in both conventional and organic honey consumption. By delineating the potential health hazards associated with each type, this study aims to provide consumers, regulators, and beekeeping industries with valuable insights to make informed decisions that safeguard human health while promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
Keywords
honey, pesticides, toxins, bees, public health, risk assessment
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