Occurrence of environmental contaminants (pesticides, herbicides, PAHs) in Australian/Queensland <i>Apis mellifera</i> honey
Natasha L. Hungerford, Mary T. Fletcher, Heng Hang Tsai, Darina Hnatko, Lorinda J. Swann, Cassandra L. Kelly, Shalona R. Anuj, Ujang Tinggi, Dennis Webber, Stephen Were, Benjamin Tan
Abstract
) from floral nectar, it is marketed as a premium health food item. As environmental monitors, honeybees can potentially transfer environmental contaminants to honey. Whilst pesticides can have ubiquitous presence in agricultural and urban areas, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can be more prevalent in higher density urban/industrial environments. Australian beehives are customarily located in rural areas/forests, but it is increasingly popular to keep hives in urban areas. This study assessed the levels of environmental contaminants in honeys (n = 212) from Queensland/Australian sources including rural, peri-urban and urban areas. Honey samples were analysed by LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS for 53 herbicides, 83 pesticides, 18 breakdown products (for certain pesticides/herbicides) and 33 PAHs and showed low/negligible pesticide, herbicide and PAHs contamination, consistent regardless of honey origins.