Comprehensive Assessment of Potentially Toxic Element (PTE) Contamination in Honey from a Historically Polluted Agro-Industrial Landscape: Implications for Agricultural Sustainability and Food Safety

Ioana Andra Vlad, Szilárd Bartha, Győző Goji, Ioan Tăut, Florin Alexandru Rebrean, Laviniu Ioan Nuțu Burescu, Călin Gheorghe Pășcuț, Petrică Tudor Moțiu, Adrian Tunduc, Claudiu Ion Bunea and Florin-Dumitru Bora ()
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Ioana Andra Vlad: Department of Food Engineering, University of Oradea, 1 University Street, 410087 Oradea, Romania
Szilárd Bartha: Department of Forestry and Forest Engineering, University of Oradea, 1 University Street, 410087 Oradea, Romania
Győző Goji: Technological High School Ștefan Manciulea, 3 Piața 1848, 515400 Blaj, Romania
Ioan Tăut: Department of Forestry, Faculty of Forestry and Cadastre, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 3-5 Mănăștur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Florin Alexandru Rebrean: Department of Forestry, Faculty of Forestry and Cadastre, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 3-5 Mănăștur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Laviniu Ioan Nuțu Burescu: Department of Forestry and Forest Engineering, University of Oradea, 1 University Street, 410087 Oradea, Romania
Călin Gheorghe Pășcuț: Department of Forestry and Forest Engineering, University of Oradea, 1 University Street, 410087 Oradea, Romania
Petrică Tudor Moțiu: Department of Forestry and Forest Engineering, University of Oradea, 1 University Street, 410087 Oradea, Romania
Adrian Tunduc: Department of Forestry and Forest Engineering, University of Oradea, 1 University Street, 410087 Oradea, Romania
Claudiu Ion Bunea: Viticulture and Oenology Department, Advanced Horticultural Research Institute of Transylvania, Faculty of Horticulture and Business in Rural Development, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Mănăștur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Florin-Dumitru Bora: Viticulture and Oenology Department, Advanced Horticultural Research Institute of Transylvania, Faculty of Horticulture and Business in Rural Development, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Mănăștur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 11, 1-34

Abstract: Honey is increasingly recognized not only as a functional food but also as a potential bioindicator of environmental pollution. This study assessed the concentrations of four potentially toxic elements (PTEs)—lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn)—in 48 multifloral honey samples collected in 2023 from seven locations across a historically polluted agro-industrial region in Romania. Samples were analyzed using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FAAS) and Graphite Furnace AAS (GFAAS), with quality control ensured through certified reference materials. Results revealed that Pb (0.72–1.69 mg/kg) and Cd (0.02–0.37 mg/kg) levels consistently exceeded international safety thresholds, while Cu (0.62–2.22 mg/kg) and Zn (0.91–1.93 mg/kg), although essential nutrients, were found in elevated concentrations. Spatial analysis indicated a general trend of higher contamination in sites located closer to former industrial facilities, influenced by factors such as altitude and atmospheric transport. These findings confirm the persistent environmental burden in post-industrial landscapes and support the use of honey as a cost-effective tool for pollution monitoring. The study underscores the need for targeted environmental policies, sustainable apicultural practices, and continued surveillance to protect ecosystem health and food safety.

Keywords: honey; potentially toxic elements (PTEs); cadmium; lead; copper; zinc; agro-industrial pollution; environmental contamination; food safety; bioindicators; FAAS; GFAAS; sustainable beekeeping; agricultural ecosystems (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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