The Importance of Measuring Arsenic in Honey, Water, and PM 10 for Food Safety as an Environmental Study: Experience from the Mining and Metallurgical Districts of Bor, Serbia

Zorica Sovrlić (), Snežana Tošić, Renata Kovačević, Violeta Jovanović and Vesna Krstić ()
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Zorica Sovrlić: Mining and Metallurgy Institute Bor, 19210 Bor, Serbia
Snežana Tošić: Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, University of Nis, Višegradska 33, 18000 Niš, Serbia
Renata Kovačević: Mining and Metallurgy Institute Bor, 19210 Bor, Serbia
Violeta Jovanović: Faculty of Management Zaječar, Megatrend University Belgrade, 19000 Zaječar, Serbia
Vesna Krstić: Mining and Metallurgy Institute Bor, 19210 Bor, Serbia

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 19, 1-15

Abstract: Arsenic and toxic metals can reach food and honey through water and air, thus endangering the safe consumption of the same. These toxic substances can damage human health through the food chain, which is contrary to the goals of sustainability related to health and food safety. It is necessary to continuously control and measure the concentration of pollutants to ensure the safety of food produced near mining areas. The arsenic content of honey samples from a territory up to 32 km in diameter from the mine (Bor town, east Serbia, and its surroundings), as determined by ICP-MS, is presented in this paper. PM 10 particles and water were also analyzed for arsenic content. Pearson’s correlation and hierarchical cluster analysis were used for statistical analysis. The obtained results showed that the content of arsenic in honey was below the maximum allowable concentration (MAC) value. The honey was not contaminated, although the results showed that the concentrations of arsenic in water and PM 10 particles were elevated. The results indicate that the environment in these areas is damaged and point towards caution.

Keywords: arsenic; honey; water; PM 10; food safety; environmental study; pollution (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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