Overview
Bartha and colleagues measured lead, cadmium, zinc and copper by AAS in 24 polyfloral honeys from six apiaries around Copsa Mica, one of the most polluted non-ferrous metal sites in Eastern Europe. Lead and cadmium were high, and lead was higher in apiaries exposed to the main valley air corridor.
Key numbers
- Lead 0.76 to 3.41 mg/kg, median 1.49 mg/kg (Table 5).
- Cadmium 0.05 to 3.81 mg/kg, median 2.20 mg/kg (Table 5).
- Zinc median 20.40 mg/kg; copper median 3.70 mg/kg (Table 5).
Methods (brief)
Honey dissolved in water and digested with HNO3 in a microwave system; lead and cadmium by graphite furnace AAS, zinc and copper by flame AAS (Shimadzu AA-6300), triplicate. No detection limits, CRM or recovery reported.
Evidence Fitness
An industrial-contamination case study, not a market survey: values reflect hives near a smelter and should not be read as typical honey. Only range and median are printed, with no QA data, and the cadmium levels are exceptionally high for honey. Honey is a proxy for pancake-syrup and does not link that page.