PAHs in different honeys from Serbia

Abstract

Maximum limits for PAHs content in honey and bee products are not set. The objective of this study was to conduct a market survey of honey for the presence of PAH16 with the aim of detecting potential contamination and health risks for consumers. A total number of 61 honey samples produced in the territory of Serbia were examined. The content of PAH16 was measured using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometric method. Large values were found in some samples: 140.6 mu g/kg for chrysene, 136.3 mu g/kg for benzo[ghi]perylene, 120.1 mu g/kg for benzo[a]pyrene, 87.2 mu g/kg for benz[a]anthracene and 79.6 mu g/kg for benzo[k]fluoranthene. It was established that 6.6% honey samples were not safe for human consumption because of high benzo[a]pyrene and PAH4 content, which greatly exceeded the maximum limits for all food categories. Considering that screening of honey obtained from the market does not allow accurate detection of the contamination origin requires further investigations to identify potential contamination sources.