Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Turkish Journal of Veterinary Research (Online), cilt.10, sa.1, ss.37-51, 2026 (TRDizin)
Objectives: Regular monitoring of trace elements and heavy metals in honey provides critical data not only for assessing product quality and food safety, but also for tracking environmental pollution. In this study, the concentrations of various metals were determined in a total of 60 honey samples of different botanical origins (pine, flower, chestnut, and citrus) that are commercially available in Türkiye. Materials and Methods: To determine the concentrations of Aluminum (Al), Arsenic (As), Copper (Cu), Barium (Ba), Beryllium (Be), Zinc (Zn), Silver (Ag), Cadmium (Cd), Cobalt (Co), Chromium (Cr), Lead (Pb), Lithium (Li), Manganese (Mn), Molybdenum (Mo), Nickel (Ni), Selenium (Se), Titanium (Ti), Vanadium (V), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Sodium (Na), and Potassium (K) in the honey samples, Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) techniques were employed. Results: Aluminum (Al), Arsenic (As), Barium (Ba), Beryllium (Be), Silver (Ag), Cadmium (Cd), Cobalt (Co), Lithium (Li), Nickel (Ni), Selenium (Se), and Vanadium (V) were found to be below the limit of detection (<LOD) in all analyzed honey samples. The minerals with the highest concentrations in the honey samples were Potassium (K), Sodium (Na), Calcium (Ca), and Magnesium (Mg), with minimummaximum ranges of 45.325–695.015 ppm, 12.032–210.614 ppm, 11.097–171.729 ppm, and 3.959–133.667 ppm, respectively. Molybdenum (Mo) was detected at the lowest levels (<LOD–0.003 ppm). The Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) values for all honey samples were well below the established limits, while the Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) and Hazard Index (HI) values were found to be less than 1. However, potential risks concerning Lifetime Cancer Risk (LTCR) were identified for Lead (Pb) and Chromium (Cr) in the honey samples examined. Conclusions: These findings suggest that geochemical characteristics, botanical diversity, honey production areas, and the equipment used can all lead to variations in the chemical composition of honey; therefore, continuous monitoring of heavy metal contamination in honey is of great importance for public health and environmental safety.