Determination of heavy metals in honey samples from central anatolia using plasma optical emission spectrofotometry (ICP-OES)

Abstract

In this study heavy metal concentrations in 34 different honey samples collected from different regions of Central Anatolia (and their environs) are determined using ICP-OES. It is observed that the honey produced in Central Anatolia is good in quality, although they are not completely deprived of heavy metals. The contents of heavy metals in honey samples were found to be between 0.09- 0.24 µgg-1 for Cd, 0.01-0.80 µgg-1 for Cu, 0.15-5.39 µgg-1 for Zn, 0.03-1.44 µgg-1 for Ni, 0.02-1.50 µgg-1 for Pb, 0.09 -1.89 µgg-1 for Cr, 0.02-1.56 µgg-1 for Mn, 0.57-8.74 µgg-1 for Fe and 0.00-0.58 µgg-1 for Se. According to these results, it is concluded that the heavy metal concentrations in honey samples, except for the ones collected from the stations near settlement regions, are within acceptable parameters.