Stefania Squadrone1, Paola Brizio2, Caterina Stella2, Sabina Pederiva2, Fulvio Brusa3, Paola Mogliotti3, Annalisa Garrone3, Maria Cesarina Abete2. 1. Chemistry Department, CReAA,Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Turin, Italy. Electronic address: stefania.squadrone@izsto.it. 2. Chemistry Department, CReAA,Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Turin, Italy. 3. Chemistry Department, CReAA,Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Turin, Italy; Regional Reference Centre for Bees, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Asti, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Metals are a minor constituent in honey, but they have been suggested to be a potential tool to characterize honeys according to their botanical or geographical origin. METHODS: A total of 40 metals were analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry in monofloral and multifloral honeys from Northwestern Italy. PCA and ANOVA were used to discriminate honeys according to the various floral types. RESULTS: The highest levels of trace elements and rare earth elements (REEs) were found in chestnut honey, while the lowest concentrations were recorded in acacia and rhododendron honeys. Rubidium and aluminum were the most represented nonessential elements, while manganese, iron, zinc and copper had the highest values of the essential elements. Potentially toxic elements arsenic, cadmium and lead were close to or below the limit of quantification. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed significant differences in metal concentrations according to honey floral type, reflecting the strong influence of botanical origin on the chemical composition of this particular food.
BACKGROUND: Metals are a minor constituent in honey, but they have been suggested to be a potential tool to characterize honeys according to their botanical or geographical origin. METHODS: A total of 40 metals were analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry in monofloral and multifloral honeys from Northwestern Italy. PCA and ANOVA were used to discriminate honeys according to the various floral types. RESULTS: The highest levels of trace elements and rare earth elements (REEs) were found in chestnut honey, while the lowest concentrations were recorded in acacia and rhododendron honeys. Rubidium and aluminum were the most represented nonessential elements, while manganese, iron, zinc and copper had the highest values of the essential elements. Potentially toxic elements arsenic, cadmium and lead were close to or below the limit of quantification. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed significant differences in metal concentrations according to honey floral type, reflecting the strong influence of botanical origin on the chemical composition of this particular food.
Authors: Aristeidis S Tsagkaris; Georgios A Koulis; Georgios P Danezis; Ioannis Martakos; Marilena Dasenaki; Constantinos A Georgiou; Nikolaos S Thomaidis Journal: RSC Adv Date: 2021-03-17 Impact factor: 3.361