Heavy metal in honey bees, honey and pollen produced in different locations of Konya province in Turkey

Abstract We investigated the levels of heavy metals in honey bee, honey and pollen samples obtained from different locations of Konya City in Turkey. Five honey-bee colonies were placed in eight different locations, four of them around the city center and four in rural areas, in the province of Konya City in Turkey. Heavy metal (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) levels were determined in honey-bee, honey, and pollen samples taken from these colonies, with comparison between samples from urban and rural areas. The values of Cd and Pb in honey samples and those of Cd in pollen samples did not differ significantly among the locations. All heavy metal values of honey bee samples were lower in rural areas than in urban areas (P < 0.05). Significant statistical differences were determined for Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Zn values of honey and pollen samples among the locations (P < 0.05). Heavy metal values of honey and pollen samples obtained from different locations were in agreement with the International Food Standard values.