title: Heavy metals determination in honey samples using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Honey contains a complex mixture of carbohydrates and other minor substances. Elements are minor constituents of honey that may threaten the human health in excess concentrations. So, determining the metals in honey helps its quality control as a food product. The aim of this study was to determine the concentrations of some metals in Iranian honey.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was performed in four regions of Ardabil, a province of Iran. Honey samples (n = 25) were digested in microwave oven by nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide, then analyzed using inductively coupled plasma- optic emission spectrophotometry (ICP-OES).
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences were observed in cadmium, zinc, nickel, and chromium levels between regions (P > 0.05). Zinc was the most abundant metal in honey samples (1481.64 μg/kg). Some metals had higher concentrations in the East region because of existence more industries there. The highest mean of lead level was 935.48 μg/kg in the East and the lowest was 205.4 μg/kg in the South region. The concentrations of metals were compared with recommended limits for foods. Some of them were higher than standard levels (lead) and some were lower than those (cadmium).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Metals are released into the environment through their use in industrial processes and enter the food chain from uptake by plants from contaminated soil or water. Metals concentration in various places depends on many variables, leading to their different concentrations in honey. Some control measures like the quality control of food products, monitoring the soil in agricultural regions and limiting the use of fertilizers are recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Poursina St, Keshavarz Blvd, PO BOX: 6446-14155, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hasan Mohammadi
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Aghamirlou
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Monireh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khadem
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational HealthEngineering, School of Health and Nutrition, Shiraz University ofMedical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Abdolrasoul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rahmani
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Public Health, International Campus, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Marzieh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sadeghian
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Poursina St, Keshavarz Blvd, PO BOX: 6446-14155, Tehran, Iran ; Center for Solid Waste Research, Institute for Environmental Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Amir Hossein
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Mahvi
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Arash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akbarzadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Poursina St, Keshavarz Blvd, PO BOX: 6446-14155, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Shahrokh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nazmara
keywords: Heavy metals; Honey; Inductively coupled plasma-optic emission spectrophotometry