Using of Bee Products as Bioindicators in Identifying Toxic Heavy Metal Residues That Causing Environmental Pollution in Sanliurfa Province

Abstract

In this study the concentrations of some elements in 45 honey samples were investigated. Samples were obtained from bee keepers of all the counties of Şanlıurfa province (Center, Bozova, Siverek, Harran, Bozova, Suruç) in 2019. The levels of Pb, Cd, Al, Sn, Cu, Cr, Hg, Ni, Asa elements in honey samples were determined by ICP-OES instrument. The samples were digested in microwave oven using nitric acid and hydrogenperoxide. The mean concentration of elements and the lowest and highest values were determined. In the present study, Cu (11,41 and 4,46); A1 (53,82 to 92,55); Cr (6,10 to 4,52); Hg (1,92 to 5,47); Pb (5,27 to 27,96); Sn (502,6 to 615,49); As (3,26 to 17,85); Ni (3,23 to 5,11) μgg –1 levels were determined Chemical Data, It is observed that the level of heavy metal accumulation is very high along the Urban – Industrial gradient, and this is determined by comparing the different anthropogenic activities increasing the residual density of the related toxic metals and posing a risk for the health of the people living in the city. To conclude, the concentrations of detected heavy metals in collected honey samples were above the maximum residue limits of some international residue limits. Therefore it would pose a risk to human health. The fact that Şanlıurfa Province is determined by using bee products for the determination of environmental pollution and will be researched scientifically makes this study unique.

Keywords: Heavy metal, Honey, Bee, Şanlıurfa, ICP-MS

Special Issue of Health Sciences

DOI: 10.7176/JSTR/6-03-25