Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Turkish Journal of Analytical Chemistry (Online), cilt.7, sa.2, ss.182-190, 2025 (Hakemli Dergi)
Among bee products, honey is particularly valued for its nutritional profile, notably its content of essential macro- and microelements. The mineral composition of honey is shaped by the interplay of geographic origin, botanical source, and bee genotype. This study aimed to (i) characterize the trace element profiles of honey samples harvested from Yamadağ Mountain and the Battalgazi Plateau in Malatya Province, Türkiye, and (ii) assess the influence of two Apis mellifera genotypes; A. m. caucasica and A. m. carnica, on elemental composition. Honey samples were digested and analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, Mn, Pb, Cb, Cr, Ni, As, Bi and Ag. Statistical analysis revealed that both geographic origin and bee genotype exert significant effects on mineral concentrations. Specifically, samples from Yamadağ Mountain exhibited lower total trace element levels compared to those from the Battalgazi Plateau, although concentrations of all measured heavy metals remained well below national and international safety thresholds. According to the obtained findings, the average values of trace elements iron, zinc, copper, selenium and manganese in Yamadağ Mountain honey samples were determined as 0.41 mg/kg, 0.62 mg/kg, 0.04 mg/kg, 0.17 mg/kg and 0.04 mg/kg, respectively. The average values of trace elements iron, zinc, copper and manganese in Battalgazi Plateau honey samples were found to be 7.55 mg/kg, 1.30 mg/kg, 0.18 mg/kg and 0.23 mg/kg, respectively. Selenium was not detected in Battalgazi Plateau honey samples. When the heavy metal contents of the honey samples were examined, silver was not detected in Yamadağ Mountain honey samples and silver, cadmium, arsenic and bismuth were not detected in Battalgazi Plateau honey samples. The average values of lead, cadmium, chromium, nickel, arsenic and bismuth in Yamadağ Mountain honey samples were found to be 0.10 mg/kg, 0.05 mg/kg, 0.46 mg/kg, 0.03 mg/kg, 0.12 mg/kg and 0.02 mg/kg, respectively. In Battalgazi honey samples, the average values of lead, chromium and nickel were found as 0.11 mg/kg, 0.21 mg/kg and 0.14 mg/kg, respectively. These findings demonstrate that regional environmental factors and genetic variation within Apis mellifera colonies critically determine the mineral composition of honey. Accordingly, both geographic provenance and bee genotype should be considered in quality control protocols and in the development of region-specific standards for trace element content in honey.