Multiresidue Determination of Pesticides in Market Honey from Northern India Using QuEChERS Approach and Assessment of Potential Risks to Consumers

Honey has multiple beneficial properties but polluted environments have led to its contamination. Contaminated honey not only serves as a sentinel of environmental pollution, but can also pose potential risks to consumers’ health. In the present study, QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe) method along with gas chromatography coupled to selective detectors (ECD/FTD/MS) was used for determining 24 pesticide residues and/or their metabolites in 150 honey samples collected from markets in Northern India. The method was optimized and validated according to the European Commission’s guidelines. Residues of pesticides were detected in 12% of samples, of which a majority contained organophosphate residues. Assessment of human health risks suggests that contaminated honey at current levels has minimal contribution to toxicological risks. However, precautionary measures should always be taken considering the customary honey feeding in infants and cumulative effect of these chemicals in the foreseeable future. This study highlights the importance of continuous monitoring of pesticide residues, and consumer awareness towards certified products to safeguard public health.