Determination of pesticides, heavy metals, radioactive substances and antibiotics residues in honey from the northwestern area of Bosnia and Herzegovina

During the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina a large number of chemicals had been released into the environment. This research was conducted to evaluate the health safety of honey (meadow, chestnut, acacia, amphorae and honeydew) produced at 18 different locations in the region of Una-Sana Canton in the northwestern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The determination of the pesticides, heavy metals, radioactive elements and antibiotic residues in 46 honey samples were done. The content of pesticides and heavy metals (Pb, Cd, As) were not found and the concentration of Cu, Fe, Zn in all honey samples was in accordance with EU standards. The statistically significant differences (ANOVA) in honey samples were found according to concentration of Cu (0.09 - 0.18 mg/kg), Fe (0.29 - 0.92 mg/kg) and Zn (0.18 - 1.38 mg/kg). The radionuclide content was determined by means of low-level (<5 Bq/kg), using high-resolution gamma-spectroscopy (137Cs). Antibiotics residues were carried out by disc plate method of microbiological antibiotic assay and all honey samples was negative. The results of this work indicate that this area is not polluted and is suitable for development of beekeeping.