TOXIC ELEMENTS AS A RISK FACTOR FOR THE SURVIVAL OF THE HONEY BEES (Apis mellifera L.) (original) (raw)
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The safety of 44 samples of bee honey locally produced in (China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Italy, Kuwait, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Turkey, Ukraine, and USA during 2012–2013 were explored to detect the levels of essential and toxic metals (As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Hg, Pb, Se, Zn) in these bee honey samples using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. Arsenic, mercury, and selenium were determined by hydride generation technique. Determination of the other elements was done using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The recovery percentage of the found results ranged between 96% and 103%. All collected samples were free from any detectable Pb. The levels of concentrations of these metals in the honey samples of the selected countries were within the allowed limits except the bee honey groups of Kuwait which violated the maximum allowed zinc limits.
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