Ionic profile of honey as a potential indicator of botanical origin and global environmental pollution.

Aim of this study was to determine by Ion Chromatography ions (Na(+), Ca(++), Mg(++), NH4(+), Cl(-), Br(-), SO4(2-), NO3(-), PO4(3-)) in honeys (honeydew and floral nectar honeys) from different Italian Regions and from countries of the Western Balkan area. The compositional data were processed by multivariate analysis (PCA and HCA). Arboreal honeydew honeys from the Western Balkans had higher concentrations (from two to three times) of some environmental pollutants (Br(-), SO4(2-) and PO4(3-) contents), due to industrial and agricultural activities, than those from Italian regions. The cationic profiles were very similar in both groups. Multivariate analysis indicated a clear difference between nectar honeys and arboreal/honeydew honeys (recognition of the botanical origin). These findings point to the potential of ionic constituents of honey as indicators of environmental pollution, botanical origin and authenticity. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Citation

Paola Fermo, Giangiacomo Beretta, Roberto Maffei Facino, Fabrizio Gelmini, Andrea Piazzalunga. Ionic profile of honey as a potential indicator of botanical origin and global environmental pollution. Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987). 2013 Jul;178:173-81

Mesh Tags

Substances

PMID: 23583673

search → result