THE MAJOR HONEYS AS INDICATORS OF METALS IN THE  EGYPTIAN ENVIRONMENT

Abd Al-Fattah,, M. A.; Tharwat, E. E.; Ewies, M. A.; Farag, Rasha M.

doi:10.21608/jppp.2007.219644

THE MAJOR HONEYS AS INDICATORS OF METALS IN THE EGYPTIAN ENVIRONMENT

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Economic Entomology and Pesticides, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt;

² Beekeeping Research section, Plant Protection Research Institute, Agriculture Research centre, Ministry of Agriculture, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.

10.21608/jppp.2007.219644

Abstract

Eighteen honey samples were collected and classified according to their plant origin and distance from the main roads where the apiaries situated. Seven minerals (Potassium, Sodium, Calcium, Zinc, Iron, Lead, and Cadmium) were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry (A.A.S.). Potassium content is the predominant mineral in citrus, clover and cotton honeys with a mean values of 694.01, 1161.86 and 421.29 mg./kg. respectively. Sodium is the second dominant mineral in the tested honeys where presented in quantities of 141.92, 133.19 and 145.47mg./kg. respectively. Other elements (Ca, Zn and Fe) were in small amounts in the three types of honey. Pb content was higher in the shortest (5.00 mg./kg.), than longest (1.25 mg./kg.) distances of main roads. On the other hand, the level of cadmium element was approximately similar in honey collected from the different previous distances.
Results of this study indicated that the level of lead in the Egyptian honeys is to be considered an excellent indicator of environmental pollution in Egypt.