Pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in honey and Apis mellifera from the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico

• Published in: Journal of food composition and analysis Vol. 132; p. 106293
• Main Authors: Ek-Huchim, Juan P., Rodríguez-Cab, Erick M., López-Torres, Elizabeth, Dzul-Caamal, Ricardo, Canepa-Pérez, Ileana M., Osten, Jaime Rendón-von
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01.08.2024
• Subjects: Apis mellifera; Beekeeping; Food safety; Honey; PAHs; Pesticides; Apis mellifera; Honey; PAHs; Food safety; Beekeeping; Pesticides
• ISSN: 0889-1575; 1096-0481
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jfca.2024.106293

Beekeeping in the Yucatán Peninsula is generally practiced in rural zones and is important for honey production in Mexico. Our aim was to determine organochlorines (OCPs), organophosphates (OPs), glyphosate, imidacloprid pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) residues in honeybee A. mellifera and honey of apiaries from the Yucatán Peninsula, that represents a potential risk to consumers and is related to massive honeybee mortality. During 2021; first sampling (S1) was performed in the honey harvest season and the second sampling (S2) after the honey harvest season. In A. mellifera was detected highest concentration of ∑OCPs (6370.470 ng/g) and ∑PAHs (169.292 ng/g) in Oxkutzcab, Yucatan during S2; glyphosate (166.649 ng/g) in Xkuncheil, Campeche and imidacloprid (63.878 ng/g) in Xbec, Yucatán during S1. We did not detect OPs. In honey was detected highest concentration of ∑OCPs (25.6 ng/g) in Celestún, Yucatan and ∑OPs (3.893 ng/g) in China, Campeche during S1; glyphosate (233.611 ng/g) in Abalá, Yucatán and imidacloprid (11.882 ng/g) in Luis Echeverría, Quintana Roo during S2. Total found 19 samples with PAHs of petrogenic sources and 29 samples with pyrogenic sources. Glyphosate, imidacloprid, ∑DDTs, Chlorpyrifos, Methoxychlors and ∑HMW-PAHs showed temporal and spatial patterns. •Pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exhibited temporal and spatial variations.•mellifera and honey exhibit different exposure profiles to organic pollutants.•Significant variation in pollutants on honey and A. mellifera was detected.•Honey contaminated could represent a potential risk to consumers and food safety.•Landscape level analysis is recommended to understand pesticide exposure for bees.