Potential Existence of Heavy Metal Pollution and Pesticide in Honey-Based Products

Over the centuries, honey is known for its superior usage in culinary, and for its rich nutrition and therapeutic values which are scientifically proven in the medical field. The chemical composition of honey varies depending on its botanical sources and environment. Therefore, the nutrition content in honey is highly likely to be affected by contaminants, such as heavy metals and pesticides. To ensure the quality of honey, parameters such as the heavy metal content should be within the safe range of total standard mineral and trace elements as defined by the International Food Standard (Codex Alimentarius), and pesticides should not be present at all. The high concentration of heavy metal and pesticides not only deteriorates the quality and quantity of honey, but also causes harm to the bee colony itself. In the agriculture sector, the excessive usage of pesticides and fertilizer negatively impacts the overall honey production process. Bees, a pollinating agent, bring the polluted nectar back to their beehives, eventually contaminating the honey and depreciating its value. Hence, this article will comprehensively review the activities that contribute to heavy metal and pesticide contamination, the interactions of bees as a pollinating agent, the impact of the pollutant to the colonies, and subsequently to the honey production.

Dichlorvos and Paraquat induced spatial avoidance response: A more realistic determinant of population decline of Oreochromis niloticus

The present study evaluated the ability of Dichlorvos and Paraquat to provoke avoidance response in fingerlings of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus and estimate the population immediate decline (PID). The non-forced multi-compartmented system used for non-forced assays, were constructed to allow free movement of fishes along six compartments. Fishes (n=3 per compartment/treatment, totaling 18 per system) were exposed to a gradient of Dichlorvos (1.0, 2.0, 4.0, 5.0 and 6.0 mg L-1) and Paraquat (10.0, 30.0, 50.0, 70.0, 100.0 mg L-1) and their distribution were recorded at 20 min interval for a 3-h period. Mortalities recorded in forced exposures were 17% and 0% at lowest concentrations and, 67% and 83% at highest concentrations for Dichlorvos and Paraquat correspondingly. For non-forced exposure, fishes presented a significant (p < 0.005) gradient-dependent spatial avoidance for both pesticides after 3-h. They avoided the lowest concentrations of Dichlorvos and Paraquat (1.0 and 10.0 mg L-1) by 40% and 90% respectively and 100% at the highest concentrations for both pesticides. The PID was driven by avoidance behavior rather than mortality. This result indicates that the dangers of pesticide contamination is not only in their toxicity to organisms, but also, in habitat selection processes by organism resulting in serious environmental turbulence.

A Method Scope Extension for the Simultaneous Analysis of POPs, Current-Use and Banned Pesticides, Rodenticides, and Pharmaceuticals in Liver. Application to Food Safety and Biomonitoring

The screening of hundreds of substances belonging to multiple chemical classes in liver is required in areas such as food safety or biomonitoring. We adapted a previous QuEChERS-based method in blood to the liver matrix and applied to these fields of study. The validation of the method allowed the inclusion of 351 contaminants, 80% with a LOQ < 2 ng/g. In the analysis of 42 consumer liver samples, we detected trace levels of 29 different contaminants. The most frequent and concentrated was 4,4’-DDE. POPs accounted for 66% of the compounds detected. In no case was the MRL reached for any of the contaminants detected. We also applied the method to 151 livers of wild birds to perform a biomonitoring pilot study in the Canary Islands. We detected 52 contaminants in 15 bird species. These were also mostly POPs, although high frequencies and concentrations of anticoagulant rodenticides (AR) and some other agricultural pesticides also stand out. POPs and AR contamination levels were significantly higher in terrestrial birds, raptors and particularly in nocturnal birds. Pesticide contamination levels were also higher in terrestrial birds, as well as in non-raptors and diurnal birds. The validated method is simple, robust, and sensitive and performs well in a variety of practical scenarios, where it can be carried out relatively quickly and inexpensively.

Assessment of Heavy Metal and Pesticide Contamination in Banana Fields and Development of Phytoremediation System in Kozhikode District, Kerala, India

Analysis of soil samples collected from various banana fields in Kozhikode district was carried out to identify the extent of heavy metal and pesticide contamination. Analysis by atomic absorption spectrometry revealed contamination of lead in some of the banana fields (Omasseri, Balussery, Vengeri & Nanmanda) in the district. The Gas Chromatogram analysis revealed that the banana fields in Kozhikode district were free of organo-chloride and organo-phosphate pesticide contamination. Among the several ornamental plants evaluated for assessing lead phytoremediation potential, Dianthus chinensis L. showed the highest phytoaccumulation potential. Chrysanthemum indicum L., Ruellia simplex C. Wright and Lantana camara L.also showed high lead accumulation. Therefore, these ornamental plants could be used in phytoremediation to remove lead from contaminated soils.

Effect of PCP Pesticide Contamination on Soil Quality

In recent years, soil contamination with pesticides has become a crucial news issue with serious short- and long-term effects on human health and its environment. Pesticides play a significant role in the success of modern farming and food production. These compounds have potential for toxicity and adverse effects on human health and ecological soil systems. Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is one of the most recalcitrant chemicals polluting the environment for its stable aromatic ring system and chloride content. Nowadays, many sites are contaminated with this substance. In these areas, concentrations may stay high for a long time because of slow degradation in the soil due to the negative effects that PCP has on soil microbial populations. Bioremediation of PCP contaminated sites can be realized introducing directly, into a contaminated system, microorganisms able to consume selectively the target compound (bioaugmentation) or increasing the microbial indigenous population by addiction of nutrients in form of organic and/or inorganic fertilizers and biosolids (biostimulation). In the present chapter, we present an overview of the effect of PCP pesticide contamination on soil microbial populations (density and diversity), enzymatic activity and physicochemical parameters. Additionally, the bioremediation process will be detailed.