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Use of honey as a bioindicator: an integrative review
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Bees pick up traces of pollution—like heavy metals, pesticides, and even microplastics—as they forage, so scientists are studying honey as a way to track environmental contamination in a given area. This review of 30 studies found that honey can catch some of these pollutants but isn't perfect at detecting all of them; other bee products like pollen and wax often do a better job. While this research is more about monitoring environmental pollution than directly assessing honey's safety to eat, it's a helpful reminder that what's in the environment can end up in the food chain, including foods we consume daily.
This integrative literature review aimed to evaluate the use of honey produced by bees of the genus Apis as a bioindicator. From 177 records identified in the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, 30 studies published between 2019 and 2025 were selected and analyzed. Only publications addressing the use of honey as an “environmental bioindicator” were found. The studies covered different groups of pollutants, including potentially toxic elements (PTEs), agrochemicals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), radionuclides, microplastics, flame retardants, plasticizers, and bisphenol A. The results show that honey is a suitable matrix capable of reflecting the environmental presence of various contaminants, although it exhibits low sensitivity to some of them due to its physicochemical characteristics and the natural barriers imposed by bee physiology. Studies indicate that other hive matrices, such as pollen, wax, propolis, and adult bees, often demonstrate greater efficiency in detecting certain pollutants, reinforcing the need for multi-matrix approaches. Despite the observed limitations, the literature indicates that honey is a promising tool for environmental biomonitoring, especially when integrated with robust analytical methods and complemented by the use of other apicultural matrices.
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This review examines underexplored food safety risks in bee products like honey, royal jelly, and propolis, including contamination from microplastics and other environmental pollutants. Bees can pick up microplastics from the environment during foraging, transferring them into hive products that humans consume. The authors highlight that while pesticides and heavy metals in honey are well studied, microplastic contamination in beekeeping products needs more attention.
Honey Bees as Bioindicators of Air Pollution: A Narrative Review on Human Health Implications
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This review explores the use of honey bees as bioindicators of air pollution, including airborne microplastics, within a One Health framework. Researchers found that bees accumulate environmental contaminants during foraging, making them effective biological monitors for tracking air quality and pollution exposure relevant to both ecosystem and human health.
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Researchers analyzed 28 Italian honey samples and found microplastic contamination alongside various trace elements, making this the first comprehensive dual-contamination study of Italian honey. Microplastics were found in all samples, with fibers being the most common type, and their presence correlated with certain geographic and botanical factors. The findings show that honey, often considered a natural and pure food, can serve as an indicator of broader environmental contamination that affects food safety.
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