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From Environment to Hive: Plasticizer and Bisphenols Contamination in Algerian Honeys

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Federica Litrenta, Giuseppa Di Bella Giuseppa Di Bella Federica Litrenta, Federica Litrenta, Ambrogina Albergamo, Nadra Rechidi-Sidhoum, Federica Litrenta, Angela Giorgia Potortì, Angela Giorgia Potortì, Angela Giorgia Potortì, Federica Litrenta, Ambrogina Albergamo, Angela Giorgia Potortì, Ambrogina Albergamo, Federica Litrenta, Angela Giorgia Potortì, V. L. Turco, Angela Giorgia Potortì, Ambrogina Albergamo, R. Sturniolo, Giuseppa Di Bella Ambrogina Albergamo, Angela Giorgia Potortì, Meki Boutaiba Benklaouz, Angela Giorgia Potortì, Qada Benameur, Giuseppa Di Bella Giuseppa Di Bella Giuseppa Di Bella Giuseppa Di Bella

Summary

Scientists tested honey from different regions of Algeria and found that every single sample contained harmful chemicals from plastics, including substances that can disrupt hormones in the human body. The most concerning finding was that levels of bisphenol A (BPA) - a chemical linked to health problems - were high enough to potentially pose risks to people who eat the honey regularly. This research shows how plastic pollution is contaminating even natural foods like honey, which could affect human health through our diet.

Phthalates (PAEs), non-phthalate plasticizers (NPPs) and bisphenols (BPs) were monitored by fully validated GC-MS and HPLC-MS/MS protocols in honeys from diverse Algerian coastal and non-coastal areas. Experimental results showed that no honey was free of these compounds. A higher PAE contamination was evident in coastal honeys, while NPPs were more abundant in non-coastal samples. The revealed PAEs were: dimethyl phthalate (DMP, 28.12-277.14 µg/kg), diethyl phthalate (DEP, 18.20-404.70 µg/kg), dibutyl phthalate (DBP, 29.58-889.71 µg/kg) and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP, 20.66-523.16 µg/kg), while bis(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate (DEHT, 8.95-206.12 µg/kg) and diethyl adipate (DEA, 10.36-97.51 µg/kg) were the NPPs determined. The EU-not Algeria-classifies DBP and DEHP as very high concern substances. Nonetheless, these PAEs were the most abundant and frequently detected contaminants. Even certain honeys showed DEHP outliers compared to the range provided above (1256.53 µg/kg). Coastal and non-coastal honeys were contaminated by bisphenol A (BPA, 2.64-12.73 µg/kg), thus, raising compliance concerns for export in the EU. In fact, the assessment of dietary exposure and toxicological risk derived from the consumption of these honeys highlighted that, while the exposure to plasticizers was within the safety limits, the exposure to BPA raised toxicological concern. Hopefully, these findings will support the constant monitoring of beekeeping activities and products and encourage the adoption of good practices with a view to guide the advancement of the sector and better safeguard consumers.

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