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From Environment to Hive: Plasticizer and Bisphenols Contamination in Algerian Honeys
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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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Researchers detected phthalate plasticizers and bisphenol A — chemicals found in plastic materials — in commercial honey samples, raising concerns about food contamination from plastic packaging and production equipment. Honey is considered a sensitive indicator of environmental contamination, and finding plastic chemicals in it highlights the pervasiveness of plastic additive exposure through diet.
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Researchers tested honey from flexible plastic pouches under dry outdoor and refrigeration storage conditions, finding direct evidence that microplastics migrate from the packaging into the honey, contaminating a product traditionally prized for its purity.
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Researchers investigated the potential for microplastic migration from plastic food packaging into honey products, reviewing evidence that storage containers can release microplastic and nanoplastic particles into this widely consumed food, posing potential consumer health concerns.
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Scientists found tiny plastic particles in all 10 honey samples they tested from different brands, including both plastic and glass containers. These microplastics likely came from bees picking up plastic pollution while collecting nectar, showing how widespread plastic contamination has become in our environment. This matters because it means people are eating these tiny plastic pieces when they consume honey, though we still don't fully understand the health effects of ingesting microplastics.
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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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