Abstract:
Honey is herbal supersaturated sugar solution and a sweet viscous semi-liquid. It is considered as one of the oldest assets of nutrients for people and is famous around the globe. The aim of this study was to determine the concentration levels of trace heavy metals (Ni, Cd, Pb, Co, Cr, Mn and Zn) and associated health risks in honey samples that were collected from major supermarkets of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The honey sample brands were from Haile, Tutu, Shagar and Tadele analyzed for trace heavy metal concentration using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) by following standard methods and laboratory procedures set by American Public Health Association (APHA). The levels of trace heavy metals (mg/kg) in honey sample brands across this study ranged from ND to 1.30 ± 0.05 mg/kg for Ni, ND to 1.767 ± 0.063 mg/kg for Cd, 0.60 ± 0.00 to 0.977 ± 0.025 mg/kg, ND to 0.643 ± 0.051 mg/kg, 0.175 ± 0.025 to
1.50 ± 0.05 mg/kg for Mn, and 0.36 ± 0.078 to 4.72 ± 0.01 mg/kg Zn for adult and children. However, the level of Pb was not detected in all honey sample brands. The risk assessments based on EDI values of the investigated trace metals in all honey sample brands were less than the maximum tolerable daily intake and the values of the THQ and HI were less than unity. These indicate that there were no adverse health effects on consumption of honey sample brands for non-carcinogenic health risks. The target cancer risk values of Ni in HH, Cd in ShH & Cr in both HH & TuH honey sample brands were not detected and hence no health risks for both adult and children through consumption. The rest all these carcinogenic assessed heavy metals were categorized under low to moderate ranges of carcinogenic human health risks for adult and children. Greater risk is observed for children population group. Therefore, although no serious non-carcinogenic, the carcinogenic human health risks to the consumers required the attention of concerned regulatory bodies
