జర్నల్ ఆఫ్ అగ్రికల్చరల్ సైన్స్ అండ్ ఫుడ్ రీసెర్చ్
అందరికి ప్రవేశం

నైరూప్య

Physicochemical Analysis and Determination of the Levels of Some Heavy Metals in Honey Samples Collected from Three District Area of East Gojjam Zone of Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Aschalew Nega Teferi

This study analysis physicochemical property and some heavy metals levels of honey from the three-district area of East Gojjam
Zone, Ethiopia. The samples were collected purposively from the most potential beekeeping Woredas namely Debre Markos,
Dejen, and Bicheno. The results of pH, electric conductivity, moisture, total solids, ash content, free acidity, reducing sugar,
total sugar, non- reducing sugar were found to be 3.98-4.12, 0.35-0.65 mS/cm, 17.5-18.19%, 81.8- 82.3%, 0.09-0.26%, 35.3-46.6
mg/kg, 45.1-63.8%, 61.4-68.1%,and 4.30-16.51%, respectively. Some of the levels of heavy metal contents were determined
by using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The optimized wet digestion method for honey sample analysis was
found to be efficient for the metals determined and it was validated through the recovery experiment and a good percentage
recovery was obtained (84.45- 98.0%). Among the seven heavy metals analyzed for honey Cd and Pb were not detected, hence
below the method detection limit. However, the concentration of Fe was found in the highest amount with mean concentration
ranging from (0.59 to 5.39 μg/g followed by Cr with mean concentration range of (0.22-0.46 μg/g, Cu (0.27-0.28 μg/g, Mn
(0.09-0.33 μg/g and Ni (0.04-0.14 μg/g). The metals content and the physicochemical properties investigated in honey samples
were found within the ranges established by national and international standards. except for non-reducing sugar content from
Bicheno. The slight excess value of sucrose content of honey from Bichena may be due to adulteration of the honey by the addition
of commercial sugar to honey.