The aim of this present study was determination of essential and toxic element concentrations
in 34 mono- and multi-floral honey samples from four geographical regions of Hungary,
and examination of the connection between the floral origin and the element content.
Ten elements (Al, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, P, S and Zn) were identified by ICP-OES and
six (As, Cd, Cr, Mo, Pb, Se) were analysed by ICP-MS. Potassium, calcium, and phosphorus
were the most abundant elements with mean concentrations of 372, 47.9 and 44.3 mg
kg-1, respectively. The essential element content was very low in the analysed samples
and generally below literature values. The concentrations of toxic elements were sufficiently
low as to pose no risk to human health. The concentrations of aluminium, arsenic,
cadmium and lead were low, with mean concentrations of 1028, 15.6, 0.746 and 45.5
μg kg-1, respectively. Three honey groups (acacia, rape and sunflower) were distinguished
by linear discriminant analysis from their element content.
