Polyciclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in Moroccan honey

The honeybee and its products are good biological indicators for determining the degree of environmental contamination. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) are very hazardous pollutants, but the researches on their presence in honeys are still scarce. The Moroccan honeys have so far never been analyzed in relation to these pollutants. In this study 28 honey samples from different South, Center-South and East Morocco regions and from many floral origins (Citrus, Eucalyptus, Euphorbia resinifera and E. echinus, Thymus, honeydew and multifloral honeys) were studied in order to show their PHA and PCB content. 16 Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC–MS), and seven polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) by gas chromatography electron-capture detection (GC-ECD). Quantitation limits ranged from 0.07 to 0.13 ppb for PAHs, and 0.025 ppb for PCBs. PAHs were present in all samples with levels between 0.26 and 7.58 μg/kg. Dibenzo (a,h) anthracene has been detected in all samples, but higher values were obtained for acenaftilene (present in 78% of honeys), particularly in Euphorbia honeys. 18% of samples was contaminated with PCBs, with concentration levels between 0.06 and 5.1 μg/kg. PHA content resulted lower in Italian honeys (Perugini et al., 2009), but higher in Rumenian honeys (Dobrinas et al., 2008). With reference to PCBs the contamination was lower in Moroccan honeys than in Spanish honeys (Herrera et al., 2005). The results obtained did not indicate a very high level of contamination by PAHs and PCBs, which can contribute to ensuring the consumer has a safe wholesome supply of Moroccan honey.