Shuja Abbas Khan

Physicochemical properties and heavy metals in honey are of interest not only for quality control but also for determination environmental contamination. The present study was carried out to investigate the physicochemical properties and heavy metal levels in branded and non branded honey samples purchased from different areas of Peshawar, Islamabad, Mardan, Swabi and Charsadda. The main objective of this study was to compare the branded and non branded honey samples obtained from the different regions. The collected honey samples were analyzed for pH, ash content, moisture and electrical conductivity and  four heavy metals i.e. Iron, Lead, Copper & Zinc and levels of these metals were determined using atomic absorption spectroscopy. The samples in this study were prepared by ashing method. The concentration ranges obtained for the metals analyzed in honey samples were as follows; Fe (1.26±0.05-7.21±2.01), Pb (0.07±0.06-0.53±0.03), Cu (0.02±0.01-0.17±0.01) and Zn (0.81±0.13-7.73±0.02) in mg/kg. The results shows that the geological strata may affect the physicochemical properties and the metal content in the honey samples.

Heavy metals levels in Pakistani branded herbal medicines used for cardiac and liver disorder were investigated using atomic absorption spectroscopy. The collected samples were prepared for analysis by wet digestion method using nitric acid and per choleric acid. Five metals iron, lead, copper, manganese and zinc were analyzed. Iron has the highest concentration with a range of 91.25-10.00 ppm and Pb the lowest with values in the range 8.15-0.50 ppm in the herbal medicines used for heart disorder. Copper and zinc was found in the range of 18.35-1.40 ppm and Zn 49.20-8.65 ppm respectively whereas manganese was below detection limit. In herbal medicines used for liver disorder zinc has the highest concentration with a range of 70.20-15.60 ppm and Pb the lowest values in the range of 28.40-4.70 ppm. Iron and copper were found in the range of 59.20-11.90 ppm and 33.40-0.50 ppm respectively, where manganese was below detection limits. Results are comparable with the reported values in literature. The heavy metal levels were below toxic limits in all of the samples.