# Honey as a Bioindicator: Pollution's Effects on Its Quality in Mining vs. Protected Sites
###### Abstract
Regarding honey, bees can accumulate heavy metals from contaminated pollen, nectar, and water, as well as through direct contact with airborne particles that settle on leaves and flowers and can adhere to their bodies. Plants can also absorb heavy metals directly from the soil through their roots, with the metals being translocated to the stems, leaves, flowers, nectar, and pollen [12]. Additionally, emissions from industry, the burning of fossil fuels, and heavy road traffic contribute to the release of significant amounts of heavy metals into the atmosphere, which then enter the beekeeping ecosystem [13]. Even agricultural practices, such as the use of fertilizers and pesticides, can promote the accumulation of these toxic elements in the soil, from which they are absorbed by nectar-producing plants [14]. All of these factors lead to the progressive contamination of honey and other bee products, putting both the health of bee colonies and the safety of human consumers at risk. Given its sensitivity to environmental changes, honey serves not only as a valuable food product but also as a biological matrix for monitoring pollution levels [15]. In mining-affected regions, the accumulation of toxic elements, such as lead, cadmium, and arsenic, in honey may provide insight into the extent of environmental contamination and potential risks to ecosystem and human health [16]. In various geographic regions, the contamination of soil and water resources with heavy metals has become a growing environmental concern. This phenomenon is particularly pronounced in areas characterized by high levels of anthropogenic activity, such as urbanized and industrialized zones, mining and fossil fuel extraction sites, and intensively managed agricultural landscapes [17]. The persistence and mobility of these toxic elements in the environment pose significant risks to ecological systems and human health, making their monitoring and assessment a priority in environmental research and policy [18]. The accumulation of heavy metals in _Apis mellifera_ and its products is closely associated with the ambient atmospheric concentrations, with the particulate matter (PM\({}_{10}\)) levels playing a significant role in the elevated detection of lead (Pb) and nickel (Ni) within these organisms [19]. Given the risks that heavy metal contamination poses to human health, it is essential that such correlations with other pollution factors be regulated through strict standards [20], as is the case with Regulation (EC) No. 1881/2006. It highlights the importance of food safety by establishing strict limits for contaminants, and in the case of honey, the focus is on lead (Pb), with a maximum allowable limit of 0.10 mg/kg due to its toxic effects on human health [21]. The aim of this study is to monitor the heavy metal content in honey and to highlight its variation based on the specific characteristics of the area where an apiary is located, by comparing regions affected by mining activities with protected natural areas. The study also seeks to correlate contamination levels with the physico-chemical properties and antimicrobial activity of bee products, emphasizing the potential of honey as a bioindicator of environmental quality.