# Honey as a Bioindicator: Pollution's Effects on Its Quality in Mining vs. Protected Sites
## 4 Discussion
Notably, much higher maxima were found in New Zealand, 2.46 mg/kg [57]; Saudi Arabia, 1707.93 ug/kg [58]; and the United Kingdom, 1042 ug/kg [59]. Greece reported one of the highest recorded zinc levels in honey, with a peak value of 8.99 mg/kg [60]. Higher maximum concentrations of cadmium have been found in other countries: Hungary reported values up to 18.0 ug/kg [56], while in Croatia, the maximum reported was 24.4 ug/kg [61]. Even higher levels were observed in New Zealand, with a peak of 34 ug/kg [57], and in Saudi Arabia, cadmium concentrations went as high as 49.2 ug/kg [58]. The United Kingdom also showed significant contamination, with a maximum of 57.3 ug/kg [59], while Greece reported one of the highest known values, reaching 81 ug/kg [60]. The maximum concentrations of essential trace metals, such as Fe, Cu, and Zn, in honey vary widely depending on regional environmental conditions and agricultural practices. For Fe, the highest levels were reported in Turkey, reaching up to 44.1 mg/kg [53], while in Saudi Arabia, the maximum value was 36.8 mg/kg [58]. Copper concentrations peaked at 8.5 mg/kg in Croatia [61], followed by 7.8 mg/kg in Saudi Arabia [58], and 6.3 mg/kg in Iran [51]. For Zn, some of the highest reported values were observed in honey from Greece, with a maximum of 29.4 mg/kg [60]; as well as in Turkey, at 26.0 mg/kg [53]; and Saudi Arabia, at 24.7 mg/kg [58]. Although these elements are essential for human health in trace amounts, elevated levels may reflect environmental contamination from fertilizers, soil composition, or processing equipment. In mining-polluted areas of Central and Eastern Europe, honey has been identified as an effective bioindicator of heavy metal contamination. Studies conducted in regions such as Copsa Mica and Maramures (Romania), Bor (Serbia), and industrial zones in Poland have revealed elevated concentrations of toxic metals in honey, often exceeding internationally recommended limits. For instance, in Copsa Mica, Romania, multifloral honey samplesshowed average concentrations of lead of 1.49 mg/kg, cadmium of 2.20 mg/kg, zinc of 20.40 mg/kg, and copper of 3.70 mg/kg [61], significantly higher than the values reported in other studies. Similarly, in Maramures, Romania, honey collected near mining areas contained maximum values of Cu of 0.79 mg/kg and Zn of 2.10 mg/kg, surpassing international safety thresholds [62]. Directive 2001/110/EC [47] on the production and marketing of honey has specific references to the permissible limits of potentially hazardous substances in honey and other beekeeping products. However, these are few, and the only metal for which honey has maximum values is lead, which, according to EU Regulation 915/2023 [21], cannot exceed 0.10 mg/kg. The comparative nature of Table 11 highlights the significant differences in the maximum allowable limits for heavy metals in honey as set by various countries and international organizations. The European Union and Codex Alimentarius enforce a strict limit of 0.10 mg/kg only for Pb, without regulating other contaminants. In contrast, India allows much higher thresholds, with up to 2.5 mg/kg for Pb, 1.5 mg/kg for Cd, 1.0 mg/kg for Hg, and high levels for copper (30 mg/kg) and tin (250 mg/kg) [63]. Prior to its accession to the European Union, Poland applied Regulation no. 37/2003, which set significantly stricter limits for honey: Pb--0.30 mg/kg, Cd--0.03 mg/kg, Hg--0.01 mg/kg, and As--0.20 mg/kg [64]. According to the Chinese standards GB 2762-2022 [65] and GB 14963-2011 [66], China applies more stringent limits, with 0.05 mg/kg for Pb and As, and 0.01 mg/kg for Hg. These variations reflect differing food safety standards shaped by national policies and local industrial conditions. In 2020, [PERSON] et al. [67] collected polyfloral honey samples from Copsa Mica, Romania--an area exposed to over six decades of non-ferrous metal industrial activity.