Multi-Elemental Analysis of Natural Honey from Central Virginia via Microwave Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometer (MP-AES)

Honey can often serve as a bioindicator of the contamination present in an environmental area due to honeybees’ role in the ecosystem. This study aims to quantify the concentration of various heavy metals found in honey samples collected in Central Virginia. Samples will be digested using microwave digestion and analyzed using microwave plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (MP-AES). The goal is to quantify the concentrations of 6 elements: cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), and cobalt (Co) and ultimately aid in the amount of information available for the selected region and provide consumers with a detailed health index. The quantified concentrations of heavy metals will be compared to those found in commercially sold honey products