The presence of Lindane in different types of honey in the Pannonian region

Abstract

Sixty samples of honey were collected in the Pannonian region of Serbia during the year 2013. Analytical procedure of sample preparation based on the Quechers method was used for determination of pesticide residue content, whereas the quantification of pesticide residue was performed on gas chromatography mass detector. The presence of organochloric pesticides was determined during the research. Lindane was the most frequent pesticide in all types of honey. 73perc. of lindane was found in sunflower honey of the total quantity of detected pesticides, 73 perc. in meadow honey, 85 perc. in linden honey, 58 perc. in forest honey and 97 perc. in acacia honey. The highest lindane concentrations were found in acacia honey in the quantity of 4.45 pg/kg. The content of other pesticide residues is insignificant. Due to the fact that honey is the indicator of environmental pollution and according to the study performed, it can be concluded that higher lindane concentration is present in the Pannonian region honey in comparison with the other organochloric pesticides. Although it was detected, lindane concentration in the Pannonian region honey does not exceed the maximum quantity allowed prescribed in the Rulebook of the Republic of Serbia.