Category - Food & Drink
Study Finds Which States Have Most Pollutants in Local Honey
For many people, honey is a regular part of their diet. Whether you want to add a little sweetness to your morning tea, want the perfect topper for Greek yogurt, or are just looking for an alternative to white sugar and artificial sweeteners, honey can be a great addition to any diet. Some people even say that buying honey from local farms is a cure-all for seasonal allergies. However, a new study published in the journal Environmental Pollution also found some concerning pollutants in local honey, including arsenic and heavy metals such as lead.
According to the study, which collected more than 260 honey samples from 48 states between 2020 and 2024, toxic substances like arsenic, lead, cadmium, nickel, chromium, and cobalt were found in honey around the country.

The researchers also pinpointed the states with the highest levels of toxins. According to their findings, samples from northwestern states had the highest levels of arsenic, those from southeast states had the greatest levels of cobalt, and southern state samples like the Carolinas contained the highest levels of lead.
Although the metals and pollutants being concentrated in honey sounds alarming, it isn't exactly surprising. Because bees are foragers, they are bound to interact with air, water, soil, nectar, and pollen, all of which either come in contact with naturally occurring metals like lead or are contaminated with natural pollutants like arsenic. Varying levels in different states may correlate to specific agricultural or industrial practices nearby.

The study authors note that the levels detected in the honey samples don't currently raise health concerns, but it's important to keep an eye on things as the years go on.
"What we found is that this appears to serve as a good proxy for uncovering regional contamination patterns," said study lead author Tewodros Godebo. "But there’s a lot we may still learn from bees about what pollutants are present in the environment and how those relate to nearby community health outcomes."
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