Metals in Fresh Honeys From Tenerife Island, Spain

Ashes and contents of Zn, Cu, Fe, Cd and Pb in 140 fresh honey samples from three different areas of Tenerife Island were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. A mean ash content of 0.35% has been determined. The mean Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd concentrations observed have been 3.37 mg kg(-1), 1.28 mg kg(-1), 2.83 mg kg(-1), 37.33 mu g kg(-1), 4.38 mu g kg(-1), respectively. A direct statistical correlation has been found between the Fe-Zn and Fe-Pb content, and between the Cd-Zn and Cd-Pb levels.