Apidologie 30 (1999) 277-287
DOI: 10.1051/apido:19990403

Radionuclides and selected elements in soil and honey from Gorski Kotar, Croatia

Delko Barisic^a, Astrea Vertacnik^a, Jerry J. Bromenshenk^b, Nikola Kezic^c, Stipe Lulic^a, Mihovil Hus^d, Petar Kraljevic^e, SMiljenko Simpraga^e and Zvonko Seletkovic<sup>d

a</sup>  Centre for Marine and Environmental Research, Rudjer Boskovic Institute, Bijenicka 54, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
^b  Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 89812 1002, USA
^c  Faculty of Agriculture, Svetosimunska 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
^d  Faculty of Forestry, Svetosimunska 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
^e  Faculty of Veterinary, Heinzebva 53, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract - This research compared the transfer of ¹³⁷Cs, ⁴⁰K, Ca, Fe, Rb, Sr, Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, Mn and Cr from soil into honey derived from meadow flora, mixtures of floral and honeydew honey, and honeydew honey from fir and spruce forests in Gorski Kotar, Croatia. Radionuclides were measured by gamma-ray spectrometry, while other element concentrations were measured by X-ray fluorescence (XRF). Transfer factors (T_f) from soils into the studied honey types, expressed as a percentage, are defined as the ratio between element concentration in honey and in soil multiplied by 100. No significant differences were found, at P < 0.05, for all studied element concentrations for honeydew honey and mixed honey, in relation to the respective soil types from which honeys were collected. Concentrations of all studied cations were, at P < 0.05, significantly higher in honeydew honey compared to either mixed honey or floral honey. Honeydew honey could be used as a pollution indicator of ¹³⁷Cs, Cu, Rb, Cr and possibly Ni. © Inra/DIB/AGIB/Elsevier, Paris

Key words: radionuclides / trace elements / soil / honey / transfer / biological indicator