Risk-benefit analysis of honey consumption focusing on chemical elements and radioactivity

This study conducts a comprehensive risk-benefit assessment of honey consumption from Mozambique (Moz) and Dominican Republic (DRep), focusing on 28 chemical elements and their radioactivity. Potassium showed the highest concentration (Moz: 39.73 - 562.22 mg/kg and DRep: 61.82 - 396.11 mg/kg). Mean gross alpha activity was: 7.50 Bq/kg (Moz) and 11.78 Bq/kg (DRep), and gross beta activity: 83.56 Bq/kg and 53.23 Bq/kg, respectively. The correlation between radiological activities and the concentration of chemical elements in honey has led to the determination of two dose conversion factors (DCFA for gross alpha and DCFB for gross beta), based on several assumptions, which enable the estimation of the radiological risk ratios. Bromine, lead, mercury, and cobalt contributed most to chemical risk, whereas potassium, iodine, and manganese contributed most to benefits. The aggregate risk ratios for chemical elements were: 0.0014 (Moz) and 0.0008 (DRep), while the radiological risk ratios were 0.12 (Moz) and 0.08 (DRep) for the base case assumptions. Although the risk is of low concern, the sensitivity analysis revealed that for two scenarios, the radiological risk exceeded 0.5, highlighting the need to consider the effects of 226 Ra, 228 Ra, 210 Po, and 210 Pb in honey. • Conversion factors for α and β activity enabled early radiological risk estimation • Results for honey from Mozambique and the Dominican Republic were comparable • Radiological risk is higher than chemical by two orders of magnitude. • Bromine, lead, mercury, and cobalt were main contributors to chemical risk. • Potassium, iodine, and manganese showed the strongest beneficial effects.