Selected Toxic Elements and Pesticide Residues in Organic and Conventional Honey from Poland: A Preliminary Comparative Study

Honey is valued for its nutritional and health-promoting properties; however, its quality depends not only on the presence of bioactive compounds but also whether it is contaminated with toxic elements and pesticide residues. Although organic beekeeping is intended to reduce chemical inputs, honeybees forage over large areas and may be exposed to environmental pollutants regardless of the production system. This preliminary comparative study evaluated selected toxic elements (Pb, Cd, As, and Zn) and pesticide residues in honey collected from certified organic and conventional apiaries in Poland. Fifteen honey samples harvested during the 2025 beekeeping season (12 organic and 3 conventional) were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) for elemental determination and GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS for pesticide residue analysis. Detectable concentrations of the analyzed elements were found in all samples. Higher concentrations of lead, arsenic, and cadmium were observed in the organic samples compared to the conventional samples; however, the difference was only statistically significant for lead. Lead concentrations exceeded the maximum level established by European Union legislation in seven of the twelve organic samples. Pesticide residues were detected in five samples (33.3%), including both organic and conventional honeys. Acetamiprid, amitraz, and amitraz metabolites (DMF and DMPF) were identified, and all measured concentrations remained below the applicable maximum residue limits. The present results suggest that environmental contaminants may occur in both organic and conventional honey and that organic certification alone does not necessarily guarantee no contamination. Because of the limited number of conventional samples, the findings should be interpreted as a preliminary comparative assessment. Further studies including larger and more balanced sample sets are needed to better understand the influence of production system and environmental conditions on contaminant occurrence in honey.