Honey as a bioindicator of microplastic pollution: insights from industrial and special honey types

Microplastics (MPs) are emerging contaminants increasingly detected in food products, raising concerns about human exposure and potential health risks. Honey is a relevant matrix due to its nutritional value, widespread consumption, and close links to environmental quality through bee foraging and processing practices. This study presents a paired comparison of industrial and special (artisanal) honeys within a single country and integrates polymer-specific risk indicators with human exposure estimates in one analytical framework. Fifteen honey samples from Türkiye, including eight industrial and seven special honeys, were analyzed using stereomicroscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to determine MP abundance, morphology, and polymer composition. MPs were detected in 93% of samples, with significantly higher concentrations in special honey (11.4 MPs/sample) than in industrial honey (4.9 MPs/sample) (p < 0.05). Fragments dominated (67%) over fibers (33%), and particle sizes ranged from 85 to 1200 µm. The most common polymers were ethylene-vinyl acetate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, halogen-free flame-retardant polymers, and polyamide. Estimated daily intake ranged from 0.16 to 0.38 MPs/day, equivalent to 4169-9699 MPs lifetime. Although honey is not a major dietary MP source, its consistent contamination highlights cumulative exposure pathways and supports its role as a bioindicator of environmental MP pollution.