Toxic Metal Content in Mexican Propolis: A Human Health Risk Assessment

In the present study, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and manganese contamination in propolis was assessed. A total of 12 raw propolis samples were analysed using atomic emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-OES) for each of the metals. The analyses revealed that the samples were contaminated with each of the following metals: arsenic (ranging from <0.21 to 0.4 ppm), cadmium (<0.008 to 0.123 ppm), lead (0.580 to 117.01 ppm), and manganese (4.22 to 47.57 ppm). Lead levels exceeded the acceptable limits for consumption. A chemometric characterization was performed, looking at the correlation between elemental contamination, showing high correlation between cadmium and manganese levels (r = 0.80). Furthermore, the samples with the highest contamination levels were in areas with high industrial and agricultural activity. A risk assessment for toxic metals indicated a risk associated with lead. While the amount of lead present in the propolis samples was deemed to pose a low carcinogenic risk, it is noteworthy that the levels of the other metals detected do not pose any discernible health risk associated with the consumption of propolis. This conclusion is crucial for understanding the safety profile of propolis as a dietary supplement or natural product.