Determination of organochlorine and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons pesticides in honey from different regions in Romania

In this study honey collected from local markets or made by private peasants from eighteen regions of Romania during years 2002-2004 were analyzed for organochlorine pesticides (OCPs). An analytical procedure based on liquid-liquid extraction with n-hexane followed by gas chromatography with electron capture detection (GC-ECD) has been developed. For clean-up and preconcentration purposes was used a usual sorbent material (florisil). Limits of detection were from 0.02 and 0.05 Ig /Kg. The pesticide endrin was the most frequently detected in 61% of the samples, followed by dieldrin in 16% of the samples. DDT and their metabolites were detected in 11% of the samples. Results indicate that honey consumers should not be concerned about the amounts of organic pollutants found in Romanian honey.