The determination of the residues of amitraz and fluvalinate in honey samples obtained from Çukurova Region

The determination of the residues of amitraz and fluvalinate in honey samples obtained from Çukurova Region

The aim of this study was to determine the residues of amitraz and fluvalinate pesticides used to treat the varroa disease in honey. For this purpose, totally 135 honey samples representing 8330 beehives were collected from Çukurova Region. Equally 15 samples were obtained from each areas of Adana, Kadirli, Kozan, Ceyhan, Osmaniye, Karataş, Yumurtalık, Mersin and Tarsus. The residues of amitraz and fluvalinate were determined according to the method of Hammerling (1987). This method was included the preparation of an extract from honey and its application to an capillary gas chromatography. However, amitraz residues at 1.34-33.48 ppm levels were found in 25 out of 135 honey samples obtained from 9 residences. This amitraz residue was found in 4, 5, 10 and 6 samples of the honey obtained from Adana, Kozan, Karataş and Tarsus respectively. These results showed that there was no contamination of fluvalinate in the honey samples obtained from Çukurova Region. However, the contamination of honey samples with amitraz was seen in this region. This amitraz contamination of the honey samples may be hazardous for the human health as the honey is the main nutrients of humans. These findings suggest that the precautions against the pesticide contamination with amitraz should be taken during the treatment of the varroa disease and the consumption of the honey by humans.   Keywords: Amitraz, honey, fluvalinate, residue, pesticide

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  • Ali Bilgili, Erdal Selçukoğlu Ankara University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ankara, Turkey.