Microplastic Contamination in Honey: A One Health-Oriented Systematic Review and Risk Assessment

Abstract

Microplastics have become pervasive environmental contaminants with the capacity to move across ecological and biological systems.Honey represents a unique food matrix in this context because it is produced through intensive interactions between honeybees and their surrounding environment and is consumed directly by humans with minimal processing.This review synthesizes current evidence on microplastic contamination in honey, evaluates reported concentration ranges, particle characteristics, and polymer profiles, and situates these findings within a One Health framework linking environmental pollution, bee health, and human exposure.Microplastics have been reported in honey samples from multiple geographic regions worldwide, although reported concentrations vary considerably among studies.Notably, only a limited number of investigations have translated contamination data into consumption-based exposure estimates, underscoring a significant gap in quantitative risk assessment.Experimental and field studies further indicate that microplastics can affect honeybee physiology, immunity, behavior, and colony dynamics, and that contaminated bees can transfer particles to hive products, including honey.Collectively, these findings support the use of honey as a sentinel matrix for tracing environmental microplastic pollution through biological pathways to the human diet.Addressing existing knowledge gaps through standardized methodologies and integrated exposure assessments is essential for advancing risk evaluation within a One Health perspective.

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