Beeswax foundations are a necessary material in intensive modern beekeeping. Heavy metals can accumulate in these foundations for decades, as it is a common beekeeping practice to recycle wax. Beeswax samples were analysed using GFAAS for As, Cd, Pb, and Hg concentrations during the production of beeswax foundations using casting technology with a prolonged cooling and sedimentation phase. Significant differences were determined in the concentrations of As, Cd, Pb (p<0.01, all), and Hg (p<0.05) between the three levels of wax in a double-walled steel casting container and comb foundations (CF) during the processing stage. Concentrations (mg kg ) of the examined metals in comb foundations as the final product ranged as follows: As 0.01-0.88; Cd 1.26-3.55; Pb 82.5-171, and Hg 0.29-1.46. All examined element concentrations demonstrated similar distribution and ratio in different layers, ranging from the lowest concentrations in layers from which wax material is used for comb foundations as the final product, to the highest concentrations in sedimented layer, which represents waste. The obtained results suggest that the described method could effectively eliminate a significant amount of heavy metals from the initial material used for the production of new beeswax foundations.
KEY WORDS: arsenic; beeswax; cadmium; comb foundations; lead; mercuryBeeswax is a natural honeybee product. It is an extremely complex mixture consisting mainly of esters of higher fatty acids, alcohols, hydrocarbons, proteins, and other minor substances (1-2). Beeswax is primarily used in beekeeping to produce comb foundations but also in the chemical, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and food industries. In hives, it is vital for the honeybee colony, as it is a construction material for comb cells where nectar and honey are stored (3). Successful comb management is crucial for beekeeping practice and quality, and the sensory properties of beeswax depend greatly on production methods (4). The production or processing of beeswax comb foundations has been described elsewhere (5).Wax, along with other apian products, can be a useful tool for collecting information about environmental contamination with toxic metals (6-10). Honey could be considered a primary bio-indicator of pollution and therefore used to assess the presence of metals and pesticides in soil, water, and plants (11). Beeswax combs represent a sink or an outlet for many environmental contaminants and, when in the hive for toxins as well, because of a specific lipid-based chemical composition (3).As, Cd, Pb, and Hg are the main toxic heavy metals in environmental pollution that can contaminate honeybee products, primarily nectar and honeydew. Due to the order and social activity of foragers and house bees, combs and the inside of the hives can also be contaminated (12). The presence of these metals depends on the environmental pollution of air, water, and soil (13,14) and may cause a wide range of toxic effects, including gastrointestinal, muscular, reproductive, neurological or behaviour...
