Pilot study for environmental monitoring through beekeeping products of Pistoia territory

In the present research, the beekeeping products (honey, pollen, propolis) obtained from farms located in the province of Pistoia (Tuscany, Italy) were analyzed, in order to characterize them and evaluate their quality. The results showed that Pistoia apistic products possessed excellent qualitative values, suggesting a first-rate level and a long shelf life for them. Another important objective of the project was to collect evidence about the plant biodiversity existing in Pistoia district, in terms of pollen present in the beehive products and deriving from botanical species visited by honey bees and random contamination. In detail, the melissopalynological analysis revealed 82 different taxa, identifying 40 multifloral honeys, 30 acacia unifloral honeys, 30 chestnut unifloral honeys, 12 honeydew unifloral honeys, 4 heather unifloral honeys and 2 linden unifloral honeys. Several cultivated (e.g., Malus/Pyrus sp., Actinidia chinensis and Oleaceae) and wild (e.g., Trifolium sp. and Lotus sp.) species were found, although their distribution was mainly related to altitudinal variations. The signature of plant species typical of Tuscany, Italy, and other circum-Mediterranean countries (e.g., Erica sp., Castanea sativa, Quercus ilex, Loranthus sp., Hedysarum coronarium, Melilotus sp., Eucalyptus sp., and Tilia sp.) was detected. Finally, in the same matrixes, the presence of potential environmental contaminants, such as pesticides, antibiotics, and heavy metals (i.e., lead and cadmium), was measured, in order to evaluate the pollution level of the studied site. The very limited number of samples contaminated by lead and the total absence of antibiotics and pesticides in the beehive samples indicated a general excellent state of wholesomeness for the territory, valorizing the area under study and its natural products.