Surface-to-Bulk Elemental Profiling and Melissopalynological Characterization of Monofloral Bee Pollens: Implications for Nutritional Value and Health Risk Assessment

İngilizce (OpenAlex)

Monofloral bee pollen, collected by honeybees from a single dominant botanical source, enables a precise and reproducible evaluation of elemental composition due to high taxonomic purity and reduced matrix variability. This study aimed to (i) elucidate the relationships between botanical origin, physicochemical properties, and mineral and PTE accumulation in monofloral pollen samples (MP1–MP10) collected from Bingöl, Türkiye, and (ii) the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks for adults and children under realistic daily intake scenarios. Melissopalynological analysis confirmed high monoflorality (≥ 98%). ICP-MS results showed significant inter-species differences ( p < 0.05), particularly for Mg, Fe, and Mn, indicating strong botanical and geochemical control over mineral uptake. XPS profiling verified a conserved C/O-rich exine structure while supporting surface-level chemical fingerprinting across pollen types. Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) and cumulative Hazard Index (HI) values confirmed that all adult and child exposure cases remained within safe limits (HI < 1). Carcinogenic risk estimates for Cd, Ni, Pb, and As were below acceptable thresholds for adults (CR < 1 × 10 − 4 ), whereas Cr exceeded the standards in certain child groups (CR > 1 × 10 − 4 ), reflecting age-dependent sensitivity despite trace-level occurrence. Several monofloral pollens supplied nutritionally relevant Fe and Mn contributions toward RDA (%), reinforcing their dietary value.