A Fast and Validated GC–MS/MS Method for Simultaneous Determination of 15 Pesticide Residues in Honey and Associated Human Health Risks: An Indicator of Environmental Pollution

Honeybees are frequently exposed to a wide range of environmental contaminants during foraging, leading to the inadvertent transfer of contaminants into honey. To assess pesticide contamination, 30 honey samples were collected and analyzed between 2022 and 2023 for pesticide residues. The QuEChERS method, followed by GC-MS/MS analysis, was employed to quantify pesticide levels. In the honey samples, a total of 15 pesticides were identified, with organophosphate compounds being the most prevalent. Insecticides, including omethoate and chlorpyrifos-methyl, are extensively applied in intensive apple orchards. Analysis of honey samples collected from apiaries located in these regions revealed significantly elevated concentrations of these pesticides. This study underscores the widespread presence of pesticide residues in honey collected from migratory apiaries in the Kashmir region. Although human health risk assessments indicate no immediate concerns in most cases, precautionary measures should be considered, particularly due to the potential risks associated with honey consumption by infants and the cumulative effects of these chemicals over time.