Honey as a Biological Record of the Environment

Honey is a complex natural product valued for its nutritional, medicinal, and ecological importance. This review examines the composition and properties of honey, its role as an environmental bioindicator, and the major contaminants that threaten its quality and safety. Particular emphasis is placed on honey adulteration, heavy metals, pesticides, antibiotics, and organic pollutants, together with their sources, health implications, and current regulatory challenges. The review also evaluates modern analytical techniques used for contaminant detection, highlighting recent advances in chromatographic, spectroscopic, and biosensor-based methods. Overall, honey serves not only as an important food product but also as a valuable tool for environmental monitoring, emphasizing the need for continued surveillance, harmonized regulations, and improved analytical technologies.