Bees and hive products, such as honey, can act as indicators of environmental quality. Our research aimed to evaluate historical data of honey quality in Lombardy (Northern Italy) and consider the possible sources of air contamination that can influence it. We collected analytical data from the local Health Protection Agency on residues of 57 honey samples from 2011 to 2022, comparing a rural area and an industrial area. At the same time, we consulted estimated air emissions in the same areas through the INEMAR database used by the local Environmental Protection Agency. Data revealed antibiotic contamination in one case and, regarding heavy metals, lead contamination in several samples in the industrial area. Pb contamination could derive from multiple sources. The INEMAR database permitted us to hypothesize that combustion in industry and road transportation could have a role in honey contamination, being among the main sources of Pb emission in that area.

蜜蜂和蜂蜜等蜂巢产品可以作为环境质量的指标。我们的研究旨在评估伦巴第大区（意大利北部）蜂蜜质量的历史数据，并考虑可能对其产生影响的空气污染源。我们从当地卫生保护局收集了 2011 年至 2022 年 57 个蜂蜜样品残留物的分析数据，比较了农村地区和工业区。同时，我们通过当地环保局使用的 INEMAR 数据库查询了相同地区的预估空气排放量。数据显示在一个案例中存在抗生素污染，而在重金属方面，工业区的几个样本中存在铅污染。铅污染可能来自多种来源。