o:8631 Propolis as a bioindicator of elemental contamination en Bioindicators are organisms used to predict the level of environmental pollution in a selected geographical area. Some of these live organisms and their products are very sensitive to sur- rounding changes in the concentrations of heavy metals, whether due to geographical or an- thropogenic origins. High agricultural and industrial activity can be sources of chemical and other contaminants. Honeybee products are natural mixtures produced by a honey bee. The honeybee products are rich with biologically active compounds, such as carbohydrates, pro- teins, amino acids, lipids, vitamins, phenolics, minerals and enzymes. The most popular bee products are honey (unifloral and multifloral), bee venom, propolis, bee pollen, bee bread and royal jelly. Propolis is a honeybee product produced by honeybees using plant resins (more than 50%), beeswax, essential oils, pollen and other organic substances (alcohols, ac- ids and their esters, benzofurans, benzopyrenes, chalcones, flavonoids and their esters, glyc- erol and its esters, lignans, phenylpropanoids, steroids, terpenes and terpenoids). Propolis is a very popular honeybee products with high biological activities, such as anti-oxidant, an- timicrobial, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and anticancer activities. Some studies shown in vitro antibacterial activity of propolis against different types of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and data of synergism exhibited among the various propolis com- pounds. The chemical composition of propolis is complex, and depends with geographical area and season. The chemical variability presents several challenges to its standardization and quality control. The present review is aimed at highlighting the presence of heavy metals in propolis, produced by the species Apis mellifera, from different geographical areas. Honeybee products, Propolis, Food safety, Soil, Heavy metals 1552099 10.18485/meattech.2025.66.3.64 2025-12-08T10:30:52.142Z 44 yes 46 Jelena Ćirić Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Kaćanskog 13, Belgrade, Serbia Propolis as a bioindicator of elemental contamination https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8118-7676 Tatjana Baltić Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Kaćanskog 13, Belgrade, Serbia Propolis as a bioindicator of elemental contamination person https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0496-3133 Tamara Gerić Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Kaćanskog 13, Belgrade, Serbia Propolis as a bioindicator of elemental contamination person https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9303-5231 Saša Živković Veterinary Specialized Institute Kraljevo, 34 Zicka Street, Kraljevo, 36000, Serbia Propolis as a bioindicator of elemental contamination person https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7740-1163 Biljana Pećanac Veterinary Institute of the Republic of Srpska, Dr Vaso Butozan, Branka Radicevica 18, 78000 Banja Luka, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina Propolis as a bioindicator of elemental contamination person Sara Simunović Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Kaćanskog 13, Belgrade, Serbia Propolis as a bioindicator of elemental contamination person https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8280-5149 Boris Mrdović Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Kaćanskog 13, Belgrade, Serbia Propolis as a bioindicator of elemental contamination person https://orcid.org/0009-0006-9964-4317 application/pdf 490857 https://unilib.phaidrabg.rs/o:8631 no yes 16 70 92000002 71A01 Meat technology - Special Issue 66/3 2025 1-576 66 3 378 382 Kaćanskog 13, 11 000 Belgrade Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology 2025-12-01 www.journalmeattechnology.com