Human exposure in Italy to lead,cadmium and mercury through fish and seafood product consumption from Eastern Central Atlantic Fishing Area

The presence of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) was investigated in fish and seafood products collected from the FAO Major Fishing Area 34, Eastern Central Atlantic. Samples were purchased from different retail outlets in Italy. Samples were selected so as to assess human exposure through diet. Metals were detected by Q-ICP-MS and Hg-AAS. All the metal concentrations detected were largely below the maximum levels (MLs) established by the European Union. The exposure assessment was undertaken by matching the concentration of Cd, Pb and total Hg in fish and other seafood products selected purposed according to Italian consumption data. The estimated weekly intakes (EWIs) for the evaluated elements related to the consumption of fish and other seafood products by the median of the Italian total population accounted for 14%, 2% and 14% of the standard tolerable weekly intake (TWI) for Cd and Hg as well as the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) for Pb, respectively.     

Risk assessment of exposure to pesticides through dietary intake of vegetables typical of the Mediterranean diet in the Basque Country

This study examined estimated dietary exposure among the Basque Country Autonomous Community (northern Spain) to pesticides resulting from dietary intake of unprocessed vegetables. Samples were collected according to a sampling plan established previously, which was performed taking into account statistical factors, such as the population distribution, the point of sale, (local shops or supermarkets), the season and the consumption frequency of each vegetable. A total of 221 samples were analyzed using gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS), and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Results showed that 48.0% of the samples contained no pesticide residues, while 52.0% contained pesticides, and 6.8% of all samples showed residues above the maximum residue limit (MRL). As for the pesticides detected, 56 different active substances were detected, including fungicides and insecticides as the main pesticide types. All of the positive samples were collected in local-area shops. The potential risk to the consumers through vegetable intake was estimated by calculating the Hazard Quotient (HQ), showing ranges between 0.001–0.214%. These results indicate that the exposure to pesticides from vegetable intake among Basque consumers did not raise health concerns.     

Determination of urocanic acid,a compound implicated in histamine toxicity,and assessment of biogenic amines relative to urocanic acid content in selected fish and fish products

The contents of trans- and cis-urocanic acid (cis-UCA), NaCl and moisture, and pH of sixty-seven fish and shrimp products, including salted anchovy, different types of salted fish, salted shrimp and shrimp paste collected in Malaysia, were examined. Included in the analysis was determination of the contents of nine biogenic amines. The average levels of trans- and cis-UCA in salted anchovy, salted fish, salted shrimp and shrimp paste were 9.67 and 7.25, 14.2 and 11.0, 36.6 and 22.5, 6.96 and 18.7 mg/kg, respectively. In general, the average levels of trans- and cis-UCA were much lower than the histamine levels in fish products. Results showed no strong correlation of pH, salt and moisture contents with trans- and cis-UCA, nor with histamine. Biogenic amines were also detected in processed fish and shrimp products where the most abundant biogenic amine was putrescine with an average level of 227 mg/kg in shrimp paste. Thus, the high rates of cancers in consumers who consume dried salted fish could be indicative of the synergistic effects of biogenic amines and cis-UCA.     

Nutrient composition of 19 fish species from Sri Lanka and potential contribution to food and nutrition security

Fish is an important part of the Sri Lankan diet. However, existing data on the nutrient composition of fish in Sri Lanka is highly outdated and limited. The aim of this study was to report the nutrient composition of commonly consumed marine fish species in Sri Lanka and assess the potential contribution of selected key nutrients in fish to recommended nutrient intakes (RNI). Fish were sampled during a survey with research vessel Dr. Fridtjof Nansen around Sri Lanka. Species were categorised as either small (<25 cm, n = 12) or large (>25 cm, n = 7), and three composite samples from each species were analysed using accredited methods. Small species commonly consumed whole contained significantly higher concentrations of micronutrients such as calcium (960 mg/100 g), iron (3.3 mg/100 g), zinc (2.1 mg/100 g), vitamin A (295 μg/100 g), and EPA and DHA (0.14 and 0.32 g/100 g, respectively) than larger species where only the fillet is consumed. Several species were identified to contribute ≥25 % of the RNI of women of reproductive age for multiple essential nutrients. These data may represent an important contribution to the future development of the Sri Lankan food composition database.     

Estimating the daily intake of essential and nonessential elements from lamb m. longissimus thoracis et lumborum consumed by the population in Missouri (United States)

This paper estimated the daily intake of essential and nonessential elements from lamb muscle longissimus thoracis et lumborum (m. LTL) available to the population in Missouri. Missouri grain-finished (n = 36), Missouri grass-finished (n = 40) and imported New Zealand grass-finished (n = 40) lamb m. LTL were purchased and assayed for their element composition. Total mercury in samples was quantified by atomic absorption spectrometry and other elements were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. Analysis of certified reference materials (DORM-2 and TORT-2) gave recovery rates ranging from 86 to 108% and 85 to 104%, respectively. The abundance of essential elements in Missouri grain-finished and Missouri grass-finished lamb m. LTL followed the order: Potassium > phosphorus > sodium > magnesium > calcium > zinc > iron. The order in the imported New Zealand grass-finished group was: Potassium > phosphorus > sodium > calcium > magnesium > zinc > iron. Since many variables lacked normality, non-parametric (Kruskal–Wallis) comparison test was performed and the results suggested no significant difference (P > 0.05) in element composition among the lamb m. LTL groups. The estimated daily intake of 14 elements from consumption of 100 g lamb m. LTL posed no hazard to consumers.     

Levels and daily intake of lead (Pb) and six essential elements in gari samples from Ondo State,Southwest Nigeria: A potential risk factor of health status

Gari, a staple food in most West African countries is a processed product of cassava plant. It supplies about 70% of the daily calorie intake in these countries. In this study, levels of lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), calcium (Ca) and iron (Fe) in gari samples that were collected from four major Nigerian cities: Akure, Ondo, Isua and Ore – all located in Ondo State, Southwest, Nigeria were determined. The estimated daily intakes (EDI) of these elements were determined and compared to the recommended dietary intake limits or requirements. The mean concentrations of Pb in gari samples was 0.16 ± 0.09 mg/kg while for essential elements the concentrations were 4.13 ± 0.95, 0.00497 ± 0.00078, 12.98 ± 1.48, 1.01 ± 0.47, 512.6 ± 9.12 and 23.22 ± 2.32 mg/kg for Zn, Mn, Co, Cu, Ca and Fe, respectively. The mean estimated dietary intakes were 0.0333 ± 0.00443, 0.88 ± 0.21, 1.06 ± 0.36, 0.00278 ± 0.00068, 0.22 ± 0.04, 109.7 ± 4.22 and 4.97 ± 1.07 mg/day for Pb, Zn, Mn, Co, Cu, Ca and Fe respectively. The estimated mean Pb dietary intake from gari consumption alone was almost the same as the benchmark dose lower confidence limit (BMDL) for Pb, thus inferring that dietary route is a potential source of Pb contamination for gari consumers in Southwest Nigerian. Also, the data from this study indicated that gari is a good source of some essential elements like Mn, Co, and Cu but not exceptionally rich in Zn, Fe and Ca. It is therefore recommended that gari diets should be complemented with other food substances like beef, vegetables and low fat cheese that are good sources of the deficient elements.     

The content of selected minerals and vitamin C for potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) from the high Tiber Valley area,southeast Tuscany

Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) from the high Tiber valley area (TVA; Tuscany, Italy), have been sampled and analyzed for selected mineral content (Na, Mg, K, Ca, and Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn) and vitamin C, the year 2012; some samples from 2011 and 2013 crops were also collected and analyzed. The varieties were Daytona (DAY), Kennebec (KEN), Sifra (SIF) and Volare (VOL). Control samples consisted of mixed commercial varieties from the local market, namely C1, C2 and C3. The low content of sodium, especially for KEN (46 ± 3 mg/kg FD (freeze dry), year 2012) and SIF (47 ± 3) (VOL (55 ± 3) and DAY (61 ± 3) have a little higher values) is worth of note and in agreement with the scarce concentration of Na in the soil (291 ± 12 mg/kg DM). Magnesium was abundant in KEN (1434 ± 75 mg/kg FD, year 2012) and VOL (1334 ± 70). The content of K for DAY and KEN (13,147 ± 900 and 13,185 ± 900 mg/kg FD) was higher than for VOL and SIF; whereas Ca was in the range 340 ± 16–490 ± 28 mg/kg FD. The contents of Cu and Zn were higher in KEN (8.1 ± 0.3 and 25 ± 1 mg/kg FD) when compared to the other varieties and controls. The content of vitamin C is high for KEN and SIF and decreased significantly upon cooking (50% for KEN).