Nano-inspired systems in food technology and packaging

Creation of food-based nanomaterials for food processing and packaging applications is actually gaining in importance. Indeed, the design of a suitable food carrier system controls the encapsulation efficiency, the product stability and release of bioactives such as micronutrients, antimicrobial compounds and antioxidants. The smaller size of nanomaterials provides higher thermodynamic and kinetic stability. Whereas the higher surface area enhances compound solubility. Nanoemulsions both encapsulate bioactive compounds effectively and address the food safety concerns of the fresh produce associated with foodborne pathogens. Nanoliposomes encapsulate bioactive whey peptides and fat-soluble vitamins with improved functionalities. Encapsulated bioactive molecules are released by diffusion into the surrounding environment after degradation of the surrounding polymeric matrix.     

珠江三角洲土地利用变化对特征大气污染物扩散的影响

在珠江三角洲两种下垫面条件下,应用CALPUFF大气污染扩散模式,对特征污染物SO2、SO42-的扩散进行数值模拟,探讨大规模土地利用变化,尤其是城镇建设用地增加,对珠江三角洲地区大气污染物扩散的影响,并通过对4个典型区污染物月均质量浓度变化特征分析,揭示土地利用变化对不同地区的污染物分布的影响机制。模拟结果表明：土地利用变化,尤其是城镇建设用地增加,不利于污染物扩散,污染源下风方向地区受影响较大,污染物质量浓度明显升高,SO2和 SO42-年均质量浓度分别增加14.07%和3.31%;受影响范围、变化幅度与污染源排污强度呈正相关,变化幅度亦与污染源距离远近呈负相关。土地利用变化后,尤其是城镇建设用地增加,四个典型区 SO2月均质量浓度都表现为升高趋势,且冬季 SO2质量浓度升高幅度最大,夏季升高幅度最小,临近污染源密集区的两个典型区SO2月均质量浓度分别增加33.6%和26.3%。土地利用变化不仅改变局地的污染扩散,也会对区域的污染扩散有一定影响,尤其对污染源分布密集区的大气污染物扩散影响强度最大。因此,建议人类在城市化建设过程中尽可能保留自然斑块,消除人工下垫面对污染物扩散的负面影响。     

苏北地区土壤-水稻系统重金属分布及其食物安全风险评价

2004年在对苏北地区6个县市(丰县、沛县、铜山、睢宁、楚州和东海)采用网格法采样的基础上,随机选择了该区域2种主要土壤类型上98个土样及其上所产水稻籽粒样品,采用原子吸收分光光谱仪和原子荧光光谱仪分别测定了其中的Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd、Cr、Ni、As和Hg 8种重金属的全量.分别以国家绿色食品生产基地标准、无公害农产品生产基地标准以及20世纪80年代的地区背景值为参照依据,分析评价了所研究土壤的重金属污染程度和大米的重金属安全水平,并进一步依据USEPA和WHO推荐的RfD值,结合我国居民平均食物消费结构评估了该地区土壤所产大米对人体的重金属暴露风险.结果显示,该地区的土壤重金属环境质量总体上符合建设绿色食品生产基地的要求,属于总体未明显污染土壤;不过,黄潮土上所产大米中Ni以及砂礓黑土上所产大米中Ni、Pb含量存在超出国家食品卫生安全标准的现象. 依据USEPA的RfD值计算所得结果表明,供试地区所有土壤上所产大米中As、Cr具有明显的食物安全风险,部分地区的大米中Cd存在风险,由于Cd/Zn比值较低,因此基本上仍属安全.为了进一步保障农产品食用安全,一方面需要制订更严格的土壤环境质量标准,控制土壤污染,另一方面可能还需要着力改善大气环境质量.     

江苏近岸海域营养盐类污染分布特征与评价

江苏沿海大多属于淤泥质平原海岸,开发利用方式以农业为主,海水中的营养盐类污染物质量浓度分布与入海河流和海岸区域农田化肥施用强度有重要的关系,因此,了解和探讨江苏近岸营养盐类污染的污染程度及其分布有重要的意义。根据江苏近海区域特征,选择近岸海域19个站点作为研究地点,分别对这些地点的总氮、总磷、无机氮和磷酸盐等营养盐类污染物质量浓度进行了分析,首先探讨了这些营养盐污染物在分布江苏近岸海域沿岸方向和向海方向的空间分布特点,然后结合海水水质标准,利用等标污染指数和综合污染指数等方法进行了污染程度评价,得出了江苏沿海营养盐类污染物在空间分布上具有南北两端和中间部位都比较高,而中部辐射沙洲附近和南北两端之间的质量浓度较低的"W"形分布特征,在向海方向上具有营养盐污染物质量浓度基本上都表现为靠近海岸质量浓度高,远离海岸略低的变化趋势,在污染程度评价方面,总磷等标污染指数普遍超过1,总氮等标污染指数大多小于1,综合污染指数在1.63～14.08之间,差异比较明显,一般表现为南北高中间低的特点,最后结合江苏沿海地区河流排污入海情况以及农田化肥农药施用强度,对江苏近岸海域营养盐类污染分布状况进行了讨论。     

恶臭污染评价分级方法

恶臭污染的定量评价分级是评价恶臭污染状况的重要依据,但目前我国还没有成熟的恶臭污染分级标准.在分析了国外臭气强度标准的基础上,结合韦伯-费希纳公式,计算臭气浓度与臭气强度的对应值,以臭气强度的嗅觉感觉和丰富的实验经验为依据,将恶臭污染程度初步划分为5级,并对分级结果的科学性和合理性进行实验验证.     

Evaluation of pesticides multiresidue contamination of khat leaves from Jazan region,Kingdome Saudi Arabia,using solid-phase extraction – gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

The habit of khat chewing is widespread with a deep-rooted sociocultural tradition in these regions and as such poses a public health problem. The use of pesticides is considered to be indispensable practice for the production of adequate food supply for the increasing demands by the global population and for control of insect-borne diseases. Thus, contamination of the environment with pesticides and entry of these chemicals into the food chain is unavoidable especially in developing countries. The main objective of our current study was to assess pesticide pollution of khat leaves (unknown origin) obtained while being smuggled into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and to be used in Jazan area. A total of 120 khat leaf samples were extracted using solid-phase extraction followed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis for the presence of 69 standard pesticides using an internal standard, tiphenyl phosphate. No pesticide residues were detected in all the studied samples. These data as preliminary and more experiments need to be performed to confirm our present findings. Routine monitoring of the pesticide residues is important for the prevention, control, and reduction of environmental pollution and also for legal decisions to minimize health risks.     

食品烹调处理过程中砷的浓度、形态和生物可给性研究进展

食品作为人体砷暴露的主要途径,其砷的含量和形态备受关注。由于食品原料通常要经过烹饪加工后才会被人食用,因此,食品的烹调处理过程及方式对砷的形态及生物有效性的影响在砷的健康风险评价研究中,需要作为重要因素进行研究。通过综述不同食品烹调处理前后砷浓度、形态和生物可给性变化的相关研究,分析了砷变化的特征,探讨了相关机理,并得出如下结论:烹调处理能使食品中砷的浓度发生升高或降低;高温烹调能使食品中砷形态发生变化,目前研究结果确定的变化主要是砷甜菜碱的分解,烹调中食品砷形态变化的机理尚不明确。不同烹调方式下,食品中砷的生物可给性差异较大,砷的形态变化可能是其生物可给性差异的主要原因。烹调特别是高温烹调下食品砷浓度升高及形态变化导致的健康风险值得进一步关注。     

Die Bedeutung von Lebensmitteln tierischer Herkunft für die Mykotoxinaufnahme beim Menschen

Mycotoxins are a heterogeneous group of secondary fungal metabolites. Their formation in food and feedstuffs is influenced by many factors, including humidity, temperature, pH, oxygen concentration, type of substrate or presence of competitive microflora. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations estimated in 1985 that approximately 25% of the world’s grain supply is contaminated with mycotoxins. There are more than 300 known mycotoxins; however, due to their occurrence and concentrations in food, and their toxic potential, only few of these are relevant with regard to consumer protection. These include the aflatoxins, ochratoxins and trichothecenes like deoxynivalenol, zearalenone and fumonisins. In Germany, only aflatoxins in food and feedstuffs are subjected to legal regulations. Beside the negative effects of mycotoxins on health and performance of farm animals, it is of importance to consider to what extent mycotoxins might be carried over into edible tissues like meat, milk and eggs when fed to farm animals. The present review shows that the carry over of mycotoxins into edible tissues is relatively low and is dependent on the specific mycotoxin and animal species. For example, due to the microbial decomposition of mycotoxins in the rumen, the carry over of mycotoxins into edible tissues of ruminants is considerably lower compared to monogastric species (pigs, chickens). Furthermore, after a short withdrawal period of 4 to 14 days combined with the feeding of non-contaminated diets, most of the mycotoxins, aside from ochratoxin A, are no longer detectable in any edible tissue. Ochratoxin A has a high binding affinity to specific blood proteins and is reabsorbed in the kidney; these mechanisms delay its elimination and increase the withdrawal period to at least 4 weeks. However, aside from the concentration of these substances in food, the daily intake of contaminated food is important for the risk analysis of mycotoxins to humans. In a recent study, it has been shown that more than 50% of the daily intake of ochratoxin A is derived from cereals and cereal products, and 30% from red wine, coffee and beer. Mear products from pigs and chickens only account for 4% of the total intake, while products from ruminants are considered to be negligible. These results indicate that mycotoxin-contaminated edible tissue, as compared to plant products, only plays a minor role with respect to consumer protection.     

An integrated optimization and simulation approach for air pollution control under uncertainty in open-pit metal mine

Air Pollution Control model is developed for open-pit metal mines. Model will aid decision makers to select a cost-effective solution. Open-pit metal mines contribute toward air pollution and without effective control techniques manifests the risk of violation of environmental guidelines. This paper establishes a stochastic approach to conceptualize the air pollution control model to attain a sustainable solution. The model is formulated for decision makers to select the least costly treatment method using linear programming with a defined objective function and multi-constraints. Furthermore, an integrated fuzzy based risk assessment approach is applied to examine uncertainties and evaluate an ambient air quality systematically. The applicability of the optimized model is explored through an open-pit metal mine case study, in North America. This method also incorporates the meteorological data as input to accommodate the local conditions. The uncertainties in the inputs, and predicted concentration are accomplished by probabilistic analysis using Monte Carlo simulation method. The output results are obtained to select the cost-effective pollution control technologies for PM_2.5, PM₁₀, NO_x, SO₂ and greenhouse gases. The risk level is divided into three types (loose, medium and strict) using a triangular fuzzy membership approach based on different environmental guidelines. Fuzzy logic is then used to identify environmental risk through stochastic simulated cumulative distribution functions of pollutant concentration. Thus, an integrated modeling approach can be used as a decision tool for decision makers to select the cost-effective technology to control air pollution.     

SO2污染对农业害虫的间接影响

用开顶式熏气罩研究了SO2污染对粘虫、黄地老虎、小菜蛾、桃蚜、萝卜蚜和豆蚜等农业害虫的影响．结果表明，适度SO2污染显著地促进了这些昆虫的生长和／或繁殖，但高浓度SO2污染对它们有明显的不良影响，这种作用是通过食料植物间接发生的．这些昆虫对适度SO2污染的反应因种类而异：3种鳞翅目昆虫表现为幼虫的平均相对生长速率（MRGR）明显加快，成虫繁殖力变化不大；3种蚜虫主要表现为成蚜的繁殖力大幅度提高．若蚜（除豆蚜外）的MRGR也显著增加．对被处理食料植物营养成分的分析表明，SO2污染诱导的蛋氨酸相对含量变化可能是它产生这些间接影响的重要原因．     

Competing land uses and fossil fuel,and optimal energy conversion rates during the transition toward a green economy under a pollution stock constraint

We study the transition to a carbon-free economy in a model with a polluting non-renewable resource and a clean renewable resource. Transforming primary energy into ready-to-use energy services is costly and more efficient energy transformation rates are more costly to achieve. Renewable energy competes with food production for land and the food productivity of land can be improved at some cost. To avoid catastrophic climate damages, the pollution stock is mandated to stay below a given cap. When the economy is not constrained by the cap, the efficiency of energy transformation increases steadily until the transition toward the ultimate green economy; when renewable energy is exploited, its land use rises at the expense of food production; food productivity increases together with the land rent but food production drops; the food and energy prices increase and renewables substitute for non-renewable energy. During the constrained phase, the economy follows a constant path of prices, quantities, efficiency rates, food productivity and land rent, a phenomenon we call the ‘ceiling efficiency paradox’.     

Aufkommen und Verteilung von Feststoffen in Kanalsystemen

Suspendend solids (SS) are important parameters in the assessment of potential effects of emissions out of sewer systems. This is due to the fact that many pollutants are transported with particles in the sewer systems and therefore are emitted into receiving waters. In this paper, significant emissions in commonly applied sewer systems (combined sewer system [CSS], separate sewer system [SSS]) are mentioned, and typical concentration ranges of SS are listed. Furthermore, data from selected pollutants (lead, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [PAH]) are collected and concentration ranges in typical flow types of the sewer systems are calculated. In the second part of the paper results from pollution load simulations are introduced. The calculations are based on assumptions from literature and were conducted in a hypothetical catchment. Main interest was the comparison of emissions out of SSS and CSS, shown for selected parameters SS, lead and PAH. Results of the pollution load simulation show that emissions for surface runoff related compounds like lead are extremely high in the SSS in comparison to the CSS. This is mainly reasoned by the high elimination rate in the waste water treatment plant (WWTP). In summary, a general answer, which sewer system emits higher pollution loads is not possible. It is extremely dependent on the considered substance and its specific properties and resulting behaviour in the sewer systems. For a first estimation, new classes of substances are distinguished considering their origin (surface runoff versus dry weather flow) and their elimination capacity in the WWTP.     

Recycling food and agriculture by-products to mitigate climate change: a review

Food loss and waste is a major issue affecting food security, environmental pollution, producer profitability, consumer prices, and climate change. About 1.3 billion tons of food products are yearly lost globally, with China producing approximately 20 million tons of soybean dregs annually. Here, we review food and agricultural byproducts with emphasis on the strategies to convert this waste into valuable materials. Byproducts can be used for animal and plant nutrition, biogas production, food, extraction of oils and bioactive substances, and production of vinegar, wine, edible coatings and organic fertilizers. For instance, bioactive compounds represent approximately 8–20% of apple pomace, 5–17% of orange peel, 10–25% of grape seeds, 3–15% of pomegranate peel, and 2–13% of date palm seeds. Similarly, the pharmaceutical industry uses approximately 6.5% of the total output of gelatin derived from fish bones and animal skin. Animals fed with pomegranate peel and olive pomace improved the concentration of deoxyribonucleic acid and protein, the litter size, the milk yield, and nest characteristics. Biogas production amounts to 57.1% using soybean residue, 53.7% using papaya peel, and 49.1% using sugarcane bagasse.

     

Flux of cadmium through euphausiids

Flux of the heavy metal cadmium through the euphausiid Meganyctiphanes norvegica was examined. Radiotracer experiments showed that cadmium can be accumulated either directly from water or through the food chain. When comparing equilibrium cadmium concentration factors based on stable element measurements with those obtained from radiotracer experiments, it is evident that exchange between cadmium in the water and that in euphausiid tissue is a relatively slow process, indicating that, in the long term, ingestion of cadmium will probably be the more important route for the accumulation of this metal. Approximately 10% of cadmium ingested by euphausiids was incorporated into internal tissues when the food source was radioactive Artemia. After 1 month cadmium, accumulated directly from water, was found to be most concentrated in the viscera with lesser amounts in eyes, exoskeleton and muscle, respectively. Use of a simple model, based on the assumption that cadmium taken in by the organism must equal cadmium released plus that accumulated in tissue, allowed assessment of the relative importance of various metabolic parameters in controlling the cadmium flux through euphausiids. Fecal pellets, due to their relatively high rate of production and high cadmium content, accounted for 84% of the total cadmium flux through M. norvegica. Comparisons of stable cadmium concentrations in natural euphausiid food and the organism's resultant fecal pellets indicate that the cadmium concentration in ingested material was increased nearly 5-fold during its passage through the euphausiid. From comparisons of all routes by which cadmium can be released from M. norvegica to the water column, it is concluded that fecal pellet deposition represents the principal mechanism effecting the downward vertical transport of cadmium by this species.     

Toxic substances: Measures and measurements†

The formulation of a sound policy for environmental protection and toxic substances control requires knowledge of the presence and concentration of environmental contaminants. For this reason monitoring programs have been set up in the Netherlands for water, drinking water, and air pollution. The Netherlands system for air pollution, monitoring of the substances SO2, NOχ, CO, O₃ is now fully automated. Some examples will be given to show the acquisition and management and interpretation of air pollution measurements.

Various smaller projects, supported by the Department of Health and Environmental Protection include measurement of indoor air‐contaminants, contaminants in soil and hazardous waste sites, and contaminants in biotic samples such as for instance PCB's in eels and seals and mussels. Moreover a Coordinating Committee regularly collects measurements from various sources in the Netherlands regarding pesticide residues and contaminants in food.

For cost‐effective monitoring the accuracy of the measurements must be chosen with regard to the biological effect concentration of the pollutant. The necessity of proper control measurements to establish background levels and the necessity of ring‐tests to increase interlaboratory reproducibility is discussed. In cost‐effective monitoring the minimum number of measurements, which are necessary to check the effect of environmental protection measures, must be defined through proper sampling.     

Effects of Coastal Lighting on Foraging Behaviorof Beach Mice

Abstract:  Introduction of artificial light into wildlife habitat represents a rapidly expanding form of human encroachment, particularly in coastal systems. Light pollution alters the behavior of sea turtles during nesting; therefore, long-wavelength lights—low-pressure sodium vapor and bug lights—that minimize impacts on turtles are required for beach lighting in Florida (U.S.A.). We investigated the effects of these two kinds of lights on the foraging behavior of Santa Rosa beach mice (  Peromyscus polionotus leucocephalus ). We compared patch use and giving-up densities of mice for experimental food patches established along a gradient of artificial light in the field. Mice exploited fewer food patches near both types of artificial light than in areas with little light and harvested fewer seeds within patches near bug lights. Our results show that artificial light affects the behavior of terrestrial species in coastal areas and that light pollution deserves greater consideration in conservation planning.     

玻璃厂氟污染对周围生态环境的影响

不同树种对氟化物的吸收能力有差异.吸收能力和抵抗能力之间并无明显的相关注,因此在氟污染源附近进行环境绿化时,必须选择吸氟和抗氟能力都较强的园林树种.氟污染具有方向性, 可以通过测定不同部位的叶片含氟量来确定污染源的方位.水洗后的叶片含氟量明显下降,说明玻璃厂排放的含氟烟气中,含氟粉尘占有重要地位.对防治玻璃厂的氟污染危害提出了合理的建议.     

土壤铜铅锌复合污染对水稻的生态效应

采用４水平３因子正交试验设计，通过盆栽试验，用添加法研究了铜、铅、锌及其复合污染的红壤性水稻土对水稻生长、产量、品质的综合影响。结果表明，当土壤受铜、铅、锌单一污染时，三元素对水稻的危害作用依次为锌＞铜＞铅；当土壤中铜、铅、锌都存在时，三元素之间具有协同危害作用，其危害作用依次为铜－铅＞铅－锌＞铜－锌。为使生态环境中食物链不受污染，提出了铜、铅、锌复合污染情况下红壤性水稻土中铜、铅、锌的临界限值为５３、３０５和１６５ｍｇ／ｋｇ。     

Towards a framework for assessment and management of cumulative human impacts on marine food webs

Effective ecosystem‐based management requires understanding ecosystem responses to multiple human threats, rather than focusing on single threats. To understand ecosystem responses to anthropogenic threats holistically, it is necessary to know how threats affect different components within ecosystems and ultimately alter ecosystem functioning. We used a case study of a Mediterranean seagrass (Posidonia oceanica) food web and expert knowledge elicitation in an application of the initial steps of a framework for assessment of cumulative human impacts on food webs. We produced a conceptual seagrass food web model, determined the main trophic relationships, identified the main threats to the food web components, and assessed the components’ vulnerability to those threats. Some threats had high (e.g., coastal infrastructure) or low impacts (e.g., agricultural runoff) on all food web components, whereas others (e.g., introduced carnivores) had very different impacts on each component. Partitioning the ecosystem into its components enabled us to identify threats previously overlooked and to reevaluate the importance of threats commonly perceived as major. By incorporating this understanding of system vulnerability with data on changes in the state of each threat (e.g., decreasing domestic pollution and increasing fishing) into a food web model, managers may be better able to estimate and predict cumulative human impacts on ecosystems and to prioritize conservation actions.     

保安湖鱼体重金属和有机氯农药污染特征及健康风险评价

在湖北保安湖采集主要食用鱼类(团头鲂、鲫鱼、草鱼)样品,通过测定鱼体中的重金属(Cr、Cd、As、Pb、Hg、Cu、Zn)和有机氯农药(六六六(HCHs)、滴滴涕(DDTs))含量,基于不同评估模型分析了这3种鱼的污染特征和健康风险。结果显示,鱼样中Cr、Cu、Zn、As、Cd、Pb和Hg的含量分别为1.03～1.13、0.93～1.66、22.80～31.54、0.08～0.49、0.004～0.007、0.040～0.050和0.03～0.06 mg·kg~(-1);鱼样中HCHs、DDTs的含量为5.94～38.04和5.99～38.38 ng·g~(-1)ww。根据国家规定的有毒有害物质限量标准,团头鲂和鲫鱼中As分别超标0.2和3.9倍;鲫鱼体内HCHs和草鱼体内DDTs含量分别超标0.9和2.8倍;其他鱼样重金属和有机氯农药含量均未超过标准限值。总体来看,鲫鱼重金属严重污染,重金属综合污染程度的顺序是鲫鱼团头鲂草鱼;鲫鱼和草鱼体内有机氯农药(OCPs)达到重度污染,OCPs综合污染程度为草鱼鲫鱼团头鲂; 3种鱼样重金属和OCPs复合暴露条件下健康风险评估结果表明,食用3种鱼肉的致癌风险都大于10-6,即均存在一定的潜在致癌风险,致癌风险概率为鲫鱼草鱼团头鲂,同时,食用鲫鱼还存在非致癌健康风险,其污染来源及有效防治值得进一步研究。