Concentration of DL-PCBs in fish from market of Parma city (north Italy): estimated human intake

The concentrations of 12 congeners of non-ortho and mono-ortho dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (ΣDL-PCB) were measured in 30 fish samples from Parma markets by GC/MS technique. The samples were randomly purchased, choosing the species commonly found in supermarkets. The concentration of DL-PCBs estimated remained under the fixed Italian limit of 4 pg g⁻¹ ww WHO-TEQ (World Health Organization-Toxic Equivalent) in the major part of the samples, so the situation seems to be not at a level sufficient to pose a risk to human health of the Parma population. The medium daily intake for DL-PCBs for Italian consumers (Parma) was also estimated. This value generally resulted minor than 2 pg g⁻¹ ww WHO-TEQ kg⁻¹ body weight, exceeding only in four cases: eel, smooth hound, starry smooth hound and tuna.     

PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs in human milk and estimation of infants' daily intake: a review

This paper reviews the recent scientific literature on PCDDs, PCDFs and dioxin-like PCBs in human milk. All the papers reporting levels of these contaminants in human breast milk published from January 2000 to January 2009 and available on the www.sciencedirect.com web site were identified and included. The aim was (1) to study levels of PCDDs, PCDFs and PCBs in human milk in mothers from different geographical areas and assess infant exposure to these contaminants; (2) to study the effect of variables such as the mother’s age, number of deliveries, dietary and smoking habits and her own nutrition in infancy, and the environment, on levels of the contaminants in breast milk; (3) to study time patterns, and (4) to identify data gaps.     

Arsenic speciation in rice consumed in south-western Nigeria,and estimation of dietary intake of arsenic species through rice consumption

This study determined concentrations and speciation of arsenic (As) in rice samples obtained from the cities of Akure, Ore, Ondo and Ikare in Ondo State, south-western Nigeria. The estimated dietary intake of As from rice consumption for total As and the identified As species were compared with the As benchmark dose lower confidence limit. Analyses of rice from the four cities identified three As species: inorganic As, monomethylarsonic, acid and dimethylarsinic acid. Concentrations of total As and the As species differed significantly across the sampling locations (by a factor of 2.5 for total As). Mean levels (±S.D.) were 58.8 ± 0.7 µg/kg total As, 47.0 ± 0.6 µg/kg inorganic As, 0.33 ± 0.03 µg/kg monomethylarsonic acid, and 11.5 ± 0.1 µg/kg dimethylarsinic acid. The estimated mean dietary intakes were 4.1 µg/d total As, 3.3 µg/d inorganic As, 0.02 µg/d monomethylarsonic acid, and 0.8 µg/d dimethylarsinic acid. These values are below the benchmark dose lower confidence limit and comparable to, or lower than, those reported for other countries. Thus, consumption of rice cultivated in south-western Nigeria does not appear to have inherent As-associated health risks.     

Pesticide residues in Italian Ready-Meals and dietary intake estimation

The investigations carried out during 2005 by state-run Italian laboratories within the framework of controls seeking pesticide residues monitoring in foodstuffs involve quantifying the levels of such residues in fruit and vegetable produce and their processed products: oil, wine and fruit juices. The Italian Ready-Meal Residue Project, promoted by the pesticides working group of Italian Environmental Agencies, seeks to asses the quantity of pesticides in pre-prepared (ready-to-eat) lunches (comprising a first course, side dish, fruit, bread and wine), and to quantify the amounts consumed and compare with the acceptable daily intake ADIs.The data provided by 16 laboratories which analyzed 50 complete meals in 2005 (samples taken on 8 February, 26 May, 24 October, 21 December 2005) showed residues in 39 lunches, with an average number of 2.4 pesticides in each meal and a maximum of 10 pesticides. The most frequently found substances were: pirimiphos-methyl (20 times), procymidone (17), pyrimethanil (7), iprodione (7), cyprodinil (7), fenitrothion (6), diphenylamine (6), chlorpyrifos (6), metalaxyl (5) and chlorpyrifos-methyl (5).The distribution of residues among each dish of the meal was also examined, and the results showed that: 77.3% of the residues were present in the fruit, 14.9% in the wine, 3.0% in the main course, 2.8% in the bread and 2.1% in the side dish. Assuming that two meals are consumed per day, the daily intake of pesticide residues was calculated on a daily basis, in relation to normal body weight (60 kg for an adult, 40 kg for a teenager, 20 kg for a child) and compared with the ADI values established by the European Union. In the case of adults, the average daily intake of pesticides in relation to ADI was 2.6% with a maximum of 73.3%; for teenagers it was 4.9% with a maximum of 109% and for children it was 9.8% with a peak of 219%.     

Metal contents and potential health risk assessment of crops grown in a former mining district (Romania)

ABSTRACT

The Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn contents in home-grown crops in a former mining district were determined in order to evaluate the non-carcinogenic long-term potential health risk related to crop consumption. The potential health risk was investigated by estimating the daily intake and the hazard quotients. For all crop categories, the daily intake and the target hazard quotient were below the threshold values for Cd, Cu, and Zn. The daily intake of Pb exceeded the oral reference dose, while the target hazard quotient for vegetables was above 1, indicating a potential health risk. The total target hazard quotient for the individual metals decreased in the following order: Pb>Cd>Cu>Zn. This study confirmed that the daily consumption of crops grown in contaminated soils could pose health risks to humans.     

Sorption and desorption of carbamazepine, naproxen and triclosan in a soil irrigated with raw wastewater: estimation of the sorption parameters by considering the initial mass of the compounds in the soil

The amphipod Hyalella azteca was exposed for 28 d to different combinations of Zn contaminated sediment and food. Sediment exposure (+clean food) resulted in increased Zn body burdens, increased mortality and decreased body mass when the molar concentrations of simultaneously extracted Zn were greater than the molar concentration of Acid Volatile Sulfide (SEM_Zn-AVS > 0), suggesting that dissolved Zn was a dominant route of exposure. No adverse effect was noted in the foodexposure (+clean sediment), suggesting selective feeding or regulation. Combined exposure (sediment + food) significantly increased adverse effects in comparison with sediment exposure, indicating contribution of dietary Zn to toxicity and bioaccumulation. The observed enhanced toxicity also supports the assumption on the presence of an avoidance/selective feeding reaction of the amphipods in the single sediment or food exposures. During 14 d post-exposure in clean medium, the organisms from the same combined exposure history received two feeding regimes, i.e. clean food and Zn spiked food. Elevated Zn bioaccumulation and reduced reproduction were noted in amphipods that were offered Zn spiked food compared to the respective organisms that were fed clean food. This was explained by the failure of avoidance/selective feeding behavior in the absence of an alternative food source (sediment), forcing the amphipods to take up Zn while feeding. Increasing Zn body burdens rejected the assumption that Zn uptake from food was regulated by H. azteca. Our results show that the selective feeding behavior should be accounted for when assessing ecological effects of Zn or other contaminants, especially when contaminated food is a potential exposure route.     

Polychlorobiphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in conventional and organic brands of milk: occurrence and dietary intake in the population of the Canary Islands (Spain)

The population of the Spanish archipelago of the Canary Islands has been studied in depth regarding its levels of contamination by organochlorine pesticides (OCs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Foodstuffs of animal origin, such as milk, are prominent contributors to the body burden of these contaminants. As this population presents one of the highest milk-intake in Spain and Europe, we evaluated the level of OCs and PCBs in 26 commercially available brands of milk (16 conventional and 10 organic brands) present in the market of these Islands, in order to estimate the relevance of milk as a source of these chemicals for the Canary population. Our findings showed that hexachlorobenzene, trans-chlordane, and PCB153 were present in almost all the samples with independence of the type of milk. For both types of milks, the concentration of OCs was very low, showing organic milks lower levels than conventional ones. As a consequence, the estimated daily intake for OCs was lower than the tolerable daily intake (TDI) established by International Agencies. The levels of PCBs in milk were also found to be very low, but, in this case, the situation was the opposite: there were higher levels of PCBs in organic than in conventional brands of milk. Unexpectedly, levels of dioxin-like PCBs (DL-PCBs) reached values higher than 25 pg WHO-TEQ g⁻¹ fat in percentile 75 for both types of milk indicating the existence of a number of brands of milk highly contaminated by these toxicants. Consequently, the population who consume the most contaminated milk brands could have estimated daily intakes well above the recommended TDI (2 pg WHO-TEQ kg⁻¹ b.w. d⁻¹) established by European Union Authorities. These results are of concern if we consider the well known adverse health effects exerted by dioxin-like compounds.     

长春市郊区蔬菜有机磷农药残留与健康风险评价

为了明晰长春市郊区蔬菜有机磷农药残留现况,原位采集7种214个蔬菜样品,采用气相色谱法(GC-FPD)对11种有机磷农药进行分析测定,并采用目标危险系数(THQ)法等对其风险进行了预测研究.结果表明,样品可食用部分有机磷农药含量超过与低于最大残留限量(MRL)的比率分别为23.4%和68.7%,仅7.9%样品未检出有机磷农药.有机磷农药检出率顺序依次为:二嗪农(82.2%)甲拌磷(45.8%)乐果(29.4%)甲基对硫磷(27.6%)氧化乐果(23.8%)敌敌畏(22.9%)杀螟硫磷(21%)倍硫磷(18.7%)对硫磷(18.2%)甲胺磷(17.3%)马拉硫磷(12.1%).叶菜类蔬菜有机磷超标率高于根茎类和茄果类蔬菜.不同种类蔬菜有机磷农药超标率顺序依次为:葱(82.5%)萝卜(37.5%)辣椒(17.2%)白菜(14.3%)黄瓜(3.2%)茄子(2.9%)西红柿(0%).49.5%蔬菜中检测到1种以上有机磷农药.目标平均危险系数(ave THQ)均小于1,ave HI为0.462.因此,从蔬菜有机磷农药平均含量看,目前蔬菜中的有机磷农药不会对市民造成明显的健康风险.     

Benefits and risks associated with consumption of Great Lakes fish containing omega-3 fatty acids and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

正Introduction Assessment of environmental health effects arising from exposure to multiple substances is often very challenging.This is particularly true when humans are exposed to a mixture that contains both beneficial and harmful substances.A good example relates to the risk and benefits of fish consumption.     

“引黄入呼”取水口动态性水环境容量计算

针对黄河呼和浩特段沿线水体持续污染为"引黄入呼"取水口带来的水环境质量问题,采用MIKE三维水动力和水质耦合模型,进行了"引黄入呼"取水口水环境容量动态性研究,这对取水口水安全与上游排污能力协调、稳定推进呼和浩特市饮用水的健康运行具有重要意义.结果表明:按照90%供水保证率进行计算,黄河呼和浩特段"引黄入呼"取水口处可以满足"引黄入呼"取水需求,流量剩余量在结冰枯水期可达5250%,丰水期可达42500%;黄河呼和浩特段"引黄入呼"取水口处DO、NH_4~+-N、NO_3~-、BOD、TP、FC、COD均可满足《地表水环境质量标准》(GB3838—2002)Ⅲ类标准中的相关限值,整体水体状况良好,都具有一定的容量,NH_4~+-N、NO_3~-、BOD、TP、FC剩余容量较大,COD容量较小但DO容量较大,经分析,目前没有富营养化、藻类大量繁殖等不良趋势发生,短时间内容量较为稳定;DO、NO_3~-、FC、TP水环境容量通年较为平稳,分别在1.97 mg·L~(-1)、6.25 mg·L~(-1)、9327个·g-1、0.12 mg·L~(-1)附近波动;NH_4~+-N、BOD、COD最小水环境容量分别出现在4月(0.27 mg·L~(-1))、9月(0.70 mg·L~(-1))、6月(0.20 mg·L~(-1)),最大水环境容量均出现在7月,分别为0.72、2.80、7.57 mg·L~(-1).