Investigation of naphthalene contamination in olive oil from Greece

Abstract

Incidents of using naphthalene in olive orchards as a repellent of olive fly (Bactrocera oleae) have recently been recorded. Naphthalene, the primary ingredient of mothballs, is described to be diluted in plastic bottles and hanged on the trees releasing its characteristic odor which is supposed to repel olive fly. Since naphthalene has been characterized as possibly carcinogenic to humans and animals, it was considered essential to monitor olive oils regarding their potential contamination with this specific pollutant. To this goal, a simple, sensitive and reliable analytical method for the determination of naphthalene in olive oil has been developed. The method involves extraction with ethyl acetate: acetonitrile (1:1) and determination of naphthalene using gas chromatography triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. The method was validated in four fortification levels, 0.005, 0.01, 0.05, and 0.1?mg/kg in accordance with the EU requirements. The obtained results were acceptable as far as validation criteria are concerned, given recoveries between 71% and 87% and RSDs between 5% and 24%. The limit of determination for naphthalene was set at 0.005?mg/kg based on the lowest concentration level being validated with acceptable accuracy. The analytical technique was successfully applied to 75 olive oil samples collected from oil mills in Greece and no positive results of naphthalene were detected.     

Occupational exposures,delivered doses and exposure limits for chromium and nickel†

The interaction of HCH (50 mg/kg) and dietary protein levels on microsomal drug metabolizing enzymes system and liver lipids were studied in the rats for 90 days. The results indicated that rats fed a lower protein diet and HCH has a higher rate of mortality, lower rate of growth and an increased liver weight. A significant induction in the hepatic microsomal aminopyrine‐N‐demethylase, p‐nitroanisole‐O‐dealkylase, benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylase and glutathione‐S‐transferase activity was observed in pesticide treated animals as compared to control animals. The pathological changes observed in liver of HCH treated animals consisted mainly of necrosis and fatty degeneration of hepatocytes. HCH also induced the significant accumulation of cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipid and total lipid in liver in low protein diet animals. Protein accelerates the metabolism of HCH, resulting in a decrease of HCH concentration with the increase of dietary protein level. A close correlation existed between lipid accumulation, induction of drug metabolizing enzyme system and deposition of HCH in liver.     

血清中二噁英测定方法的优化

以国内外文献及标准方法为基础,优化了血清中17种2、3、7、8位取代的PCDD/Fs的测定方法,建立了同位素内标稀释-索式萃取一段法层析柱净化-高分辨气质联用分析方法.实验结果表明,17种2、3、7、8位取代的PCDD/Fs的方法检出限范围为3.72—14.74 pg.基质加标实验中目标化合物回收率为94.61%—117.14%,标准参考物质SRM1958中PCDD/Fs的多数单体测定结果也在参考值范围内.实际样品同位素内标回收率为66.2%—95.2%,RSD是4.0%—9.0%.该分析方法准确可靠、灵敏、操作简便,适用于血清中二噁英的测定.     

2,3,7,8-TCDD代谢产物的液-质联用分析

采用肝微粒体体外温孵法,对2,3,7,8-TCDD在大鼠肝微粒体中进行体外代谢研究.利用实验中所建立的液相色谱串联质谱方法对其代谢产物进行直接分析,共鉴别出两类代谢产物,分别为2个单羟基化代谢产物(2-OH-1,3,7,8-TCDD和1-OH-2,3,7,8-TCDD)和双羟基化脱氯的代谢产物.     

碳氮比对厨余垃圾堆肥腐熟度的影响

以厨余垃圾和玉米秸秆作为堆肥原料,采用好氧堆肥的方法,探讨了不同C/N比对堆肥腐熟度的影响。结果表明:从温度、pH、电导率(EC)、腐植酸光学特性(E4/E6)、固相C/N和发芽率指数(GI)来看,只有C/N为21(T4)的处理没有达到无害化和腐熟的要求,其余3个处理均达到腐熟;建议采用C/N为17的方案,厨余垃圾和秸秆按照湿基质量9∶1的比例进行堆肥;如果秸秆资源比较丰富,可采用C/N为19的方案,此时厨余垃圾和秸秆湿基比例为5.7∶1。     

恩诺沙星和硫氰酸红霉素对铜绿微囊藻的毒性研究

研究了恩诺沙星、硫氰酸红霉素暴露对铜绿微囊藻生长和生理的影响.结果显示恩诺沙星、硫氰酸红霉素对铜绿微囊藻的生长有抑制作用,且96h-EC50分别为84.6,48.2mg/L;对铜绿微囊藻的叶绿素荧光和光合色素含量的影响一致,表现为浓度-效应关系;对可溶性蛋白含量的影响表现为低促高抑的现象;丙二醛含量随着抗生素浓度的增加显著增加.可见,恩诺沙星和硫氰酸红霉素能够阻碍铜绿微囊藻的光合作用,抑制可溶性蛋白的合成,从而影响铜绿微囊藻的正常生长.     

Trophic transfer of polybrominated diphenyl ethers and polychlorinated biphenyls in a tidal freshwater marsh

The John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) at Tinicum Marsh contains one of the last remaining tidal freshwater marsh communities along the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River Estuary. The marsh receives a significant load of nutrients and sediment-associated contaminants and is hypothesised to act as an effective trap for these chemicals. The goal of this study was to quantify the levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) at various trophic levels at two sites within Tinicum Marsh and assess the factors important in determining their bioaccumulation and trophic transfer. For both PCBs and PBDEs, lipid variation for all species was a large factor in determining contaminant body burden. Also, concentrations in biota increased with increasing trophic level as determined by nitrogen isotope analysis (δ¹⁵N values) at the downstream site within Tinicum Marsh. This trend was less apparent at the upstream site and may be due to differences in feeding behaviours among species between the two sites and/or differences in carbon and nitrogen sources and recycling. These data are valuable in assisting bioaccumulation/trophic transfer studies and serve as benchmarks to which future PCB and PBDE concentrations will be compared.     

Polychlorinated dibenzo p-dioxins and dibenzofurans emissions in a primary copper smelter in China

Metallurgical production is the largest polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/F) emission source in China. However, PCDD/F monitoring and research are rarely conducted on primary metallurgical production. In this study, a demonstration primary copper smelter in China was selected to investigate PCDD/F characteristics and control. Samples were collected from major PCDD/F release points in the smelter process (fly ashes and waste water sludge). Specific analysis of PCDD/F congeners was carried out using a high resolution gas chromatography/high resolution mass spectrometry method. The results showed that PCDD/Fs might be unintentionally produced in the primary copper smelter processes, with sample concentrations of 180–6110 pg/g dry wt; highly chlorinated PCDD/F homologues were predominant. The toxicity of all the samples was calculated to be 120 pg WHO TEQ/g, fly ashes from the refining process furnaces air pollution control device and sludge were hazardous waste with higher PCDD/F toxicity. Both precursor formation and de novo synthesis were found to contribute to PCDD/F formation in the smelter process. PCDD/F characteristics and formation were compared with reported secondary copper smelters. Life-cycle control of PCDD/F was proposed for retrofitting of this smelter and for similar plants in China's primary copper production sector, including control at the PCDD/F formation, removal and disposal stages.     

Trace Element Contaminants in Sediments From the Noaa National Status and Trends Programme Compared to Data From Throughout the World

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Status and Trends (NS&T) Programme has analyzed samples of surface sediment collected at almost 300 coastal and estuarine sites throughout the United States since 1984. the overall distributions for concentrations of each element are approximately lognormal allowing a definition of geometric means and of “high” concentrations as those exceeding the mean plus one standard deviation of the lognormal distribution. Those mean and “high” concentrations should be useful for comparing the NS&T data set and with other reports on sediment contamination. A world-wide data set, constructed from data in the literature, was summarized in an identical manner. It was found, after excluding locally extreme values, that the NS&T and world-wide data sets yielded very similar mean and “high” concentrations for Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn. Chromium was the sole element showing higher summary statistics in the NS&T data set, a result attributed to NS&T sampling in areas of naturally (not contaminated) elevated Cr content. It remains undetermined, however, why the world-wide data set, even with exclusion of “hot spots”, yielded higher means and “highs” for Cd, Hg, As, and Ag.     

Relationships Between Copper Species and Forms,Hydrographic and Biomass Parameters in the Taiwan Erhjin Chi Coastal Area

The first incident of green oysters (Crassostrea gigas) was reported in Taiwan in the Charting coastal area in January, 1986 and mortality was reported three months later. the cause of the greened oysters was identified as copper pollution. the copper content of the green oysters was extremely high - 2100 ppm, 2225 ppm, and 4400 ppm dry weight, in January, 1986, February 1987, and January 1989, respectively. in this paper we summarize the seasonal and regional distributions of copper species (complexed by inorganic and organic ligands, labile and non-labile, polar and non-polar) and forms (dissolved and particulate) and the hydrographic and biomass parameters (mainly particulate organic carbon, chloropyll -α, adenosine triphosphate and primary production) in sea water in the Erhjin Chi coastal area. in general, high concentrations of particulate material (0.24 to 724 ppb) and non-labile organic copper (0.03 to 21.5 ppb) were observed. Low values of polar organic copper (<0.02 to 16.5 ppb) indicated that non-polar organic complexes (0.3 to 20.4 ppb) from man-made organic pollutants were the major complexes in the area studied. On the basis of this data, the cause of greening and mortality in oysters is evaluated in relation to the bioavailable copper (sum of particulate and labile copper) and copper assimilative capacity (detoxicant). Finally, the correlations between the species and forms of copper, hydrographic and biomass parameters are also discussed.