Dioxins and related compounds: Status and regulatory aspects

Several countries have put much effort in dioxin research programmes with the aim to assess the risks of dioxin exposure, to identify dioxin sources and to quantify their contribution to environmental emissions and human exposure. In this review, the accent has been put on: sources of dioxins and their contribution to the total dioxin emissions, sources of human exposure and their contribution to exposure and measures to reduce emission and exposure. The information from countries with existing dioxin regulations is reviewed and compared. Uncertainties which hamper comparability of data are indicated. Results of measures and expectations for the near future are presented.     

三峡库区居民膳食结构与重金属摄入水平研究

采用分层多级整群随机抽样方法,经城乡经济排序,并按公共营养学要求,选取地处三峡库区中心位置的重庆市石柱县549户居民作为调查对象,对库区居民膳食结构进行了调查,同时应用总膳食研究方法,采集了当地12类主要蔬菜、肉类、粮食等样品,测定了铅、砷、镉、汞等4种重金属元素含量,分析了库区居民的重金属摄入水平.结果显示,1)除谷类、豆类、薯类和糖类外,城镇居民对其余各类食物的摄入量均高于农村居民的摄入量,城乡居民对谷类、蔬菜、水果、奶制品的摄入量还存在不足;2)库区食物中铅、镉超标较严重,其中乳类、蛋类铅含量分别为允许限量的4.98、4.54倍,砷、汞超标情况相对较轻;3)库区居民通过食物摄入的铅、砷、镉、汞4种有害重金属元素水平均低于相应的ADI值,但城镇居民、农村居民摄入的镉元素水平分别达到ADI值的86.88%和75.35%,应当引起警惕;4)薯类、谷类和蔬菜类食品是库区居民重金属摄入的主要膳食来源.     

Distribution of polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) in the whole blood of typical meat animals

The concentrations and distribution of polychlorinated naphthalenes(PCNs) in the whole blood of eight typical terrestrial meat animals(chicken, duck, rabbit, pig, cattle, sheep,horse and donkey) consumed daily in our life were investigated. The total concentrations(on a liquid volume basis) of PCNs were in a range from 305 to 987 pg/L. Donkey blood contained the highest PCN concentrations. Mono-CNs were the dominant homolog group,accounting for 38%–71% PCNs. Apart from the mono-CNs and tri-CNs homolog groups, two hepta-CNs(mean: 9.5%) contributed most, followed by tetra-CNs(mean: 6.5%). The congeners CN1, 5/7, 24/14, 27/30, 52/60, 66/67, and 73 were the most abundant congeners or congener groups. The highest toxicity equivalencies(TEQs) were observed in cattle blood(117.4 fg TEQ/L) then chicken blood(117.1 fg TEQ/L). CN73 contributed 65% to total TEQs,followed by CN70(20%) and CN66/67(14%). The dietary intakes of PCNs were also estimated.Chicken meat, which forms the second largest component of meat product consumption in China, contributed most to the total TEQs(61%), followed by beef(27%) and pork(5.9%). The consumption of chicken might pose the highest risk from exposure to PCNs than other types of meat to populations who prefer to eat chicken meat.     

Contrasts in Livelihoods and Protein Intake between Commercial and Subsistence Bushmeat Hunters in Two Villages on Bioko Island,Equatorial Guinea

Across West and Central Africa, wildlife provides a source of food and income. We investigated the relation between bushmeat hunting and household wealth and protein consumption in 2 rural communities in Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea. One village was dedicated to commercial hunting, the other trapped game primarily for food. We tested whether commercial‐hunter households were nutritionally advantaged over subsistence‐hunter households due to their higher income from the bushmeat trade and greater access to wild‐animal protein. We conducted bushmeat‐offtake surveys in both villages (captures by hunters and carcasses arriving to each village). Mammals (including threatened primates: black colobus [Colobus satanas], Preussi's guenon [Allochrocebus preussi], and russet‐eared guenon [Cercopithecus erythrotis]), birds, and reptiles were hunted. The blue duiker (Philantomba monticola), giant pouched rat (Cricetomys emini), and brush‐tailed porcupine (Atherurus africanus) contributed almost all the animal biomass hunted, consumed, or sold in both villages. Monkeys and Ogilbyi's duikers (Cephalophus ogilbyi) were hunted only by commercial hunters. Commercial hunters generated a mean of US$2000/year from bushmeat sales. Households with commercial hunters were on average wealthier, generated more income, spent more money on nonessential goods, and bought more products they did not grow. By contrast, households with subsistence hunters spent less on market items, spent more on essential products, and grew more of their own food. Despite these differences, average consumption of vegetable protein and domestic meat and bushmeat protein did not differ between villages. Our results highlight the importance of understanding the socioeconomic and nutritional context of commercial and subsistence bushmeat hunting to correctly interpret ways of reducing their effects on threatened species and to enable the sustainable offtake of more productive taxa. Contrastes en el Sustento y la Ingesta de Proteínas entre Carne de Caza de Subsistencia y Comercial en Dos Aldeas en Isla Bioko, Guinea Ecuatorial     

Effects of dietary copper exposure on accumulation,growth, and hematological parameters in Cyprinus carpio

The influence of dietary copper (Cu) exposure on accumulation, growth, and hematological parameters was investigated in Cyprinus carpio after sub-chronic ingestion of 0, 250, 500, 750 or 1000?mg?kg^?1 for 60 days. The profile of Cu accumulation among tissues in C. carpio was dependent on the exposure period and Cu concentration. Liver of C. carpio was the predominant storage tissue and the order of Cu accumulation in tissues was liver?>?intestine?> gill?>?kidney?>?muscle. Cu concentration at >125?mg?kg^?1 reduced growth rate, and was inversely related to growth. The RNA?:?DNA ratios were not affected by exposure and there was no correlation between growth rate and RNA?:?DNA ratio in liver and muscle. There were no significant effects of exposure on blood parameters except for magnesium. Cu exposure time and dose increased the serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) activity levels.     

Diet monitoring for assessment of human exposure to environmental pollutants

Daily intake of lead, cadmium, aluminium, radiocaesium, DDT and metabolites, and lindane in the whole-day food rations collected in hospital canteens in Kraków, ?ód?, Olsztyn and Poznań in winters of 1993-1994, 1995 and 1996 were determined. The diets contained almost 40 microg of cadmium, corresponding to 70% of PTWI, and compared to the levels recognised as safe (ADI or PTWI) small amounts of the other contaminants. The highest content of Pb, Cd, Al and lindane was determined in the diets collected in Kraków, that of radiocaesium in ?ód?, and DDT level was the highest in Poznań. The whole-day food rations from Olsztyn, situated in a region called "green lungs of Poland", were not statistically less contaminated than the diets from the other towns. The Pb and radiocaesium levels decreased significantly with time.     

A HYDRODYNAMIC MODELING STUDY TO DETERMINE THE OPTIMUM WATER INTAKE LOCATION IN LAKE PALDANG,KOREA1

A three‐dimensional hydrodynamic model was applied to Lake Paldang, South Korea. The lake has three inflows, of which Kyoungan Stream has the smallest flow rate and poorest water quality. Since all drinking water intake stations are located near the confluence of Kyoungan Stream within the lake, this contaminated tributary may have a significant impact on the quality of drinking water sources. The optimum drinking water intake location was determined from the applied model. The model was calibrated and verified using the data measured under different hydrological conditions. The model results were in reasonable agreement with the field measurements in both calibration and verification. The circulation and spreading patterns of the incoming flows in the lake, as well as their composition ratios to the drinking water intakes were determined from the model, and three alternative intake locations were proposed. The simulation results suggested that the horizontal and vertical relocations of the intake aqueduct could significantly decrease the composition ratio of the contaminated water. From this study, it was concluded that the three‐dimensional hydrodynamic model could successfully simulate the temporal and spatial mixing patterns of incoming flows and become a useful tool in determining the optimum water intake location in Lake Paldang.     

Food Health Policies and Ethics: Lay Perspectives on Functional Foods

Functional foods are a challenge tofood health policies, since they questioncentral ideas in the way that food healthpolicies have been developed over the lastdecades. Driven by market actors instead ofpublic authorities and focusing on the role ofsingle foods and single constituents in foodsfor health, they contrast traditional wisdombehind nutrition policies that emphasize therole of the diet as a whole for health.Sociological literature about food in everydaylife shows that technical rationality co-existswith other food related rationalities, such aspractical and economic rationalities, socialand relational rationalities, and symbolicrationalities that influence citizens' ordinaryeating habits. An examination of lay views onexpert knowledge about food and health showthat skepticism exists with respect to thebasis of and balance of expert advice. Critical points with respect to how functionalfoods may influence routines in the populationswith relevance for public health include thefact, that they promote a way of thinking offood and health that is in conflict withwell-established practical ways of ensuring abalanced diet.     

Setting the stage for the review of the international estimate of short-term intake (IESTI) equation

ABSTRACT

In the framework of setting Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for pesticides, both chronic and acute health risks to consumers arising from the long-term and short-term dietary exposure to pesticide residues have to be assessed. The current internationally harmonized approach for assessing the acute dietary exposure is based on deterministic methods for calculating the IESTI (International Estimate of Short-Term Intake). Recently, it became apparent that the IESTI approach needs a revision in the light of new scientific and political aspects. The main reasons that require this review were the lack of an international harmonization of the methodology which implies trade barriers as well as difficulties in risk communication concerning the public trust in regulatory systems. The most recent milestone in the scientific debate on a possible revision of the IESTI equation was an international scientific workshop held in Geneva in September 2015. The main objectives of this meeting were the re-evaluation, and where possible, the international harmonization of the input parameters for the IESTI equations as well as the equations themselves. The main recommendations from the workshop were (i) to replace the highest residue and supervised trials median residue with the maximum residue limit (MRL), (ii) to use a standard variability factor of three, (iii) to derive the P97.5 large portion value from the distribution of consumption values of dietary surveys expressed as kg food/kg bw/d, and (iv) to remove the commodity unit weight from the equations. In addition, the application of conversion factors and processing factors was addressed. On the initiative of the (World Health Organization) WHO Collaborating Centre on Chemical Food Safety at the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), the Netherlands, an international working group with members from the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety, France (ANSES), Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority, Australia (APVMA), German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Germany (BfR), Chemical Regulation Division, the United Kingdom (CRD), European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and RIVM, the Netherlands was formed after the IESTI workshop to conduct a comprehensive impact assessment of the proposed changes of the IESTI equations.     

广州市不同人群硒摄入量研究

通过酸消解、原子荧光-氢化物发生法测定了广州市市售109种常见食物中硒的含量,结合膳食结构计算了广州市不同人群的每日硒摄入量.结果表明,广州市不同食品硒含量有较大差异,均值为4.97～457.3 μg·kg-1,其中动物性食品硒含量明显高于植物性食品硒含量,硒含量较高的食品有动物内脏、鱼虾类、蛋及蛋制品、猪肉等,均大于150 μg·kg-1.广州市不同人群膳食硒摄入量有明显差别,不同收入人群的摄入量为高收入人群(102.6 μg·d-1)＞中收入人群(83.8 μg·d-1)＞低收入人群(66.6 μg·d-1);老人硒摄入量为73.3 μg·d-1,儿童为44.3 μg·d-1,大学生为86.8 μg·d-1,工人为69.7 μg·d-1;标准人摄入量为98.5 μg·d-1.动物性食品是广州居民硒摄入量的主要来源;其次是大米;蔬菜、水果和豆类及制品等植物性食品贡献很小.广州市不同人群每日硒摄入量处于良好水平.