Trace metal contents in some brands of canned beef in Nigeria

The concentrations of cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, zinc, manganese, iron, cobalt, and nickel in some brands of canned beef in Nigerian markets were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The mean concentration ranges for these metals in mg?kg^?1 were 0.02–0.37 for Cd, <0.04–0.75 for Cr, 1.1–2.4 for Cu, <0.001–1.5 for Pb, 1.1–8.0 for Zn, <0.04–0.57 for Mn, 13.8–28.8 for Fe, 0.05–0.26 for Co, and 0.8–5.9 for Ni. The estimated dietary intake of metals from these products did not indicate any risk since the values were far below the permissible dietary intakes.     

Do bumble bee queens choose nest sites to maximize foraging rate? Testing models of nest site selection

We proposed “foundress-max” hypothesis that a bumble bee foundress chooses her nest site to maximize her energy intake rate from nectar. To examine the hypothesis, we estimated the maximum energy intake rate at each site in the study area and compared the distribution of the maximum energy intake rates with those of actual nest sites. We also calculated rank correlations of the maximum energy intake rate with the number of nest-searching foundresses at 54 sites. The nest locations supported the foundress-max hypothesis, but the number of nest-searching foundresses did not. This could be attributed to the density of food sites: many food sites may attract many foundresses. Therefore, we subsequently proposed “foundress-sum” hypothesis that a foundress chooses her nest site to maximize the sum of energy intake rates. The nest locations supported the foundress-max hypothesis more than the foundress-sum hypothesis. A profitable food site would affect foundresses’ nest site selection.     

阜山金矿进回风巷粉尘孔粒径分布及其分形特征

为探究金属矿井下粉尘孔粒径特征,以阜山金矿为例,系统研究其进风巷粉尘(IAD)、回风巷粉尘(RAD)的孔粒径分布(PSD)情况.首先,利用激光粒度分析仪与扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、低温液氮吸附仪分别测试粉尘粒径与孔参数,然后利用分形理论计算并分析其粒度分形维数与孔分形维数.结果 表明:RAD粒径比IAD粒径小,两者最可...     

福建东山湾养殖贝类重金属污染状况及健康风险评价

为了解东山湾海水养殖贝类重金属污染状况及健康风险水平,2016年11月采集了华贵栉孔扇贝(Chlamys nobills)、菲律宾蛤仔(Ruditapes philippinarum)、鲍(Haliotis sp.)、巴非蛤(Paphia sp.)、牡蛎(Saccostrea sp.)和翡翠贻贝(Perna viridis)等6种常见贝类,对其污染指数、膳食暴露量和健康风险等进行评价。结果表明,东山湾贝类体内Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd、Cr、As和Hg含量(均值)分别为9.69、0.19、43.5、0.65、0.21、0.010和1.69μg·g~(-1),与第一类海洋生物质量标准限值相比,Cu、Pb、Zn、Cd、Cr和As的超标率分别为16.7%、83.3%、33.3%、33.3%、16.7%和100%;但除华贵栉孔扇贝Cd含量超标外,Pb、Cr、Hg和As含量均能满足食品中污染物限量标准要求。尽管东山湾贝类总致癌风险R_c=1.65×10~(-4),存在一定的健康风险,但5种贝类体内重金属含量略低于我国东部-南部沿海贝类的平均水平,且2010—2017年期间东山湾牡蛎体内重金属污染状况没有明显变化(养殖生物质量指数<5%),加上重金属膳食暴露风险较低,总非致癌风险R_n=0.94(<1),总体而言贝类质量状况尚可。     

典型汞污染地区食物汞含量及人体汞暴露健康风险

系统采集典型汞污染地区(铅锌冶炼、金矿冶炼和燃煤电厂)食物样品(大米、蔬菜和鱼肉) 409个,测定其总汞含量以评估当地居民食物摄入汞暴露的健康风险。结果显示:铅锌冶炼地区大米总汞含量的几何均值为5.99μg·kg~(-1)(3.02～30.7μg·kg~(-1)),仅有1个样品总汞含量超过我国大米汞限量标准(20μg·kg~(-1)),蔬菜和鱼肉总汞含量分别为0.646～5.44μg·kg~(-1)和1.80～26.4μg·kg~(-1),均未超过我国食品汞限量标准;金矿冶炼地区大米总汞含量的几何均值为4.46μg·kg~(-1)(3.13～8.67μg·kg~(-1)),蔬菜和鱼肉总汞含量分别为0.760～7.83μg·kg~(-1)和1.59～21.9μg·kg~(-1),所有食物均未超过我国食品汞限量标准;燃煤电厂地区大米总汞含量的几何均值为3.63μg·kg~(-1)(1.05～11.4μg·kg~(-1)),蔬菜和鱼肉总汞含量分别为1.12～3.78μg·kg~(-1)和2.24～12.3μg·kg~(-1),所有食物均未超过我国食品汞限量标准。铅锌冶炼、金矿冶炼和燃煤电厂3个地区居民通过食用食物(大米、鱼肉和蔬菜途径)总汞摄入量的均值分别为0.068、0.038和0.031μg·d~(-1)·kg~(-1),均未超出联合国粮农组织和世界卫生组织食品添加剂联合专家委员会(JECFA)推荐的人体安全总汞摄入量0.71μg·d~(-1)·kg~(-1);表明3个研究地区居民汞暴露的风险较低。大米汞摄入量占3个地区居民食物总汞摄入量的比例分别为77.2%、70.8%和71.4%,食用大米是当地居民汞暴露的主要途径。     

PCDDs and PCDFs in food samples from Catalonia, Spain. An assessment of dietary intake

Food samples from local markets and supermarkets of Tarragona (Catalonia, Spain) were analyzed for PCDD/F concentrations. On lipid basis, PCDD/F levels in meat, fish, eggs, and fats and oils were similar or lower than those found in other countries. By contrast, in general terms PCDD/F levels in milk, vegetables, and cereals showed higher levels than those previously reported. The total dietary PCDD/F intake by the population of Tarragona was estimated to be 210 pg I-TEQ/day. This value is higher than the dietary intake of PCDD/Fs found in a number of surveys from other countries. However, when total dietary intake of PCDD/Fs was calculated including only fish and seafood, meat, milk and dairy products, eggs, and fats and oils, a dietary intake of PCDD/Fs of 117 pg I-TEQ/day was obtained. This intake is in the same range than that reported for different regions and countries. The results of the present study show that food groups such as vegetables, fruits, and cereals should not be excluded to estimate the total dietary intake of PCDD/Fs by general populations, especially in those countries and/or regions in which their consumptions are notable.     

长江口-杭州湾海洋生物中双酚A和三氯生的浓度分布特征

双酚A(BPA)和三氯生(TCS)是两种受广泛关注的典型环境内分泌干扰物,而长江口-杭州湾是我国最主要的海产品生产海域之一,因此,长江口-杭州湾海洋生物中BPA和TCS的污染特征应引起重视。检测了长江口-杭州湾26种海洋生物体(17种鱼类、6种软体动物、3种甲壳类)肌肉组织中BPA和TCS的浓度分布特征,结果显示:所有海洋生物样品中都可检出BPA,其浓度为0.14~18 ng/g(平均5.2 ng/g);73%的海洋生物样品中含有TCS,其浓度为P<0.01);鱼类、软体动物、甲壳类中BPA和TCS的平均浓度分别为5.8、5.2、2.3 ng/g和12、15、28 ng/g;据估算,浙江普通居民通过食用海洋生物对BPA和TCS的每日摄入量均值分别为5.6 ng/kg和15 ng/kg。     

Copper oxide nanoparticles can induce toxicity to the freshwater shredder Allogamus ligonifer

Increased commercialisation of nanometal-based products augments the possibility of their deposition into aquatic ecosystems; this, in turn, may pose risks to aquatic biota and associated ecological functions. Freshwater invertebrate shredders mostly use microbially-colonized plant litter as food resource and play an important role in aquatic detritus food webs. We assessed lethal effects of nanoCuO on the shredder Allogamus ligonifer (Trichoptera, Limnephilidae) by determining the concentration that induced 50% of death (LC₅₀), and sublethal effects of nanoCuO on the feeding behaviour and growth of the shredder by exposing the animals to: (i) stream water supplemented with nanoCuO and microbially-colonized leaves, and (ii) stream water (without nanoCuO) and microbially-colonized leaves pre-exposed to nanoCuO. Results from acute lethal tests showed that the 96 h LC₅₀ of nanoCuO was very high (569 mg L⁻¹). In the absence of nanoparticles, leaf consumption rate was 0.27 mg leaf DM mg⁻¹ animal DM d⁻¹ and the shredder growth rate was 56 μg animal DM mg⁻¹ animal DM d⁻¹. A significant inhibition in leaf consumption rate (up to 47%) and invertebrate growth rate (up to 46%) was observed when shredders were exposed to the higher tested sublethal concentration of nanoCuO (75 mg L⁻¹) through either contaminated stream water or pre-contaminated food. The exposure to increased nanoCuO concentration via water or pre-contaminated food led to higher accumulation of copper in the larval body. Leached water-soluble ionic copper from the nanoCuO adsorbed or accumulated in the shredder (up to 10.2% of total Cu) seemed to influence the feeding behaviour and growth of the shredder.     

Congener profile, occurrence and estimated dietary intake of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in foods marketed in the Region of Valencia (Spain)

During 2006-2008, a monitoring program was conducted on 29 target compounds, including PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs, comprising 150 randomly collected individual food samples marketed in the Region of Valencia, Spain, grouped into 8 categories (vegetables, cereals, fats and oils, eggs, milk and dairy products, fish products, meat and meat products and fish oil). For PCDD/Fs, the highest frequency of detection corresponds to 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD, OCDD, 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF; and PCBs 118, 105 and 156 were the more frequent dl-PCBs. The food groups presenting higher contamination, expressed as toxic equivalents (WHO-TEQs), were fish oil (6.38 pg WHO-TEQ g⁻¹ fat), fish (1.21 pg WHO-TEQ g⁻¹ w.w.) and milk and dairy products (0.90 pg WHO-TEQ g⁻¹ fat). Of all analysed samples, only two fish oils presented levels higher than the EU limits for total WHO-TEQ. The average PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs intakes were estimated as 2.86 pg WHO-TEQ kg⁻¹ b.w. d⁻¹ and 4.58 pg WHO-TEQ kg⁻¹ b.w. d⁻¹, for adults and children, respectively, using the deterministic method for chronic exposure. The main contributors to total intake for adults were fish (59%), milk and dairy products (19%), and fat and oils (9%). The average daily intake for adults (2.86 pg WHO-TEQ kg⁻¹ b.w. d⁻¹) is within range of TDI recommended by the WHO (1-4 pg WHO-TEQ kg⁻¹ b.w. d⁻¹), and slightly above the TWI and PTMI adopted by SCF and JECFA respectively.     

Waging the struggle for healthy eating: food environments,dietary regimes and Brazil's dietary guidelines

The struggle for healthy eating is a nascent social movement that represents active resistance to the hostile food environments created by multinational food and beverage corporations. Using a political economy approach and leveraging Winson's [2013. The industrial diet: the degradation of food and the struggle for healthy eating. Vancouver: UBC Press] concepts of dietary regimes and the industrial diet, this paper will examine the strengths and limitations of Brazil's new dietary guidelines and discuss its role as a precursor to a new dietary regime that incorporates social justice and sustainability.