Environment contamination by mycotoxins and their occurrence in food and feed: Physiological aspects and economical approach

The contamination of food and feed by mycotoxins as toxic metabolites of fungi is a risk not only for consumers resulting in various embarrassment regarding health status and well-being, but also for producers, companies and export market on the ground of economic losses and ruined stability of economic trade. As it is given in historical evidence, the contamination of food by mycotoxins is a topic as old as a history of mankind, finding some evidence even in the ancient books and records. Nowadays, the mycotoxins are used in modern biotechnological laboratories and are considered an agent for targeting the specific cells (e.g., defected cells to eliminate them). However, this promising procedure is only the beginning. More concern is focused on mycotoxins as abiotic hazard agents. The dealing with them, systematic monitoring, and development of techniques for their elimination from agricultural commodities are worldwide issues concerning all countries. They can be found alone or in co-occurrence with other mycotoxins. Thus, this review aims to provide widened information regarding mycotoxins contamination in environment with the consequences on health of animals and humans. The inevitability for more data that correctly determine the risk points linked to mycotoxins occurrence and their specific reactions in the environment is demonstrated. This review includes various symptoms in animals and humans that result from mycotoxin exposure. For better understanding of mycotoxin's impact on animals, the sensitivities of various animal species to various mycotoxins are listed. Strategies for elimination and preventing the risks of mycotoxins contamination as well as economical approach are discussed. To complete the topic, some data from past as historical evidences are presented.     

Household food waste: the implications of consumer choice in food from purchase to disposal

Food and food-related waste is a high priority in terms of waste minimisation in New Zealand. Over the summer of 2012–2013, a survey of 147 participants was conducted on a range of views and practices related to environmental challenges and understandings. The survey, undertaken in Palmerston North, New Zealand, captured a wide socio-demographic. This article focuses on respondents’ food practices from purchase, to plate, to disposal and the environmental implications of these practices. The survey data have allowed an enriched understanding of both individual and structural level challenges as well as incentives towards improving environmental practices in relation to household food waste minimisation. The results indicated that, in keeping with other research in this area, food waste increases according to the number of individuals in a household, and in particular the number of younger people. Also, while the majority of participants were at least “somewhat concerned” about their households’ environmental impact, over three quarters of participant households put food waste into their rubbish bin. Some solutions and directions to further progress research, policy, and practice in this area are offered, and include the need for more direct and personalised communication regarding waste minimisation, along with the provision of kerbside food waste collections. It is clear that individual- or household-level changes are important and must be supported systemically by both local body and state level legislation and initiatives, if there is to be any substantial decline in food waste going to landfill.     

餐厨垃圾高温厌氧消化产沼气的试验研究

探究了温度、含固率、pH及接种率对餐厨垃圾厌氧消化产沼量的影响,并设计L9(34)正交试验进行厌氧发酵工艺优化研究。结果表明,在温度为55℃、含固率为8%(质量分数)、pH为7.00、接种率为90%(质量分数)时,厌氧发酵累积产沼量为809.0mL/g(以挥发性固体计);各影响因素对产沼量的影响大小为温度pH接种率含固率。     

FCR多级接触氧化系统处理乳品工业废水的研究

为提高乳品工业废水生物处理的去污脱氮能力,以新型螺旋状纤维填料作为载体,采用多级氧化槽内不同种类微生物形成的食物链系统（food chain reactor）,详细考察了不同水力停留时间COD、TN、NH^＋₄-N、TP等的去除率及其去除机理,并对污泥减量化效果进行了初步探讨.结果表明,当进水COD为842～1 843 　mg/L、TN为36.3～92.2 　mg/L、NH^＋₄-N为30.1～52.1 　mg/L,HRT=6　h时,系统COD的平均去除率达到93.3%;TN和NH⁺₄-N的去除效果显著,其平均去除率分别达到73.3%和80.7%,出水COD、TN、NH⁺₄-N平均值分别为79.4　mg/L、9.6 　mg/L、6.1　mg/L,均低于《污水综合排放标准》（GB 8978-2002）的一级标准.该系统不仅具有较高的去污脱氮效果,而且产生的剩余污泥量极少,其污泥产率的平均值为7.7%.该系统运行费用低,操作管理方便,长期运行稳定,可应用于城市污水、中高浓度有机废水（如餐厅污水、食品工业废水）等的处理.     

Indigenous Systems of Forest Classification: Understanding Land Use Patterns and the Role of NTFPs in Shifting Cultivators’ Subsistence Economies

This article discusses the system of classification of forest types used by the Pwo Karen in Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary in western Thailand and the role of nontimber forest products (NTFPs), focusing on wild food plants, in Karen livelihoods. The article argues that the Pwo Karen have two methods of forest classification, closely related to their swidden farming practices. The first is used for forest land that has been, or can be, swiddened, and classifies forest types according to growth conditions. The second system is used for land that is not suitable for cultivation and looks at soil properties and slope. The article estimates the relative importance of each forest type in what concerns the collection of wild food plants. A total of 134 wild food plant species were recorded in December 2004. They account for some 80–90% of the amount of edible plants consumed by the Pwo Karen, and have a base value of Baht 11,505 per year, comparable to the cash incomes of many households. The article argues that the Pwo Karen reliance on NTFPs has influenced their land-use and forest management practices. However, by restricting the length of the fallow period, the Thai government has caused ecological changes that are challenging the ability of the Karen to remain subsistence oriented. By ignoring shifting cultivators’ dependence on such products, the involvement of governments in forest management, especially through restrictions imposed on swidden farming practices, is likely to have a considerable impact on the livelihood strategies of these communities.     

矿物材料对餐厨垃圾厌氧消化的影响研究

在试验的基础上研究了3种矿物材料膨润土、斜发沸石、粉煤灰对富含钠离子的餐厨垃圾厌氧消化过程的影响.结果表明,在发酵温度为35℃、底物固含量(TS)为10%、添加物用量为1%(质量分数,以消化底物计)时,膨润土、沸石粉、粉煤灰对含盐餐厨垃圾的厌氧发酵消化液中的钠离子具有良好的吸附性能,吸附率分别为13.75%、10.11%、7.99%.在未使用无机矿物的情况下,当钠离子浓度为3000～4000mg·L-1时,含盐餐厨垃圾的的厌氧消化过程受到Na 离子的明显抑制.从产气量分析,3种矿物材料均能明显促进餐厨垃圾的厌氧消化过程,与空白对照试组相比,膨润土、斜发沸石、粉煤灰分别使产气量提高了131%、82%和45%.三者对甲烷气产量的促进影响强弱顺序是,膨润土＞斜发沸石＞粉煤灰.初步讨论了这3种矿物材料提高餐厨垃圾厌氧消化甲烷产量的作用机理.     

油脂对污泥和餐厨垃圾厌氧消化的影响

探究了油脂对污泥和餐厨垃圾厌氧消化性能的影响。结果表明,油脂对污泥和餐厨垃圾厌氧消化的影响与油脂的含量相关。当油脂质量分数由0提高至30%时,生物气的产量(以挥发性悬浮固体VSS计)也由385 m L/g提高至489 m L/g,然而继续升高油脂含量会抑制生物产气。机理分析表明,适当提高油脂含量能够提高有机物的溶出、VSS的减量以及挥发性脂肪酸(VFA)的积累,从而为微生物提供了良好的条件。过高含量的油脂会抑制有机物溶出和VFA的积累。     

Factors affecting the quantitative uncertainty of the estimated short-term intake. Part I—Calculation methods

ABSTRACT

The calculation of the combined uncertainty of the international estimated short-term intake (IESTI) of ethephon residues in apples is shown as an example. The ethephon residues in apples were reported by the Joint FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations)/WHO (World Health Organization) Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR). The apple consumption data were taken from the IESTI (international short-term intake) calculation template used by the JMPR. The IESTI was calculated with the currently used method (case 2a) and a proposed one recommended by the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority)/RIVM (Dutch National Institute for Public Health) Scientific Workshop co-sponsored by FAO and WHO. In this example, the ratio of IESTI_proposed/IESTI_current and their combined relative uncertainty are about 2.8, and 1.7, respectively. The larger IESTI and uncertainty obtained with the proposed equation are the consequence of calculation only with the large portion (LP) instead of its combination with unit mass, and the MRL instead of the highest residue (HR). The LP is the major contributor to the combined uncertainty. Both the calculated IESTI and its combined uncertainty depend on the actual food – pesticide residue combination, and should be calculated for each case.     

The Grain-population Relationship and the Effect of Main Food Producing Areas in China

With the increase of global population, grain-popula- tion relationship has attracted great attention worldwide. In China, grain-population relationship has become an increasingly impor- tant economic ...     

Time needed to evacuate the Netherlands in the event of large-scale flooding: strategies and consequences

On 30 May 2008, the Government of the Netherlands informed the national parliament about the effectiveness of preventive evacuation of coastal and river areas in case of flooding. Analysis of a case study showed that it is impossible to evacuate coastal areas preventively within a 48-hour time span preceding a worst credible scenario flood caused by a storm surge. This fact illustrates the need for alternative evacuation strategies, such as vertical evacuation (evacuating to safe havens, inside the flood zone) or shelter-in-place (hiding), to reduce loss of life and the impact of the evacuation. This paper defines these strategies and demonstrates, by returning to the case study used by the Dutch government, that they require different measures, methods of approach, and crisis management processes. In addition, it addresses the need for flexible and scalable preparation so that after detecting and understanding the threat, authorities and citizens can make decisions about different evacuation strategies.