Exposure of consumers to morphine from poppy seeds in Hungary

Poppy seed-containing foods are popular dishes in Hungary and some other Central European countries. The alkaloids of poppy are used in the production of medicines. Poppy seeds used as food may also contain considerable amounts of alkaloids, which raises the question of food safety. Morphine, codeine, thebaine and noscapine concentrations of poppy seed samples from the period 2001-2010 and consumption data from two Hungarian surveys, carried out in 2003 and 2009, were evaluated. Exposure calculations were made for morphine intake by both point estimate and probabilistic methods, and the uncertainty of the calculated values was estimated. The point estimate for the acute consumer exposure, calculated using the 97.5th percentiles of morphine concentration and of poppy seed consumption and taking into account the reduction of morphine content by processing, was 78.64?μg (kg?bw)?1?day?1 for adults, and 116.90?μg (kg?bw)?1?day?1 for children. Based on probabilistic estimations, the 97.5th and 99th percentile exposures ranged between 18.3-25.4 and 25.6-47.4?μg (kg?bw)?1?day?1 for adults, and between 32.9 and 66.4?μg (kg?bw)?1?day?1 for children, respectively. As a no observed effect level (NOEL) had not been established, the significance of exposure could not be assessed.     

Occurrence and intake of deoxynivalenol in cereal-based products marketed in Korea during 2007–2008

The occurrence of deoxynivalenol (DON) was investigated in 514 cereal-based products (corn-based, n = 125; barley-based, n = 96; wheat-based, n = 94; rice-based, n = 199) marketed in Korea during 2007?2008, and estimates of DON intake were determined. Samples were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with ultraviolet light (UV) detection after immunoaffinity clean-up. The limits of detection (LOD) and limits of quantification (LOQ) were 2.2 and 5.6 µg kg^–1, respectively. Recoveries and repeatability expressed as coefficients of variation (CV) were 82.3–100% and 2.4–15.3% in beer, bread and dried corn. The incidences and mean levels of DON were 56% and 68.9 µg kg^?1 for corn-based products, 49% and 24.1 µg kg^?1 for wheat-based products, 43% and 7.5 µg kg^?1 for barley-based products, and 16% and 3.4 µg kg^?1 for rice-based products, respectively. The estimated daily intake of DON from the consumption of rice-based, wheat-based, barley-based and corn-based products were 0.0038 µg kg^?1 bw day^?1, 0.0032 µg kg^?1 bw day^?1, 0.0015 µg kg^?1 bw day^?1 and 0.0002 µg kg^?1 bw day^?1, respectively. These values represent 0.38%, 0.32%, 0.25% and 0.01% of the provisional maximum tolerable daily intake (PMTDI) of 1 µg kg^?1 bw day^?1. These results indicate that rice-based products are major contributors to DON exposure in Korea, even though the current exposure level is unlikely to cause adverse health effects.     

Lead concentration in meat from lead-killed moose and predicted human exposure using Monte Carlo simulation

Lead-based hunting ammunitions are still common in most countries. On impact such ammunition releases fragments which are widely distributed within the carcass. In Norway, wild game is an important meat source for segments of the population and 95% of hunters use lead-based bullets. In this paper, we have investigated the lead content of ground meat from moose (Alces alces) intended for human consumption in Norway, and have predicted human exposure through this source. Fifty-two samples from different batches of ground meat from moose killed with lead-based bullets were randomly collected. The lead content was measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The lead intake from exposure to moose meat over time, depending on the frequency of intake and portion size, was predicted using Monte Carlo simulation. In 81% of the batches, lead levels were above the limit of quantification of 0.03?mg?kg^?1, ranging up to 110?mg?kg^?1. The mean lead concentration was 5.6?mg?kg^?1, i.e. 56 times the European Commission limit for lead in meat. For consumers eating a moderate meat serving (2?g?kg^?1 bw), a single serving would give a lead intake of 11?µg?kg^?1 bw on average, with maximum of 220?µg?kg^?1 bw. Using Monte Carlo simulation, the median (and 97.5th percentile) predicted weekly intake of lead from moose meat was 12?µg?kg^?1 bw (27?µg?kg^?1 bw) for one serving per week and 25?µg?kg^?1 bw (45?µg?kg^?1 bw) for two servings per week. The results indicate that the intake of meat from big game shot with lead-based bullets imposes a significant contribution to the total human lead exposure. The provisional tolerable weekly intake set by the World Health Organization (WHO) of 25?µg?kg^?1 bw is likely to be exceeded in people eating moose meat on a regular basis. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has recently concluded that adverse effects may be present at even lower exposure doses. Hence, even occasional consumption of big game meat with lead levels as those found in the present study may imply an increased risk for adverse health effects. Children and women of child-bearing age are of special concern due to the neurodevelopmental effects of lead.     

Dietary acrylamide exposure among Finnish adults and children: the potential effect of reduction measures

A deterministic exposure assessment using the Nusser method that adjusts for within-subject variation and for nuisance effects among Finnish children and adults was carried out. The food consumption data covered 2038 adults (25–74 years old) and 1514 children of 1, 3 and 6 years of age, with the data on foods’ acrylamide content obtained from published Finnish studies. We found that acrylamide exposure was highest among the 3-year-old children (median?=?1.01?µg?kg^?1?bw^?day^?1, 97.5th percentile?=?1.95?µg?kg^?1?bw^?day^?1) and lowest among 65–74-year-old women (median?=?0.31?µg?kg^?1?bw^?day^?1, 97.5th percentile?=?0.69?µg?kg^?1?bw^?day^?1). Among adults, the most important source of acrylamide exposure was coffee, followed by casseroles rich in starch, then rye bread. Among children, the most important sources were casseroles rich in starch and then biscuits and, finally, chips and other fried potatoes. Replacing lightly roasted coffee with dark-roasted, swapping sweet wheat buns for biscuits, and decreasing the acrylamide content of starch-based casseroles and rye bread by 50% would result in a 50% decrease in acrylamide exposure in adults. Among children, substituting boiled potatoes for chips and other friend potatoes and replacing biscuits with sweet wheat buns while lowering the acrylamide content of starch-based casseroles by 50% would lead to acrylamide exposure that is only half of the original exposure. In conclusions, dietary modifications could have a large impact in decreasing acrylamide exposure.     

Dietary intake of arsenic by children and adults from Jinhu area of China

The aim of this study was to estimate the dietary intake of arsenic (As) by children and adults from Jinhu area of China. A duplicate diet approach was used to collect diet samples in November and December 2007. The As content was measured by hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry. The As intakes (median) for different group were: children: 0.6 µg kg^?1 bw day^?1 or 6.7 µg kg^?1 bw week^?1; adults: 0.5 µg kg ^?1 bw day^?1 or 3.8 µg kg ^?1 bw week^?1, none of which exceeded the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) of 15 µg kg ^?1 bw week^?1 for As proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO). The median and maximum of the children group amounted to 44.7% and 125.3% of the PTWI; the values for adults were 25.3% and 118.7%, respectively. There were 3.3% of children whose weekly As intake exceeded the PTWI, and there were 6.7% of adults whose weekly As intake exceeded the PTWI. It is concluded that dietary As intake was safe for most people in Jinhu area, but the high dietary As intake for a minority of people in this area deserves attention.     

Dietary exposure to chloropropanols of secondary school students in Hong Kong

This paper reports levels of 3-monochloropropan-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) and 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol (1,3-DCP) in a wide range of food items and estimates their dietary exposure for secondary school students in Hong Kong. Dietary exposure to chloropropanols was estimated using local food consumption data obtained from secondary school students in 2000 and the concentrations of 3-MCPD and 1,3-DCP in food samples taken from the local market. The dietary exposure to 3-MCPD for an average secondary school student consumer was estimated to be 0.063–0.150 µg kg^?1 body weight (bw) day^?1, whilst that for the high consumer was 0.152–0.300 µg kg^?1 bw day^?1. Both estimates fell below the provisional maximum tolerable daily intake of 2 µg kg^?1 bw established by the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) and amounted to less than 20% of this safety reference value. The dietary exposure to 1,3-DCP for an average secondary school student consumer was estimated to be 0.003–0.019 µg kg^?1 bw day^?1, whilst that for the high consumer was 0.009–0.040 µg kg^?1 bw day^?1. The resulting margins of exposures were of low concern for human health. It could be concluded that both the average and high secondary school student consumers were unlikely to experience major toxicological effects of 3-MCPD and 1,3-DCP.     

Dietary intake assessment of caramel colours and their processing by-products 4-methylimidazole and 2-acetyl-4-tetrahydroxy-butylimidazole for the Chinese population

ABSTRACT

The aim of the study was to assess the dietary intake of caramel colours and their by-products 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI) and 2-acetyl-4-tetrahydroxybutylimidazole (THI) for the Chinese population. Based on the typical and maximum reported use levels of caramel colours in 15 food categories, the dietary intakes of combined and single-class caramel colours of Classes I, III and IV were estimated with the food consumption data from the China National Nutrient and Health Survey. Using the mean values of 4-MEI and THI contents in Class III and Class IV Caramel colour samples, the exposures to 4-MEI and THI from dietary caramel colours were derived. The results showed that the combined and individual average dietary caramel colour intakes for the Chinese population of different age groups were estimated to be 232–60.3 mg kg^?1 bw day^?1 for combined caramels, 5.9–29.2 mg kg^?1 bw day^?1 for Class I, 7.7–29.6 mg kg^?1 bw day^?1 for Class III, 21.2–54.3 mg kg^?1 bw day^?1 for Class IV, which were far below the group acceptable daily intake (ADI) and respective ADIs. The combined intake of 4-MEI from Class III and IV caramel colours was estimated to be 3.8–5.2 μg kg^?1 bw day^?1 on average, and 12.9–27.1 μg kg^?1 bw day^?1 at 95th-97.5th percentile for the general population. The anticipated exposure to THI from Class III caramel colours was estimated to be 0.1–0.3 μg kg^?1 bw day^?1 on average and 0.5–1.7 μg kg^?1 bw day^?1 at 95th–97.5th percentile for the general population. The dietary caramel colours intakes and the exposures to 4-MEI and THI from dietary caramel colour for the Chinese population were considered to be of low health concern based on the present toxicological data. Soy sauce, vinegar and compound seasonings were found to be the main contributors to the dietary intake of caramel colours.     

Exposure of consumers to deoxynivalenol from consumption of white bread in Hungary

In view of the frequent occurrence of mycotoxins in cereals, a study was initiated to assess the exposure of the Hungarian adult population. Consumption data for 1360 individuals, based on a 3-day questionnaire, indicated that white bread accounted for the major intake of cereal-based products. Various cereal products were analysed for 16 mycotoxins by a LC/MS/MS multi-toxin method with LOD of 16?µg?kg^?1 and LOQ of 50?µg?kg^?1. Deoxynivalenol (DON) was most frequently detected, but no acetyl-deoxynivalenol was present in detectable concentrations. Consumer exposure was calculated with standard Monte Carlo probabilistic modelling and point estimates, taking into account bread consumption and DON contamination in independently taken wheat flour and wheat grain samples. Over 55% of cases the DON intake were below 15% of the provisional maximum tolerable daily intake (PMTDI) of 1?µg/(kg?bw)/day. However, in 5–15% of cases, the intake from bread consumption alone exceeded the PMTDI. Wheat grain data led to the higher percentage. Intakes estimated from both data sets were at or below the acute reference dose (ARfD) of 8?µg/(kg?bw)/day in 99.94–99.97% of cases.     

Survey of fumonisins B1, B2 and B3 in conventional and organic retail corn products in Spain and Italy and estimated dietary exposure

A survey was conducted to determine the occurrence of fumonisin B₁, B₂ and B₃ during 2007 in 186 samples of organic and conventional locally available corn products. Samples included baby food (n = 62), corn flour (11), cornflakes (23), pasta (14), cookies (17) and other corn products (59) were obtained from popular markets of Valencia (Spain) and Perugia (Italy). The analytical method used pressurized liquid extraction and liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry with a triple quadrupole (QqQ) analyser. Of the 104 Spanish samples, 22% contained levels in the range of 2–449 µg kg^?1, 2–229 µg kg^?1 and 6–105 µg kg^?1 for FB₁, FB₂ and FB₃, respectively, while 19 (23%) of the 82 Italian samples were positive with quantifiable levels between 2–235 µg kg^?1, 3–187 µg kg^?1, and 4–40 µg kg^?1 for fumonisins B₁, B₂ and B₃, respectively. Overall, none of the Italian samples and only one organic baby food sample from a Spanish market was above the maximum permitted levels established by European legislation. Fumonisins were found mostly in corn flour followed by cookies and cornflakes. Eleven samples from Spain and nine samples from Italy were organic products, being contaminated the 72% and 77% of the samples, respectively. Analysis of the results showed that levels of fumonisins in corn products were similar in Italy and Spain. The safety of fumonisin intake through corn products was demonstrated by the calculation of the estimated daily intake of both populations considering organic and conventional products separately, which ranged from 1.7 × 10^?3 to 0.72 µg kg^?1 bw day^?1 and comparing them with the provisional maximum total daily intake (PMTDI) of 2 µg kg^?1 bw day^?1 established by the European Union.     

Ethyl carbamate in fermented foods and beverages: dietary exposure of the Hong Kong population in 2007–2008

To evaluate the potential public health risk of ethyl carbamate (EC), EC exposure from fermented foods and beverages for Hong Kong population was estimated. In 276 samples analysed, EC was detected (limit of detection (LOD) at 0.4?µg?kg^?1) in 202 samples (73%), with higher levels in fermented red bean curd (150–650?µg?kg^?1) and yellow wine (140–390?µg?kg^?1), while low or non-detected (ND) in preserved vegetables (ND–10?µg?kg^?1) and fermented tea (ND–15?µg?kg^?1). The estimated dietary exposure from all fermented foods and beverages was 8.27?ng?kg^?1?bw?day^?1, while exposure excluding alcoholic beverages was 5.42?ng?kg^?1?bw?day^?1, with calculated margins of exposure (MOEs) at 3.6?×?10⁴ and 5.5?×?10⁴ respectively. The risk of adverse health effects was low for the average population but higher (MOE?of?10³) for high consumers of alcoholic beverages especially habitual drinkers of alcoholic types with high EC contents.     

Probabilistic assessment of the cumulative dietary acute exposure of the population of Denmark to organophosphorus and carbamate pesticides

Organophosphorus and carbamate pesticides are acetylcholinesterase-inhibiting pesticides and as such have a common mode of action. We assessed the cumulative acute exposure of the population of Denmark to 25 organophosphorus and carbamate pesticide residues from the consumption of fruit, vegetables and cereals. The probabilistic approach was used in the assessments. Residue data obtained from the Danish monitoring programme carried out in the period 2004–2007, which included 6704 samples of fruit, vegetables and cereals, were used in the calculations. Food consumption data were obtained from the nationwide dietary survey conducted in 2000–2002. Contributions from 43 commodities were included in the calculations. We used the relative potency factor (RPF) approach to normalize the toxicity of the various organophosphorus and carbamate pesticides to the two index compounds chlorpyriphos and methamidophos. RPF values derived from the literature were used in the calculations. We calculated the cumulative acute exposure to 1.8% and 0.8% of the acute reference dose (ARfD) of 100 µg kg^–1 body weight (bw) day^–1 of chlorpyrifos as an index compound at the 99.9th percentile (P99.5) for children and adults, respectively. When we used methamidophos as the index compound, the cumulative acute intakes were calculated to 31.3% and 13.8% of the ARfD of 3 µg kg^–1 bw day^–1 at P99.9 for children and adults, respectively. With both index compounds, the greatest contributor to the cumulative acute exposure was apple. The results show that there is no cumulative acute risk for Danish consumers to acetylcholinesterase-inhibiting pesticides.     

Assessment of the acrylamide intake of the Belgian population and the effect of mitigation strategies

The acrylamide (AA) intake of the Belgian consumer was calculated based on AA monitoring data of the Belgian Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC) and consumption data of the Belgian food consumption survey coordinated by the Scientific Institute for Public Health (3214 participants of 15 years or older). The average AA exposure, calculated probabilistically, was 0.4 µg kg^?1 body weight (bw) day^?1 (P97.5 = 1.6 µg kg^?1 bw day^?1), the main contributors to the average intake being chips (23%), coffee (19%), biscuits (13%), and bread (12%). Additionally, the impact of a number of AA mitigation scenarios was evaluated (German minimization concept, scenarios for mitigation from the literature, signal values), which is an important issue for public health as well as for policy-makers. Specific actions in cooperation with the food industry to reduce the AA content of foods seems to be a more efficient strategy than mere implementation of signal values. Considering that an important share of the AA intake is due to prepared meals, the catering industry as well as consumers need to be better informed on the various possibilities for keeping the AA content of meals as low as possible.     

Dietary exposure to antimony,lead and mercury of secondary school students in Hong Kong

The aim of this first study was to determine the dietary exposure of antimony, lead, mercury in foodstuffs consumed by secondary school students in Hong Kong. Around 100 composite food items were purchased and then cooked prior to analysis. Antimony was measured by hydrogen generation (HG)/inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP–MS), while lead was determined by ICP–MS. Total mercury was measured by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry. The detection limits for antimony, lead and total mercury were 1, 0.6 and 3 µg kg^?1, respectively. The dietary intake of antimony, lead and total mercury for an average secondary student were estimated to be 0.252, 1.98 and 0.92 µg (kg bw)^?1 week^?1, respectively. The dietary intake of antimony, lead and total mercury for high-consumer secondary student were estimated to be 0.567, 5.09 and 2.33 µg (kg bw)^?1 week^?1, respectively. The main contribution to antimony, lead and mercury were milk, vegetables and seafood, respectively. The Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) of antimony, as recommended by WHO, is 6 µg (kg bw)^?1 week^?1, while the Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intakes (PTWI) of lead and mercury, as recommended by JECFA, are 25 and 5 µg (kg bw)^?1 week^?1, respectively. The estimated exposure values for secondary school students were compared to these safety reference values. For the relevant population, this study confirms the low probability of health risks from these metals via food consumption.     

Consumer exposure to phthalates from paper packaging: an integrated approach

This paper presents an integrated approach to estimate the exposure of the Portuguese population to phthalates as a contaminant originating from paperboard packaging. The approach combined data of migrant concentration in the foods resulting from a stochastic simulation with consumption data of food packaged in paperboard. The results from the exposure model were validated with experimental values actually found in the food. A short surveillance exercise was conducted with samples collection from market shelves to identify and quantify the phthalates present in both the packages and the food. The distribution of values for the di-butyl phthalate concentration in the packages was used as the input of the initial concentration in the Weibull model to estimate the concentration of this phthalate in the foods. This distribution of occurrence data was then combined with the packaging usage data in a probabilistic simulation with a Monte Carlo sampling method. Exposure values ranged between zero and 8.95 µg day^?1 kg_bw, a value close to the tolerable daily intake established by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)–10 µg day^?1 kg_bw. However, the 97.5th percentile and the average were 1.82 and 0.44 day^?1 kg_bw, respectively, indicating that further refinement of the estimates is not necessary. Other phthalates were also detected in the packaging samples: di-isobutyl phthalate and di-ethylhexyl phthalate. The latter was present in all packaging samples collected and was detected in a few food samples at values requiring further investigation.     

Deoxynivalenol exposure assessment in a cohort of pregnant women from Bradford,UK

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a ubiquitous contaminant of cereal crops in temperate regions of the world. It causes growth faltering and immune suppression in animals. Limited information is available on DON exposure in UK subpopulations. The objective of this study was to provide DON exposure assessment in a subset of pregnant women scheduled for an elective caesarean in a large multi-ethnic mother/infant birth cohort from Bradford, UK. Women aged 16–44 years (n?=?85) provided a urine sample for DON analysis in the last trimester of pregnancy, and concurrently completed a food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The urinary DON biomarker was detected in all measured samples (geometric mean (GM)?=?10.3?ng?DON?mg^?1 creatinine, range?=?0.5?116.7?ng?mg^?1). Levels were higher in women classified as South Asian in origin (GM: 15.2?ng?mg^?1; 95% CI?=?10.7?21.5?ng?mg^?1) compared with non-South Asians (GM?=?8.6?ng?mg^?1; 95% CI?=?6.6?11.8?ng?mg^?1), p?=?0.02). Estimated DON intake from FFQ data and typical levels of DON contamination of food suggest that this was mainly due to higher levels of exposure from bread, particularly daily intake of DON from chapattis in South Asians (estimated mean?=?2.4?µg?day^?1; 95% CI?=?1.2, 3.7?µg?day^?1) compared with non-South Asians (estimated mean?=?0.2?µg?day^?1; 95% CI?=?0?0.4?µg?day^?1), p?<?0.001. This is the first biomarker demonstration of DON exposure in pregnant women, and several urinary DON levels were the highest ever recorded in any study. A larger survey within this birth cohort is warranted to investigate any potential risk to mothers and their babies, from DON exposure during pregnancy.     

Probabilistic acute dietary exposure assessment of the Chinese population to cypermethrin residues

A probabilistic estimation of dietary exposure to cypermethrin residues for the Chinese population was performed. Cypermethrin residue data were obtained from the national food contamination monitoring program for 2001–2006, encompassing 14,096 samples from 36 commodities with a detection rate of 10.4%. Food consumption data were gathered from the national nutrition and health survey conducted in 2002, comprising 65,915 consumers aged 2–100 years and 3701 children of 2–6 years old. The whole country was roughly divided into six regions and the ranges of the median and of P99.9 exposure estimated for these regions were 0.018–0.026 and 3.131–7.095?µg?kg^?1?bw?day^?1, respectively. Pak-choi and Chinese cabbage contributed 33.9 and 13.2%, respectively, to the cypermethrin intake for the general population, while pak-choi and citrus covered 30.7 and 22.5% of the total intake for children, respectively. The exposure of the rural population was higher than urban populations. Rural areas mainly located in the plains of central China had among the highest exposure of the six regions, accounting for 17.7% of the ARfD at P99.9, while the 99.99th percentile of exposure for children, especially rural children, far exceeded the ARfD, which is a cause for concern.     

Natural occurrence of type-B trichothecene mycotoxins in Korean cereal-based products

Type-B trichothecenes (deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol (NIV), fusarenone-X (FUS-X), 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15ADON), and 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3ADON)) were determined in 338 cereal-based products. Detection limit, quantification limit and mean recovery for five toxins were in the ranges 0.7–2.6?µg?kg^?1, 2.1–7.8?µg?kg^?1 and 73–110%, respectively. The range of occurrence and average level in samples were, respectively, 21–88% and 5.2–121.8?µg?kg^?1 for NIV, 10–96% and 1.7–109.5?µg?kg^?1 for DON, 2–39% and 0.4–3.6?µg?kg^?1 for FUS-X, 0–80% and 0–17.3?µg?kg^?1 for 15ADON, and 0–29% and 0–1.5?µg?kg^?1 for 3ADON. Regarding co-occurrence, 64% of samples had more than two type-B trichothecenes. The estimated daily intakes of NIV, DON, FUS-X, 15ADON, and 3ADON were 0.077, 0.048, 0.004, 0.006 and 0.002?µg?kg^?1?bw?day^?1, respectively. These results suggest that current exposure levels do not indicate the possibility of adverse effects, but consideration of the combined exposure of type-B trichothecenes may be required due to the high frequency of co-occurrence.     

T-2 and HT-2 toxins in cereals and cereal-based products in South Korea

A total of 214 samples, consisting of brown rice, barley, mixed grains, corn, wheat and wheat flour were analysed for T-2 and HT-2 toxins using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Recovery and repeatability were 79.9%–107.5% and 4.9%–14.5% for T-2, and 74.0%–106.1% and 5.0%–17.9% for HT-2, respectively. T-2 toxin was detected in 11 (5.1%) of all samples. The highest incidence was found in corn (21.7%) followed by mixed grains and brown rice. Mean of all samples was 1.5–4.1?µg?kg^?1, the maximum level being 41.5?µg?kg^?1 in corn. HT-2 toxin was detected in 126 (58.9%) of all samples, and the mean values were 26.4–59.2?µg?kg^?1. The estimated daily intakes for the sum of T-2 and HT-2 toxins were 2.56, 3.22, 2.53, 0.03, 0.01 and 2.45?ng (kg?bw)^?1?day^?1 in brown rice, barley, mixed grains, corn, wheat and wheat flour, respectively.     

Survey of levels of cadmium in oysters,mussels, clams and scallops from the Pacific Northwest coast of Canada

Field and retail collections of bivalves from the Pacific Northwest, Canada, were analysed for cadmium concentrations by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). Both collections of varnish (Nuttallia obscurata) and manila (Venerupis philippinarum) clams contained cadmium concentrations of less than 0.5 µg g^?1, well below international safety guidelines of 1 and 2 µg g^?1 wet weight cadmium for the European and Hong Kong markets, respectively, as well as the 2 µg g^?1 safety guideline set by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC). Cadmium concentrations in retail collections of the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas, were generally above 2 µg g^?1 wet weight (range = 1.5–3.56 µg g^?1). Retail collections of the mussel, Mytilus spp., contained cadmium concentrations below the 2 µg g^?1 wet weight guideline, but not always the 1 µg g^?1 limit (range = 0.15?1.8 µg g^?1). However, field collections of Mytilus spp. contained cadmium concentrations between 0.35 and 4.00 µg g^?1 wet weight, and depending on sampling location, concentrations exceeded the CAC guidelines by more than two-fold. Locations where mussels had high cadmium concentrations correlated with regions that had previously reported high values for cadmium in Pacific oysters (r = 0.65; p < 0.05). Of the various shellfish analysed, the four species of scallops, Chlamys hastata, C. rubida, Crassadoma gigantea, and Patinopecten yessoensis, contained the greatest concentrations of cadmium, in excess of 5 µg g^?1 wet weight (range = 4.97–8.98 µg g^?1) with the greatest concentrations determined for C. gigantea. Cadmium concentrations in shellfish from the Pacific Northwest are greater than values reported for shellfish from other regions of the world and consumers need be aware of Health Canada consumption guidelines for shellfish from this region.     

Oxytetracycline,tetracycline, chlortetracycline and doxycycline in pasteurised cow’s milk commercialised in Brazil

The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of tetracycline residues in pasteurised cow’s milk using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with UV/VIS detection to determine the exposure of Brazilian’s population to antibiotic residues. One hundred samples collected from the State of Paraná, Brazil, were analysed. Three of these samples were contaminated at the following concentrations: 121.8 µg·kg^?1 for oxytetracycline, 93.5 µg·kg^?1 for tetracycline and 134.6 µg·kg^?1 for chlortetracycline (61.6 µg·kg^?1) and doxycycline (73.0 µg·kg^?1). The median tetracycline residue concentration found in the samples was 42.3 µg·kg^?1, and the estimated daily intake (EDI) was 0.05 µg Kg^?1 bw day^?1 in Brazil. These results demonstrate that the occurrence of tetracycline in Brazilian milk was low (3%) and only for 2% above the maximum residue limit, so the risk to the population from the presence of these residues in milk was low (<1% of the acceptable daily intake).