HIGHER AVERAGE MERCURY CONCENTRATION IN FISH FILLETS AFTER SKINNING AND FAT REMOVAL

Ten male and ten female brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) ranging in weight from about 500 to 3500 grams were caught in Lake Ontario. Opposite sides of each individual fish were randomly processed and trimmed to yield skinned or unskinned fillets. Skinning resulted in an increase in the average concentration of total mercury in the fillets of fish of either sex but the increases were not significant .
With the exception of the unskinned fillets of the male fish, the concentration of mercury in the fillets increased significantly as the weight of the fish of either sex increased. The fillets of the male fish appeared to be higher in mercury than that in the corresponding fillets of female fish of comparable weight. In all instances, the concentrations of mercury in skinned and unskinned fillets were well below the 1 ppm fresh weight action level of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.     

Thermal Transitions in Myosin-ANS Fluorescence and Gel Rigidity

Thermal transitions (Tr) in myosin were monitored during constant rate heating with a thermal scanning rigidity monitor (TSRM) and a fluorescent probe, 1-anilino-naphthalene-8-sulfonate (ANS). The Tr values from fluorescent probe measurements were 37°C, 44°C, and 44°C for tilapia, rabbit, and chicken myosin-ANS, respectively. Three Tr values at 43°, 49°C, and 55°C were observed in TSRM measurements of tilapia myosin gelation, whereas a single Tr was observed in rabbit and chicken gelation at 48°C and 49°C, respecitvely. In tilapia myosin, KCl concentration and pH significantly influenced the TSRM but not the fluorescence thermograms. These results indicated that a prerequisite change occurred in the hydrophobic character of myosin just prior to the onset of gelation.     

A COMPARISON OF THREE INSTRUMENTAL TECHNIQUES TO EVALUATE BUTTER SPREADABILITY

Three instrumental techniques, cone penetrometry, probe penetration and Instron TPA, were compared as means to describe butter spreadability. A factorial experiment was set up to examine the consistency of winter and summer butter, mechanically worked and unworked, before and after storage and at two measurement temperatures, 5° C and 15° C. Probe penetration provided useful information on the relaxation behavior of butter, as well as contributing to the fundamental knowledge of butter structure. The Instron TPA has the advantage of a link with an internationally recognized system of texture analysis. The technique was also found to show greatest potential as a method to assess the effectiveness of mechanical treatment of butter. Cone penetrometry results were converted to yield values and in conjunction with Haighton's ready reckoner scale of assessment provided a simple and rapid method to describe butter spreadability.     

ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS OF GRASSES AND LEGUMES GROWING ON SOIL COVERING COAL FLY ASH LANDFILL SITES

Forage grasses and legumes growing in the soil covering four coal fly ash landfill sites in Central New York were sampled and analyzed for 20 elements. Selenium, boron and molybdenum were most consistently higher in concentration in these crops than the corresponding control plants sampled from adjacent upwind locations. Legumes absorbed greater amounts of these elements than grasses probably owing to their deep-rooted penetration of the fly ash layer below. Factors affecting the extent of absorption of these elements by the crops and the agricultural significance as related to grazing farm animals are discussed.     

STRUCTURAL FAILURE AND NONDESTRUCTIVE RHEOLOGICAL ANALYSES OF FRANKFURTER BATTERS: EFFECTS OF HEATING RATES AND SUGARS1, 2

The effects of heating rate and sugar type and concentration on the values of frankfurter textural parameters at structural failure were evaluated by a torsion test and a two cycle uniaxial compression test. Structural failure tests indicated that heating rate and sugar concentration had major effects on shear stress; in addition to minor effects on true shear strain. In general, heating rate had a greater effect on stresses and strains than sugar. Torsion and compression tests yielded different values, however, trends due to treatment were similar. The method used for interpretation of texture profile analysis parameters from Instron force-deformation curves had an effect on the statistical analysis results. A thermal scanning rheology monitor nondestructively measured rheological changes during thermal processing. During thermal processing, the major modulus of rigidity increase started at 58°C and the major decrease in energy loss occurred in the 40–60°C range. Unlike structural failure rheological properties, rigidity at 70°C was not affected by heating rate.     

RESIDUES OF p, p'-DDE AND DICOFOL IN MILK OF DAIRY COWS FED COMMERCIALLY PRODUCED APPLE POMACE

Residues of the miticide, dicofol, used in orchards, as well as p,p'-DDE a metabolite of p,p'-DDT present as an impurity in dicofol, were found in each commercial apple pomace sampled at several locations in Central New York. Traces of dicofol and p,p'-DDE were found in milk when cows were experimentally fed one of the pomaces for 9 days. These compounds were also detected in the milk of cows which had been fed by a dairy farmer on a practical basis for several months. It was judged that the milk residues were too low to be of health significance to consumers.     

ABSORPTION OF VANADIUM, NICKEL, ALUMINUM AND MOLYBDENUM BY SWISS CHARD GROWN ON SOIL AMENDED WITH OIL FLY ASH OR BOTTOM ASH

An appreciable percentage of electric power is generated by oil-fired power plants. The ash resulting from such plants is typically very high in elements such as vanadium, nickel, aluminum and molybdenum. Oil bottom ash and fly ash when disposed or fly ash fallout from such power plants could result in absorption of such metals by agricultural crops. Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L.) was grown in potted soils amended with oil bottom ash and fly ash at 2% and 1% (w/w), respectively. The crop absorbed significantly higher concentrations of each of the metals as compared to those in the control crop grown on soil alone. Higher levels of the ashes in soil resulted in phytotoxicity to the swiss chard .