Removal of pharmaceuticals in sewage treatment plants in Italy

A listing of "priority pharmaceuticals" for human use in Italy resulted in the selection of 26 pharmaceuticals, belonging to 11 therapeutic classes. They were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, their occurrence was assessed in six sewage treatment plants (STPs), and the loads and the removal rates (RR) were studied. Total loads ranged from 1.5 to 4.5 g/day/1000 inhabitants in influents and 1.0 and 3.0 g/day/1000 inhabitants in effluents. Total RR in STPs were mostly lower than 40%. Pharmaceuticals could be divided into three groups according to their behavior in STPs: one group with RR higher in summer than in winter, one group with RR similar in summer and winter, and a last group not removed. Last, we studied the distribution and fate of residual pharmaceuticals in the surface waters receiving the effluents of the STPs and identified degradation and sorption as the major factors affecting attenuation. Ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole (antibiotics), atenolol (cardiovascular drug), ibuprofen (antiinflammatory), furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide (diuretics), ranitidine (gastrointestinal drug), and bezafibrate (lipid regulator) were the most abundant residual drugs, thus those of environmental concern.     

Functional Properties of Plasticized Bio-Based Poly(Lactic Acid)_Poly(Hydroxybutyrate) (PLA_PHB) Films for Active Food Packaging

Fully bio-based and biodegradable active films based on poly(lactic acid) (PLA) blended with poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and incorporating lactic acid oligomers (OLA) as plasticizers and carvacrol as active agent were extruded and fully characterized in their functional properties for antimicrobial active packaging. PLA_PHB films showed good barrier to water vapor, while the resistance to oxygen diffusion decreased with the addition of OLA and carvacrol. Their overall migration in aqueous food simulant was determined and no significant changes were observed by the addition of carvacrol and OLA to the PLA_PHB formulations. However, the effect of both additives in fatty food simulant can be considered a positive feature for the potential protection of foodstuff with high fat content. Moreover, the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the proposed formulations increased by the presence of carvacrol, with enhanced activity against Staphylococcus aureus if compared to Escherichia coli at short and long incubation times. These results underlined the specific antimicrobial properties of these bio-films suggesting their applicability in active food packaging.     

Coating-Activation and Antimicrobial Efficacy of Different Polyethylene Films with a Nisin-Based Solution

Antimicrobial packaging can be considered an extremely challenging technology that could have a significant impact on shelf-life extension and food safety of fresh meat and meat products. In this study, different commercial polyethylene films differing in vinyl acetate ethylene, erucamide contents, and oxygen permeability were used for the coating treatment with a nisin-based antimicrobial solution (NS). Detection and measurement of the activity of the NS was determined against different food spoilage bacteria. NS was then spread manually on food contact layer of different plastic films using coating rods providing thickness of 6, 40, 60, and 100 μm. The polyethylene films before and after treatment were analysed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). NS was active against Gram-positive bacteria and the best activity was obtained against Brochothrix thermosphacta. Viable staining and epifluorescence microscopy analysis of indicator strains in contact with activated plastic films showed that the effect of the film on the various indicator strains changed very much on the basis of both type of film and indicator strain. The highest numbers of lysed cells were shown by two polyethylene films that, according to the AFM and roughness parameters analyses, were characterized by significant increase or decrease of roughness after the coating treatment. AFM analysis showed that the homogeneity of the coating was much influenced by the type of plastic films used. In order to test the efficacy in food, portions of beef chuck tender slices were prepared and covered with the antimicrobial plastic films on both sides. After 1 h and 1, 7, and 12 days of storage at 4 °C the meat samples were analyzed by standard plate counting targeting spoilage associated microbial populations. The antimicrobial plastic films after 1 h of contact with the meat caused a significant reduction of lactic acid bacteria and B. thermosphacta. The most effective antimicrobial activity of films was shown against the same populations after 24 h of storage.     

Exposure to fine and ultrafine particles from secondhand smoke in public places before and after the smoking ban, Italy 2005

Background

A smoking ban in all indoor public places was enforced in Italy on 10 January 2005.

Methods

We compared indoor air quality before and after the smoking ban by monitoring the indoor concentrations of fine (<2.5 μm diameter, PM_2.5) and ultrafine particulate matter (<0.1 μm diameter, UFP). PM_2.5 and ultrafine particles were measured in 40 public places (14 bars, six fast food restaurants, eight restaurants, six game rooms, six pubs) in Rome, before and after the introduction of the law banning smoking (after 3 and 12 months). Measurements were taken using real time particle monitors (DustTRAK Mod. 8520 TSI; Ultra‐fine Particles Counter‐TRAK Model 8525 TSI). The PM_2.5 data were scaled using a correction equation derived from a comparison with the reference method (gravimetric measurement). The study was completed by measuring urinary cotinine, and pre‐law and post‐law enforcement among non‐smoking employees at these establishments

Results

In the post‐law period, PM_2.5 decreased significantly from a mean concentration of 119.3 μg/m³ to 38.2 μg/m³ after 3 months (p<0.005), and then to 43.3 μg/m³ a year later (p<0.01). The UFP concentrations also decreased significantly from 76 956 particles/cm³ to 38 079 particles/cm³ (p<0.0001) and then to 51 692 particles/cm³ (p<0.01). Similarly, the concentration of urinary cotinine among non‐smoking workers decreased from 17.8 ng/ml to 5.5 ng/ml (p<0.0001) and then to 3.7 ng/ml (p<0.0001).

Conclusion

The application of the smoking ban led to a considerable reduction in the exposure to indoor fine and ultrafine particles in hospitality venues, confirmed by a contemporaneous reduction of urinary cotinine.     

Impact of antioxidants dispersions on the stability and oxidation of water-in-olive-oil emulsions

Water-in-olive-oil emulsion stability was studied as a function of the composition of the water dispersed phase. In particular, different polyphenolic extracts from natural sources were dispersed in the olive oil and their impact on emulsion kinetic stability and susceptibility to oxidation was evaluated. As natural sources, extra virgin olive oil, olive mill waste and green tea leaves were chosen. To test their impact on emulsion properties, the emulsions were prepared with fixed aqueous phase content. As emulsifiers, a fixed percentage of a mixture Span 80 (sorbitan monoleate)/Tween 80 (polysorbate 80) was used. The effect of the antioxidant dispersion on emulsion oxidation was studied by triggering the oxidation reaction in the oil phase with the lipophilic radical initiator AMVN (2,2-azobis(2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile). Then, the oxidation reaction was followed by using diphenyl-1-pyrenylphosphine, which becomes fluorescent when it is oxidized by hydroperoxides. The impact of antioxidant dispersions on emulsion kinetic stability was studied by UV–Vis turbidity measurements. The oxidation results were correlated to antioxidant extracts oxygen radical adsorption capacity (ORAC) and to emulsion kinetic stability. On the whole, antioxidants dispersions delayed the oxidation reaction to different extents in dependence on their ORAC values and their components amphiphilicity. Remarkably, among the antioxidants tested, the aqueous polyphenol extract from virgin olive oil was the most effective because it protected emulsions both from oxidation and from phase separation. Additionally, from this set of experiments, the primary role of the interfacial properties of olive oil polyphenols was highlighted.     

Suitability of selected autochthonous lactic acid bacteria cultures for Pecorino Sardo Dolce cheese manufacturing: influence on microbial composition,nutritional value and sensory attributes

The use of an autochthonous starter culture made up by Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis, Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus casei in the production of experimental Pecorino Sardo Dolce PDO resulted in a high presence of presumptive mesophilic lactococci and lactobacilli, ~10 log colony‐forming units (cfu), and in significantly higher amount of total free amino acids and free fatty acids, 195.1 vs 178.9 and 328.6 vs 191.8 mg/100 g of experimental vs control cheese (made using a commercial starter) respectively. The experimental cheese also displayed better sensory properties such as taste and aftertaste.     

Effects of solvent and alkaline earth metals on the heat-induced precipitation process of sodium caseinate

The precipitation temperatures of sodium caseinate in H₂O and D₂O in the presence of Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺ and Ba²⁺ were investigated through fluorescence, turbidity and conductivity experiments.     

Microdroplet-based multiplex PCR on chip to detect foodborne bacteria producing biogenic amines

The development of fast, reliable and culture-independent molecular tools to detect bacteria producing biogenic amines deserves the attention of research and ultimately of the food industry in order to protect consumers' health. Here we present the application of a simple, low-cost, fast and sensitive method to perform microdroplet-based multiplex PCR, directly on a food matrix, for the simultaneous detection of bacterial genes involved in biogenic amine biosynthesis. After inoculating wine with Lactobacillus brevis IOEB 9809, cell lysis and DNA amplification are performed in one single step, without preliminary nucleic acid extraction or purification treatments. The assay is performed in about 30 min, requiring 150 nL of starting sample and it enables the detection of down to 15 bacterial cells. With respect to traditional culture techniques, the speed, the simplicity and the cheapness of this procedure allow an effective monitoring of microbial cells during food-making and processing.