Content of Biogenic Elements in Sheep Wool by the Regions of Slovakia.

The quality of nutrition and environmental pollution are crucial chemical indicators influencing animal health, reflected in element concentrations in animal tissues and coats. This study investigates the concentrations of biogenic elements (calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium, copper, and iron) in sheep wool from various regions of Slovakia to compare concentrations and identify possible correlations between individual elements. Samples were collected from six different regions, and concentrations of elements were measured using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in element levels among the examined regions. Calcium concentrations ranged from 729.2 to 4065 ppm, with the highest concentrations in the Kysuce region and the lowest in the Saris region. Potassium concentrations ranged from 2315 to 3282 ppm, with the lowest values in the Zemplín region and the highest in the Liptov region. Magnesium, sodium, copper, and iron also exhibited varying concentrations across the regions. Correlation analysis identified significant associations between several elements. The findings suggest that regional environmental differences influence element concentrations in sheep wool, highlighting the importance of monitoring biogenic elements for assessing environmental pollution and animal health. Further research is warranted to explore the underlying mechanisms driving element accumulation in wool and its implications for animal welfare and environmental management.

Diversity of the Fossil Genus Palaeoglaesum Wagner (Diptera, Psychodidae) in the Upper Cretaceous Amber of Myanmar.

Cretaceous Myanmar amber is abundant in inclusions belonging to the genus Palaeoglaesum. In addition, a significant morphological diversity among representatives of Palaeoglaesum can be observed. However, none of its representatives have been found in other fossil materials. Herein three new species: P. stebneri sp. nov., Skibinska and Krzeminski P. teres sp. nov. Skibinska and Albrycht, and P. pilosus sp. nov. Skibinska, Krzeminski and Zhang from Cretaceous Myanmar amber are described and illustrated. The very small size and characters of male hypopygium with aedeagus strongly bent and apically forked are pertinent to diagnosing the genus and species. New materials show that this genus and the whole subfamily Bruchomyiinae were probably more abundant and more diverse than the presently known extant fauna.

Metal Risk Assessment Study of Canned Fish Available on the Iranian Market.

Iran is the largest fishery producer in the region reaching nearly 1 million tons. Fish provide a good many nutrients that are beneficial for our health. Due to significant deposits of xenobiotics in the water environments, however, fish may also be a source of non-essential metals, causing a variety of disorders. The main challenges to Iranian fisheries are environmental pollution and quality control, so this study aims to estimate the concentration of cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), and lead (Pb) in canned tuna fish produced and consumed in Iran. We studied four popular brands (N = 4 × 20) with ICP-MS and then looked at the concentrations and calculated the risk assessment parameters. We found that the lowest concentration was observed for Cd (18 µg/kg) and the highest for Ni (132 µg/kg). Among the brands studied, Pb concentrations differed most (42.0 to 113.3 µg/kg) and Hg levels were more consistent (24.0 and 39.4 µg/kg). The concentrations of Cd, Hg, and Pb in all the brands tested were below EU permissible thresholds. The intake estimation risk assessment parameters (EDI, contribution to PTWI, and CR) and non-cancer risk assessment parameters based on reference doses (THQ and HI) demonstrated the safety of tested products in respect to all metal concentrations studied, while the parameters regarding the toxic effects (MoE, and ILCR) showed that the consumption might cause health risks in terms of Cd (ILCR), Ni (ILCR), and Pb (MoE). The consumption of the canned fish studied should therefore be maintained at a reasonable level (2-5 meals containing fish weekly), so that it may provide necessary nutrients, while avoiding the health risk due to metal content.