Phthalate diester occurrence in marine feed and food (Mediterranean Sea).

Organic contaminants such as diesters of phthalic acid (PAEs) can be conveyed by microplastics in aquatic environment and constitute a relevant risk to marine organisms and humans that consume them. A method was developed for the identification and quantitative detection of 6 dimethyl phthalate (DMP), di-ethyl phthalate (DEP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DNBP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), di-2-ethylesyl phthalate (DHEP), and di-n-octyl phthalate (DnOP). PAEs were then quantified in mesozooplankton, mollusk bivalves, and fish from the north-western Mediterranean Sea. Among all PAEs, DEHP was found in all zooplankton samples, in 30% of fish samples, and in 10% of bivalve samples. DBP was instead recovered in only 4% of samples (plankton and fish).

Wildlife hair as bioindicators of metal exposure.

Animal hair is a useful biomonitoring tool for assessing the occurrence of trace elements in ecosystems. Essential (chromium, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, and zinc) and nonessential (aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, mercury, lead, palladium, platinum, rubidium, tin, and vanadium) elements were investigated in hair of badger (Meles meles), wild boar (Sus scrofa), marmot (Marmota marmota), wolf (Canis lupus), fox (Vulpes vulpes) and deer (Cervus elaphus) from Northwestern Italy. Badger was found to be the highest bioaccumulator of metals, while wolf, fox and deer recorded the lowest values. Essential elements contribute in higher degree to the sum of metals for all species except for wild boar. Results have shown that animals with omnivorous diet such as badger, marmot and wild boar have metal content (especially Al, As, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, V) higher than carnivores (wolf and fox) and herbivores (deer) and could represent an effective sentinel of environmental exposure to metals.

Aluminium occurrence in plant feed from Northwestern Italy.

BACKGROUND: Aluminium (Al) is widespread in nature, but the main route of exposure for humans and animals is through food. Cereals and vegetables give and important contribute to dietary intake. This investigation focused on the occurrence aluminium in raw materials intended for animal consumption. In fact, Al is not included in the official monitoring programs, and little or no data are still available about its presence in feed or plant material. METHODS: Rice, wheat, corn, barley, rye, triticale, oats, and soy samples were collected in Northwestern Italy in an area characterized by clayey soil rich in aluminium silicates. Samples were subjected to homogenization and microwave acid digestion and Al was quantified by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS). RESULTS: Different aluminium concentrations were found in the analyzed raw materials: soy (89 mg kg-1) > rye > rice > oat > triticale > barley > wheat > corn (2.9 mg kg-1). In this study, Al concentrations were found higher than those reported for same matrices in other UE and non-EU countries, especially in rice and soy. CONCLUSIONS: Al concentrations were related to the soil geological feature and to the physiological characteristics of the plant species. These two factors must be carefully considered for a reliable evaluation of aluminium exposure through feed and food.