Mussels and clams from the italian fish market. is there a human exposition risk to metals and arsenic?

Seafood is associated with many beneficial effects on human health. However, the overall level of contaminants in biota has increased over the last two centuries and seafood is one of the source of oral exposition to contaminants. Therefore, this work aimed to evaluate cadmium, lead, mercury, arsenic, chromium and nickel presence in mussels and clams, from the Italian market, and the associated risk. The samples were from five different FAO areas. Analyses were carried out using inductively-coupled plasms-mass spectrometry. The sample concentrations were below the maximum levels stated by Commission Regulation (EC) 1881/2006, except one mussel sample, which was non-compliant for cadmium (2.13 ± 0.20 mg kg-1). For arsenic, nickel and chromium, maximum levels are not stated by the European Union. In this study, arsenic ranged from 1.29 to 13.35 mg kg-1 and nickel ranged from 1, and BMDL10 for lung bladder and skin cancer in all mussel samples was overcome, in the 100% and 25% of mussel and clam samples, respectively.

The occurrence of pesticides and persistent organic pollutants in Italian organic honeys from different productive areas in relation to potential environmental pollution.

Bee products, such as honey, are widely consumed as food and consumer interest is currently oriented towards organic foods. Regarding this, the European Commission establishes that the qualification of organic honey and other beekeeping products as being from organic production is closely bound with the characteristics of hive treatments as well as the quality of the environment. Agricultural contamination with pesticides is a challenging problem that needs to be fully addressed, in particular in the field of organic production systems. In this study, the occurrence of different classes of contaminants selected as representative of potential contamination sources were investigated in 59 organic honeys: organochlorines, OCs; organophosphates, OPs; polychlorobiphenyls, PCBs and polybromodiphenylethers, PBDEs. A method based on Accelerated Solvent Extraction with "in line" clean-up and GC-MS/MS detection was developed to detect contaminants. Residues of many pesticides were found in most of the samples investigated. The majority of honey samples contained at least one of the pesticides, even if their concentrations were found to be lower than its MRL. Diazinon, Mevinphos, Coumaphos, Chlorpyrifos and Quinoxyfen were the residues frequently detected in samples coming from the apple and citrus orchard areas. Furthermore, the results of the present study show that the presence of the residue in organic honey may also be affected by the geographical area (e.g. the presence of an agricultural system) confirming honey bee and beehive matrices as appropriate sentinels for monitoring contamination in the environment. The optimised method proved to be simple and rapid, requiring small sample sizes and minimising solvent consumption, due to the ASE having an "in line" clean-up step.

Evidence for false-positive results for boldenone testing of veal urine due to faecal cross-contamination during sampling.

European Directive 96/22/EC, which controls veterinary residues in animals, does not permit the presence of synthetic growth promoters in products of animal origin or in livestock. Boldenone is categorized in class A3 (growth promoters -- steroids) and is thus a banned substance. Testing of veal urine for banned substances is part of the European Union statutory programme for animals going into the food chain. In relation to this monitoring, three studies were conducted to investigate the apparent presence of the banned growth promoter boldenone in veal urine, which was suspected as being caused by interference from faecal contamination of the sample. In the first study, urine samples were collected at different times (time 0 and after 30 min) using (1) a conventional zoonotechnical apron and (2) a technique designed specifically to avoid faecal contamination ('kettle'). This resulted in samples that were, respectively, positive and negative for the presence of alpha-boldenone (alpha-BOL). In a second study, urine samples negative to alpha-BOL were collected from eight veal calves, but became positive after deliberate faecal contamination. In a third study, data obtained from the Italian RNP (Residual National Program) indicated that 18.1% of 3295 urine samples collected using the zootechnical apron were positive for alpha-BOL and 2.1% for beta-boldenone (beta-BOL), whilst of 902 samples collected using the kettle, beta-BOL was not detected in any samples and only 0.2% were positive to alpha-BOL, in concentrations lower than 2 ng ml(-1). These results further support the supposition that faecal contamination of the urine during sample collection can lead to false-positive results during boldenone analysis.

Differences between longitudinal and circular smooth muscle in beta-adrenergic control of motility of isolated equine ileum.

OBJECTIVE: To identify beta-adrenoceptor subtypes involved in motility inhibition of circular and longitudinal smooth muscle layers of equine ileum. SAMPLE POPULATION: Isolated strips of equine ileum circular smooth muscle and membrane preparations from circular and longitudinal muscle layers. PROCEDURE: Functional assays of circular muscle preparations and radioligand binding assays and measurements of cAMP production in smooth muscle membranes from circular and longitudinal layers. RESULTS: Selective beta-adrenergic agonists exerted inhibitory effects on circular muscle preparations. Binding studies of cell membranes indicated that the density and distribution of 3 beta-adrenoceptor subtypes did not differ between longitudinal and circular muscle layers. Measurement of cAMP production in membrane preparations of longitudinal and circular muscle after selective beta-stimulation confirmed presence of the 3 adenylate cyclase-coupled beta-adrenoceptor subtypes; however, preparations from the 2 layers had differing cAMP production efficacy. CONCLUSIONS: The data may partly explain the differing functional responses between circular and longitudinal muscle preparations. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Findings support the important role of beta-atypical adrenoceptors in the inhibitory regulation of equine ileum motility.