Exposure assessment of plastics, phthalate plasticizers and their transformation products in diverse bio-based fertilizers.

Bio-based fertilizers (BBFs) produced from organic waste have the potential to reduce societal dependence on limited and energy-intensive mineral fertilizers. BBFs, thereby, contribute to a circular economy for fertilizers. However, BBFs can contain plastic fragments and hazardous additives such as phthalate plasticizers, which could constitute a risk for agricultural soils and the environment. This study assessed the exposure associated with plastic and phthalates in BBFs from three types of organic wastes: agricultural and food industry waste (AgriFoodInduWaste), sewage sludge (SewSludge), and biowaste (i.e., garden, park, food and kitchen waste). The wastes were associated with various treatments like drying, anaerobic digestion, and vermicomposting. The number of microplastics (0.045-5 mm) increased from AgriFoodInduWaste-BBFs (15-258 particles g-1), to SewSludge-BBFs (59-1456 particles g-1) and then to Biowaste-BBFs (828-2912 particles g-1). Biowaste-BBFs mostly contained packaging plastics (e.g., polyethylene terephthalate), with the mass of plastic (>10 g kg-1) exceeding the EU threshold (3 g kg-1, plastics >2 mm). Other BBFs mostly contained small (< 1 mm) non-packaging plastics in amounts below the EU limit. The calculated numbers of microplastics entering agricultural soils via BBF application was high (107-1010 microplastics ha-1y-1), but the mass of plastic released from AgriFoodInduWaste-BBFs and SewSludge-BBFs was limited (< 1 and <7 kg ha-1y-1) compared to Biowaste-BBFs (95-156 kg ha-1y-1). The concentrations of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP; < 2.5 mg kg-1) and phthalate transformation products (< 8 mg kg-1) were low (< benchmark of 50 mg kg-1 for DEHP), attributable to both the current phase-out of DEHP as well as phthalate degradation during waste treatment. The Biowaste-BBF exposed to vermicomposting indicated that worms accumulated phthalate transformation products (4 mg kg-1). These results are overall positive for the implementation of the studied AgriFoodInduWaste-BBFs and SewSludge-BBFs. However, the safe use of the studied Biowaste-BBFs requires reducing plastic use and improving sorting methods to minimize plastic contamination, in order to protect agricultural soils and reduce the environmental impact of Biowaste-BBFs.

Modifying Text Messages from a Faith-Based Physical Activity Intervention with Latino Adults in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Text messages are useful for health promotion and can be modified during public health emergencies. PURPOSE: Describe how we developed and implemented a physical activity (PA) text messaging component within a faith-based intervention, modified the text message content in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and evaluated participants' perceptions of the modified text messages. RESEARCH DESIGN AND STUDY SAMPLE: PA promotion text messages were delivered to predominately Spanish-speaking, churchgoing Latino adults (n = 284) in Los Angeles, California. In 2020, we modified the messages to disseminate COVID-19-related information and support and share virtual PA resources. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We analyzed quantitative and qualitative survey data to gauge participants' experiences with the text messages. RESULTS: COVID-19 related text messages were a feasible, acceptable addition to a PA intervention for a sample of Latinos. CONCLUSIONS: Throughout the pandemic, the messages enabled continued communication and support for PA and protection from COVID-19 in a population at high-risk of health inequities.

High consumption of energy-dense nutrient-poor foods among low-income groups in the Mississippi Delta and Alabama.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) and other energy-dense nutrient-poor (EDNP) foods in two Southern low-income communities targeted by the Balance Calories Initiative, a campaign by the top-three American beverage companies intended to reduce the consumption of sugary beverages by 20 % over 10 years. DESIGN: We conducted self-administered intercept surveys in front of food retail outlets between August and November 2016. We recruited adults with children <18 years living at home and adolescents aged 10-17 years with parental consent. SETTING: Retail food outlets in Mississippi and Alabama, USA. PARTICIPANTS: Adults (n 11 311) and adolescents (n 3460). RESULTS: The percentage of high SSB consumers (≥4 servings/d) was 40·9 % among adult males, 32·3 % among adult females, 43·0 % among adolescent males and 34·4 % among adolescent females (male - female difference, P < 0·0001). In aggregate, respondents also reported consuming a mean of 3 servings of salty snacks, cookies and/or candy in the past 24 h, with adolescent males reporting 4 servings. CONCLUSIONS: SSB should be a primary target of future interventions to improve dietary intake, but EDNP foods likely contribute as many daily kilojoules as SSB among this population. Future campaigns should aim to limit the consumption of all EDNP foods.

Multianalyte, high-throughput liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method for the sensitive determination of fungicides and insecticides in wine.

Evidence of pesticide transfer from grapes to wine, added to differences in the national regulations regarding the number and the maximum concentration of these species in wine, demands analytical procedures suitable for their routine control in this foodstuff. In this research, solid-phase extraction (SPE) and ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC), with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) detection, are combined to obtain a sensitive and rapid procedure to determine 50 pesticides in red and white wines. Efficiency and selectivity of sample preparation are correlated with the type of sorbent, the elution solvent, and the physicochemical properties of pesticides. SPE of 2-mL wine samples followed by direct injection of the extract in the UPLC-MS/MS system provides quantification limits (LOQs) below 1 ng mL-1 for 48 out of 50 compounds, linear responses up to 200 ng mL-1, and acceptable accuracy, employing quantification against solvent-based standards, for 45 species. A total analysis time of 10 min, including compounds separation and re-equilibration of the UPLC column, was achieved. The developed methodology was applied to 25 wines (20 conventional and 5 ecological), produced in 7 different countries. Out of 27 pesticides quantified in these wines, 12 displayed occurrence frequencies above 24%; moreover, all wines, except one of the ecological ones, contained residues from at least one pesticide.

Time-of-flight mass spectrometry assessment of fluconazole and climbazole UV and UV/H2O2 degradability: Kinetics study and transformation products elucidation.

The efficiency of UV irradiation for the removal of the antimycotic drugs fluconazole (FCZ) and climbazole (CBZ) from water samples is evaluated. Degradation experiments, at laboratory scale, were carried out with spiked aliquots of ultrapure water solutions and treated wastewater samples using low-pressure mercury lamps emitting at 254 nm. Time course of precursor pollutants and identification of arising transformation products (TPs) was performed by injection of different reaction time aliquots in a liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS) system. Chemical structures of identified TPs were proposed from their full-product ion spectra, acquired using different collision energies. During UV irradiation experiments, the half-lives (t1/2) of FCZ and CBZ were similar in ultrapure water solutions and wastewater samples; however, the first species was more recalcitrant than the second one. Four TPs were identified in case of FCZ resulting from substitution of fluorine atoms by hydroxyl moieties and intramolecular cyclization with fluorine removal. CBZ interacted with UV radiation through reductive dechlorination, hydroxylation and cleavage of the ether bond; moreover, five additional primary TPs, with the same empirical formula as CBZ, were also noticed. Given the relatively long t1/2 of FCZ under direct photolysis (ca. 42 min), UV irradiation was combined with H2O2 addition to promote formation of reactive hydroxyl radicals. Under such conditions, the degradation rate of FCZ was enhanced significantly and no TPs were detected. These latter conditions allowed also the effective removal of CBZ TPs.

Energy Expenditure in Chilean Children with Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD).

INTRODUCTION: Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by a blockage of branched-chain keto acid of BCAA (branched-chain keto acid dehydrogenase, BCKDH) leading to neurological damage induced by accumulation of leucine and metabolites. MSUD expenditure and energy requirement information is limited. OBJECTIVE: To determine if basal/total energy expenditure (BEE/TEE) is comparable between different determination methods and if values agree with recommendations of energy in MSUD children, and whether they relate to nutritional status. METHODS: Case-control study between MSUD (n = 16) and healthy children (n = 11) aged 6-18 years. Current nutritional status, physical activity level, body composition by DEXA and BEE/TEE by indirect calorimetry (BEEr) and predictive equations (FAO/WHO/ONU - WHO - and Schofield) were assessed; STATA 2013 (p < 0.05). RESULTS: When comparing the energy expenditure variables, there was no significant difference between groups. Moreover, compared to BEEr, equations underestimate according to BEE WHO and Schofield, respectively (P = 0.00; 0.02). The WHO equation had lower average calorie difference, greater concordance correlation and association with indirect calorimetry compared to the Schofield equation for both groups, being the best predictor of the BEE for MSUD group. CONCLUSION: Energy recommendations for MSUD children are according to energy expenditure; thus the use of WHO equation is a clinically and statistically feasible tool for its determination.

Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid intake during late pregnancy affects fatty acid composition of mature breast milk.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate how maternal polyunsaturated fatty acid intake at different periods during pregnancy affects the composition of polyunsaturated fatty acids in mature human milk. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted involving 45 pregnant women, aged between 18 and 35 y, who had full-term pregnancies and practiced exclusive or predominant breast-feeding. Mature breast milk samples were collected after the 5th postpartum week by manual expression; fatty acid composition was determined by gas chromatography. Fatty acid intake during pregnancy and puerperium was estimated through multiple 24-h dietary recalls. Linear regression models, adjusted by postpartum body mass index and deattenuated, were used to determine associations between estimated fatty acids in maternal diet during each trimester of pregnancy and fatty acid content in mature human milk. RESULTS: A positive association was identified between maternal intake of eicosapentaenoic acid (ß, 1.873; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.545, 3.203) and docosahexaenoic acid (ß, 0.464; 95% CI, 0.212-0.714) during the third trimester of pregnancy, as well as the maternal dietary ω-3 to ω-6 ratio (ß, 0.093; 95% CI, 0.016-0.170) during the second and third trimesters and postpartum period, with these fatty acids content in mature breast milk. CONCLUSIONS: The maternal dietary docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid content during late pregnancy may affect the fatty acid composition of mature breast milk. Additionally, the maternal dietary intake of ω-3 to ω-6 fatty acid ratio, during late pregnancy and the postpartum period, can affect the polyunsaturated fatty acid composition of breast milk.