A novel method for rapid and quantitative detection of bisphenol A in urine.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is classified as an endocrine disruptor (ED) and it can interact with variety of hormone receptors leading to hormonal disruption and increased risk of various adverse health effects. Reducing human exposure to BPA is one of the main challenges of public health, as it is constantly present in daily life. A low-cost and commonly applied method to enable determination of BPA in the patient's body has yet to be developed. Currently available techniques are expensive, time-consuming, and require access to highly equipped analytical chemistry laboratories. Here we describe a fast and cheap engineered lateral flow assay of our design, to detect of BPA in urine samples. The technology not only provides an opportunity to perform rapid medical diagnostics without the need for an access to the central laboratory but also a means for self-diagnosis by the patient. The addition of ß-glucuronidase improves the sensitivity of detection as it releases the free BPA from glucuronide complexes in urine. This invention may become a demonstrated analytical means for lowering human exposure to BPA and probably also to other EDs and consequently, may be useful in decrease of the risk for several lifestyle diseases.

Nanomaterials in food contact materials; considerations for risk assessment

Nanotechnology applications in the food industry, including food contact materials, offer many potential benefits for consumers and manufacturers alike. The article discusses the migration of nanoparticles from food contact materials and the possible health risks associated with in the context of insufficient knowledge of the potential exposure to nanomaterial. The importance of gaps in the general knowledge on the behaviour and biological interactions of nanomaterials in biological systems becomes crucial for risk assessment. The article also discussed numerous doubts concerning the measurements of biological reactions in animal tests and the need for new approaches in the interpretation of data from nanoparticles studies in vivo. The article underlines the need to develop predictive and validated toxicological tests that can be used to screen for potential hazards, and also to develop new methodology for measuring nanoparticles in biological matrices to assess human exposure. Further studies should focus on understanding the mechanisms of action. Nanoparticles exhibit chemical and physical properties that significantly differ from those substances at a large size. Different properties of nanoparticles may lead to different toxicological properties. From that reason nanoparticles, in each case, are individually assessed by the European Food Standard Agency (EFSA) in terms of health risk before the European Commission authorizes them to be used in food contact materials.

[Violations of mrls for pesticide residues in food reported for risk assessment according to RASFF procedures in Poland]. / Przekroczenia dopuszczalnych poziomów pozostalosci pestycydów w zywnosci zglaszane do oceny ryzyka zgodnie z procedurami RASFF w Polsce.

The results of risk assessment to evaluate the potential risk from food products of plant origin in cases of violations of maximum residue limits for pesticides (MRLs) have been presented. According to the rules set in the RASFF any violation of legally established limit should undergo the risk assessment to allow quantitative approach in hazard evaluation for consumers. The basis of risk assessment have been presented as tool for risk management in the official food control. In case of MRLs violations the risk was assessed for general population as well as for small children as the most vulnerable part of the population. Since beginning of the RASFF in Poland--since mid of 2003 till the end of 2007--148 notifications of MRLs violations underwent risk assessment procedures. This means 2.5% of the overall number of analyzed samples. However, as much as 0.39% of the samples taken for analysis posed a real, considerable risk for consumers health, and the small children seem to be the group at greatest risk.