Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in dry tea leaves and tea infusions in Vietnam: contamination levels and dietary risk assessment.

The total mean ∑[Formula: see text] in samples were from 75.3 to 387.0 ng/g dry weight (d.w) and showed high value in black dry tea, followed by herbal, oolong, and green tea. The mean ∑[Formula: see text] (a combination of benz[a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, and benzo[a]pyrene) values were 54.3 ng/g, 16.4 ng/g, 14.2 ng/g, and 6.6 ng/g for black, herbal, green, and oolong teas, respectively. Concentration for benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) was from 0.4 to 35.8 ng/g, and the BaP equivalent concentration values ranged from 0.3 to 48.1 ng/g. There was only 1 black tea sample that BaP concentration exceeded the maximum level according to European Union (EU) standards. Tea samples marketed in Vietnam showed insignificant difference with the samples from other origins by same analytical method. Black teas showed high PAHs contents in dry tea samples but the released percentage of sum of PAHs from tea-to-tea infusion was lower than that in other tea type samples. The released percentages of PAH4 from tea-to-tea infusion were 40.7, 15.4, and 1.9 for green, herbal, and black tea. High temperature in black tea manufacturing processes might reduce essential oil content in tea that might effect on the PAHs partially release into the infusion. Indeed, based on EU regulations, we may conclude that tea consumers are safe in risk of exposure to PAHs obtained from teas.

Facile synthesis of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles mimicking biological apatite from eggshells for bone-tissue engineering.

A facile synthesis of hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanoparticles that mimicked biological apatite by utilizing eggshells as a bio-calcium precursor was presented via the hydrothermal method and with the assistance of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide for bone-tissue engineering. The synthesized HAp was characterized by the X-ray powder diffraction method, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms. The HAp nanoparticles were produced in film and pellet forms to determine their biomineralization and protein adsorption through in vitro studies in simulated body fluids and minimum essential medium supplemented with fetal bovine serum, respectively. A pure HAp nanocrystalline phase with rod-shaped nanoparticles of 161 nm in mean length and 52 nm in mean diameter was produced. The HAp was revealed to be a carbonated HAp exhibiting A- and B- type CO32- substitutions with CO32- content of 2.14 ± 1.36 wt.%, trace amounts of some important elements (Mg, Na, and K), and Ca/P atomic ratio of 1.54, thereby confirming that the HAp resembled the biological apatite in terms of morphology, structure, and composition. The HAp showed high biomineralization capability with the quick release of a double layer of bone-like apatite after 3 days in SBF and extremely high protein adsorption with 1213 ± 178 µg of proteins adsorbed on the HAp surface after 24 h. The HAp material had high bioactivity and cell affinity (cell adhesion, spreading, and proliferation). Thus, it has potential as a biomaterial for fabrication of BTE scaffolds. To our knowledge, this article is the first detailed study on biological tests of the HAp material derived from eggshells.

Transport and release of chemicals from plastics to the environment and to wildlife.

Plastics debris in the marine environment, including resin pellets, fragments and microscopic plastic fragments, contain organic contaminants, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, petroleum hydrocarbons, organochlorine pesticides (2,2'-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-1,1,1-trichloroethane, hexachlorinated hexanes), polybrominated diphenylethers, alkylphenols and bisphenol A, at concentrations from sub ng g(-1) to microg g(-1). Some of these compounds are added during plastics manufacture, while others adsorb from the surrounding seawater. Concentrations of hydrophobic contaminants adsorbed on plastics showed distinct spatial variations reflecting global pollution patterns. Model calculations and experimental observations consistently show that polyethylene accumulates more organic contaminants than other plastics such as polypropylene and polyvinyl chloride. Both a mathematical model using equilibrium partitioning and experimental data have demonstrated the transfer of contaminants from plastic to organisms. A feeding experiment indicated that PCBs could transfer from contaminated plastics to streaked shearwater chicks. Plasticizers, other plastics additives and constitutional monomers also present potential threats in terrestrial environments because they can leach from waste disposal sites into groundwater and/or surface waters. Leaching and degradation of plasticizers and polymers are complex phenomena dependent on environmental conditions in the landfill and the chemical properties of each additive. Bisphenol A concentrations in leachates from municipal waste disposal sites in tropical Asia ranged from sub microg l(-1) to mg l(-1) and were correlated with the level of economic development.