A method validation of determination of melamine in marketed infant formula and milk powder of Iran.

Melamine is a recognized food contaminant that can arise incidentally or intentionally in specific categories of food. This study aimed to validate the melamine detection and quantification in infant formula and milk powders and also analyzed 40 samples consist of infant formula and milk powders from commercially available food products, from different geographic regions of Iran. The approximate content of melamine in samples was measured by High-performance liquid chromatography-ultra violet (HPLC-UV) system. A calibration curve (R2 = 0.9925) was established for detection of melamine in the range of 0.1-1.2 µg mL-1. Limit of quantification and limit of detection were 1 µg mL-1 and 3 µg mL-1, respectively. The presence of melamine in infant formula and milk powdered was investigated and it was observed that the amount of melamine in samples of infant formulas and milk powders was 0.001-0.095 mg kg-1 and 0.001-0.004 mg kg-1, respectively. These values were found to be within the prescribed limits by the European Union and Codex Alimentarius Commission legislation. It is important to note that the consumption of these dairy products, which contain low content of melamine, does not pose any significant threat to consumer health. Furthermore, the results of the risk assessment confirmed this issue.

Recent advances in characterizing the physical and functional properties of active packaging films containing pomegranate peel.

In recent years, food and packaging industries have worked together to minimize food wastes. Fruit and vegetable by-products, which are known to be among the most abundant food wastes and a great source of bioactive compounds, have the potential to improve food product packaging properties. The antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of pomegranate peel in food active packaging have been the subject of numerous studies. Pomegranate peel has an impact on the films' microstructure and physical properties, such as thickness, water vapor permeability, mechanical properties, optical properties, and thermal properties. Moreover, pomegranate peel incorporated films demonstrate great antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Reviewing current advancements in the physical and functional properties of active packaging films containing pomegranate peel is the goal of this study.

The Effects of Toxic Heavy Metals Lead, Cadmium and Copper on the Epidemiology of Male and Female Infertility.

Infertility is a major problem in modern society that affects a significant number of couples around the world. Heavy metals and a number of other factors have been causally linked to infertility. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of heavy metals lead, cadmium, and copper on the epidemiology of male and female infertility. Searches for articles published from 1982 to 2020 using related keywords such as male and female infertility and heavy metals were performed in scientific databases PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and others. The results showed that, in recent years, the number of infertile individuals has increased. Various environmental, occupational, and genetic factors have been described as potential causes. Heavy metals lead, cadmium, and copper cause infertility in couples through various mechanisms, such as changes in sperm motility factors, decreased semen quality, or effects on the egg. Exposure to physical phenomena such as radiation (ionized or microwave) and heat; stress and mental disorders; chemicals from cigarettes, respiratory pollutants (lead), insecticides and pesticides; anesthetic gases; and mercury and cytotoxic drugs may also contribute to the onset of infertility.