Risk Assessment of Microbiological and Chemical Hazards in Foods.

Food safety constitutes a critical regulatory and quality standard that must be fulfilled by food manufacturers throughout all phases of food production [...].

Exploring the Untapped Potential of Pine Nut Skin By-Products: A Holistic Characterization and Recycling Approach.

The increasing population, food demand, waste management concerns, and the search for sustainable alternatives to plastic polymers have led researchers to explore the potential of waste materials. This study focused on a waste of pine nut processing referred to in this paper as pine nut skin. For the first time, its nutritional profile, potential bioactive peptide, contaminants, and morphological structure were assessed. Pine nut skin was composed mainly of carbohydrates (56.2%) and fiber (27.5%). The fat (9.8%) was about 45%, 35%, and 20% saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acid, respectively, and Omega-9,-6, and -3 were detected. Notably, oleic acid, known for its health benefits, was found in significant quantities, resembling its presence in pine nut oil. The presence of bioactive compounds such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and phytosterols further adds to its nutritional value. Some essential elements were reported, whereas most of the contaminants such as heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, rare earth elements, and pesticides were below the limit of quantification. Furthermore, the in silico analysis showed the occurrence of potential precursor peptides of bioactive compounds, indicating health-promoting attributes. Lastly, the morphological structural characterization of the pine nut skin was followed by Fourier Transform Infrared and solid-state NMR spectroscopy to identify the major components, such as lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose. The thermostability of the pine nut skin was monitored via thermogravimetric analysis, and the surface of the integument was analyzed via scanning electron microscopy and volumetric nitrogen adsorption. This information provides a more comprehensive view of the potential uses of pine nut skin as a filler material for biocomposite materials. A full characterization of the by-products of the food chain is essential for their more appropriate reuse.

Microplastics, a Global Issue: Human Exposure through Environmental and Dietary Sources.

Plastic production has grown dramatically over the years. Microplastics (MPs) are formed from the fragmentation of larger plastic debris by combining chemical, physical, and biological processes and can degrade further to form nanoplastics (NPs). Because of their size, MPs and NPs are bioavailable to many organisms and can reach humans through transport along the food chain. In addition to the risk from ingesting MPs themselves, there are risks associated with the substances they carry, such as pesticides, pathogenic microorganisms, and heavy metals, and with the additives added to plastics to improve their characteristics. In addition, bioaccumulation and biomagnification can cause a cumulative exposure effect for organisms at the top of the food chain and humans. Despite the growing scientific interest in this emerging contaminant, the potential adverse effects remain unclear. The aim of this review is to summarize the characteristics (size, shape, color, and properties) of MPs in the environment, the primary sources, and the transport pathways in various environmental compartments, and to shed more light on the ecological impact of MPs and the potential health effects on organisms and humans by identifying human exposure pathways.

Occurrence of Phthalate Esters in Coffee and Risk Assessment.

Coffee, one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world, is commercialized as powder and beans in different types of packaging and extracted through several methods. In this regard, the present study focused on evaluating the concentration of two of the most used phthalates in plastic materials (bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) and di-butyl phthalate (DBP)) in coffee powder and beverages to assess their migration from different packaging and machines. Furthermore, the levels of exposure to these endocrine disruptors in regular coffee consumers were estimated. Samples of packaged coffee powder/beans (n = 60) from different forms of packaging (multilayer bag, aluminum tin, and paper pod) and coffee beverages (n = 40) that were differently extracted (by professional espresso machine (PEM), Moka pot (MP), and home espresso machine (HEM)) were analyzed by extraction of the lipid fraction, purification, and determination by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Risk due to consumption of coffee (1-6 cups) was assessed based on tolerable daily intake (TDI) and incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR). No significant differences emerged in DBP and DEHP concentrations among different types of packaging (multilayer, aluminum, and paper), whereas higher levels of DEHP were reported in beverages extracted by PEM (6.65, 2.58-11.32) than by MP (0.78, 0.59-0.91) and HEM (0.83, 0.62-0.98). The presence of higher DEHP levels in coffee beverages than in coffee powder may be due to its leaching through machine components. However, the levels of PAEs did not exceed the specific migration limits (SMLs) set out for food contact materials (FCM), and exposure to PAEs from coffee beverages was low, justifying the small risk due of its consumption. Consequently, coffee can be considered a safe beverage for exposure to some phthalic acid esters (PAEs).

Occurrence of phthalate esters and preliminary data on microplastics in fish from the Tyrrhenian sea (Italy) and impact on human health.

Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are chemical pollutants widely distributed in the marine environment. They can accumulate in biota, posing a risk to the marine ecosystem and humans. The aim of this study was to measure the content of PAEs in the gills and muscles of three fish species (Mugil cephalus, Diplodus annularis, and Mullus barbatus) caught along the coast of Campania (Italy), as well as to ascertain the dietary exposure to PAEs through the consumption of fish. Secondly, a preliminary insight into microplastics (MPs) pollution in this area was provided through the analysis of Mugil cephalus organs. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were used for the PAEs analysis, while an Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) microscope was used to detect MPs after a pre-digestion of the samples. Risk assessment was based on estimated daily intake (EDI) and lifetime cancer risk (LTCR). The results showed higher bioaccumulation of PAEs in Mullus barbatus than in the other two species and higher concentration in gills than in muscles. MPs (polyamide, polypropylene, and high-density polyethylene) were detected in half of the gill samples, but no particle was detected in the muscle samples of Mugil cephalus. A low carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk from the consumption of fish emerged, although a potential risk for the development of cancer was found in the worst-case, especially in toddlers. In conclusion, this study provides insight into PAEs pollution in the Tyrrhenian Sea (Italy), their distribution in fish with different behaviors, and the potential risk to the consumer. Moreover, the data on pollution by MPs in this area could form the basis for future studies.

Coffee Silverskin: Chemical and Biological Risk Assessment and Health Profile for Its Potential Use in Functional Foods.

The coffee supply chain is characterized by a complex network with many critical and unsustainable points producing a huge amount of waste products. Among these, coffee silverskin (CS), the only by-product of the coffee roasting phase, has an interesting chemical profile that suggests potential use as a food ingredient. However, few data on its safety are available. For this reason, the purpose of the study was to assess the occurrence of chemical and biological contaminants in CS, and the resulting risk due to its potential consumption. Essential, toxic, and rare earth elements, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), process contaminants, ochratoxin A (OTA), and pesticides residues were analyzed in three classes of samples (Coffea arabica CS, Coffea robusta CS, and their blend). Furthermore, total mesophilic bacteria count (TMBC) at 30 °C, Enterobacteriaceae, yeasts, and molds was evaluated. The risk assessment was based upon the hazard index (HI) and lifetime cancer risk (LTCR). In all varieties and blends, rare earth elements, pesticides, process contaminants, OTA, and PAHs were not detected except for chrysene, phenanthrene, and fluoranthene, which were reported at low concentrations only in the arabica CS sample. Among essential and toxic elements, As was usually the most representative in all samples. Microorganisms reported a low load, although arabica and robusta CS showed lower contamination than mixed CS. Instead, the risk assessment based on the potential consumption of CS as a food ingredient did not show either non-carcinogenic or carcinogenic risk. Overall, this study provides adequate evidence to support the safety of this by-product for its potential use in functional foods.

Effects of Covid-19 pandemic lockdown and environmental pollution assessment in Campania region (Italy) through the analysis of heavy metals in honeybees.

The Covid-19 outbreak had a critical impact on a massive amount of human activities as well as the global health system. On the other hand, the lockdown and related suspension of working activities reduced pollution emissions. The use of biomonitoring is an efficient and quite recent tool to assess environmental pollution through the analysis of a proper bioindicator, such as bees. This study set out to ascertain the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown on the environmental occurrence of eleven heavy metals in the Campania region (Italy) by analyzing bees and bee products. A further aim of this study was the assessment of the Honeybee Contamination Index (HCI) in three different areas of the Campania region and its comparison with other Italian areas to depict the current environmental pollutants levels of heavy metals. The results showed that the levels of heavy metals bioaccumulated by bees during the pandemic lockdown (T1) were statistically lower than the sampling times after Covid-19 restrictions and the resumption of some or all activities (T2 and T3). A comparable trend was observed in wax and pollen. However, bee, pollen, and wax showed higher levels of Cd and Hg in T1 than T2 and T3. The analysis of the HCI showed a low contamination level of the sampling sites for Cd and Pb, and an intermediate-high level as regards Ni and Cr. The biomonitoring study highlighted a decrease of heavy metals in the environmental compartments due to the intense pandemic restrictions. Therefore, Apis mellifera and other bee products remain a reliable and alternative tool for environmental pollution assessment.

Acrylamide levels in smoke from conventional cigarettes and heated tobacco products and exposure assessment in habitual smokers.

Acrylamide (AA) is a neurotoxic, genotoxic, and carcinogenic compound developed during heating at high temperatures. Foods such as potatoes, biscuits, bread and coffee are the main foodstuffs containing AA. Cigarette smoke may be a significant additional source of exposure. However, AA content may vary among different types of cigarettes. The study aimed to evaluate the AA content in conventional cigarettes (CC) and heated tobacco products (HTP) and its resulting exposure through their use. AA levels from the two types of cigarettes were determined by GC-MS and the daily exposure to AA was also ascertained. The margin of exposure (MOE) was calculated for neurotoxic and carcinogenic risk based on benchmark dose lower confidence limit for a 10% response (BMDL10) of 0.43 and 0.17, 0.30, and 1.13 mg/kgbw/day. AA level in CC ranged from 235 to 897 ng/cigarette, whereas HTP reported AA levels in the range of 99-187 ng/cigarette. The data showed a low neurotoxic risk for either CC or HTP, whereas a carcinogenic risk emerged through the smoking of CC based on different Benchmark doses. The carcinogenic risk for CC based on the highest Benchmark dose that was considered showed unsafe levels, as little as 10 CC cigarettes/day, whereas it was almost always of low concern for HTP. Another approach based upon the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) analysis led to similar results, exceeding, in some cases, the safety value of 10-4, as far as CC are concerned. Overall, the results confirmed that CC are a significant source of AA, and its levels were five times higher than in HTP.

Myocardial Work Efficiency in Physiologic Left Ventricular Hypertrophy of Power Athletes.

Aims: The athlete's heart in power training is characterized by physiologic concentric remodeling. Our aim was to analyze left ventricular (LV) myocardial deformation and contractile reserve (CR) in top-level power athletes (PA) at rest and during exercise and their possible correlations with functional capacity. Methods: Standard echo, lung ultrasound, and LV 2D speckle-tracking strain were performed at rest and during exercise in PA and in age- and sex-comparable healthy controls. Results: 250 PA (male: 62%; 33.6 ± 4.8 years) and 180 age- and sex-comparable healthy controls were enrolled. LV ejection fraction (EF) at baseline was comparable between the two groups, while LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) was reduced in PA (GLS: -17.8 ± 2.4 in PA vs. -21.9 ± 3.8 in controls; P < 0.01). Conversely, myocardial work efficiency (MWE) did not show significant difference between the two groups (94.4 ± 3.2 in PA vs. 95.9 ± 4.6% in controls; P NS). At peak exertion during exercise stress echocardiography (ESE), PA showed better exercise capacity and peak VO2 consumption (51.6 ± 10.2 in EA vs. 39.8 ± 8.2 mL/Kg/min in controls, P < 0.0001), associated with augmented pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP). By multivariable analysis, MWE at rest was the most predictive factor of maximal watts (P < 0.0001), peak VO2, (P < 0.0001), PASP (P < 0.001), and number of B-lines (P < 0.001), all measured at peak effort. Conclusions: In power athletes, MWE showed less load dependency than GLS. Normal resting values of MWE in PA suggest a physiological LV remodeling, associated with a better exercise capacity and preserved CR during physical stress.

Acrylamide in Baby Foods: A Probabilistic Exposure Assessment.

Acrylamide (also known as 2-propenamide) (AA) is a toxicant that develops in food during high-temperature cooking, and its occurrence is common in biscuits and baked snacks. AA is known for its in vivo neurotoxic and carcinogenic effects, and it is considered a potential carcinogen for humans. Infants may be exposed to AA as early as during weaning through baked food such as biscuits. This study set out to ascertain the concentration of AA in food products intended for infants to assess the dietary exposure to this food contaminant. AA levels were determined through GC/MS and bromination, and dietary exposure was evaluated by a probabilistic method based on Monte Carlo simulation. The results showed that the probability of a carcinogenic exposure is 94%, 92%, and 87%, respectively, for 6-, 12-, and 18-months infants, suggesting the need to delay the introduction of baked products in the diet of weaned infants. It should be noted, however, that these conclusions were drawn considering the biscuits as the primary source of exposure.

Occurrence of Acrylamide in Italian Baked Products and Dietary Exposure Assessment.

Acrylamide (AA) is a neo-formed toxic compound that develops in foods during cooking at temperatures above 120 °C. AA shows in vivo neurotoxic and carcinogenic effects, and it is potentially carcinogenic for humans. Its occurrence is common in baked food, such as bread and similar products. This study set out to analyze bread and sweets from the Italian market to evaluate the effects of the benchmark thresholds set by EU Regulation 2017/2158 and to ascertain the exposure of the Italian population to AA, across three age groups, through the consumption of baked products, according to the margin of exposure (MOE) approach. Two hundred samples were tested, and the content of AA ranged from 31 to 454 µg/kg for bread and products thereof and from 204 to 400 µg/kg for the sweets category. The exposure data did not show any neurotoxic health concern, whereas the MOE related to the carcinogenic endpoint is well below the minimum safety value of 10,000.

The role of echocardiography in SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: a compromise among appropriateness, safety and clinical impact.

SARS-CoV-2 infection, responsible for COVID-19, can determine cardiac events, which require a quick diagnosis and management, and should not be overlooked due to the presence of COVID-19 infection. In some cases, cardiovascular symptoms can also be the first and only manifestation of SARS-CoV-2 infection. In patients with COVID-19, the full cardiovascular disease diagnostic algorithm can be hindered by logistic restrain mainly derived from the difficulty of transporting patients in critical conditions to Radiology or Hemodynamics wards. The echocardiography in SARS-CoV-2 pandemic can help for differential diagnosis of cardiac events, which can be related or unrelated by the infection and can likely impact on short-term prognosis. Indeed, transthoracic echocardiography plays a key role in the screen for CV complications of COVID-19 infection: it must be focused cardiac ultrasound study (FoCUS) performed at bedside. All transthoracic, transesophageal and stress echocardiograms in patients in which test results are unlikely to change the management strategy should be postponed.

Long-term efficacy and safety of apremilast in psoriatic arthritis: Focus on skin manifestations and special populations.

Few real-life studies evaluated long-term apremilast therapy in the variable spectrum of clinical-anamnestic features which can be found in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients. This real-life retrospective observational study aimed to assess long-term efficacy, safety, and tolerability of apremilast among patients with PsA and concomitant cutaneous psoriasis. A stratified analysis was performed on special populations, defined as (a) number (≤1 vs >2) of comorbidities, presence or absence of: (b) history of malignancy, and (c) previous exposure to biologics. Patients attending three Italian University and Hospital centers, who received at least one dose of apremilast and had at least one follow-up visit were included. Ninety-six patients with PsA were identified. Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), Body Surface Area, 28-joint Disease Activity Score, and Dermatology Life Quality Index scores improved during treatment, already at week 4, relative to baseline. More than 2 comorbidities, history of malignancy and previous biologic treatment negatively influenced PASI responses. At least one adverse event was experienced by 56/96 patients, and 11/56 events required drug withdrawal. In conclusion, this study confirm efficacy and safety of apremilast on joints and skin involvement of PsA, highlighting which patients could have less favorable treatment response.

Processing effects on acrylamide content in roasted coffee production.

Acrylamide is a toxic compound that develops during the roasting process of coffee beans. According to literature, the levels of acrylamide in coffee vary with the percentage of Robusta type in the mix and with the time-temperature parameters during the roasting process. Therefore, this study aimed to find the best roasting conditions in order to mitigate acrylamide formation. Two types of roasted coffee (Arabica and Robusta) were analyzed through GC-MS and two clean-up methods were compared. The best roasting conditions were optimized on an industrial scale and the median levels of acrylamide decreased from the range 170-484 µg kg-1 to 159-351 µg kg-1, after the optimization of roasting parameters. Therefore, the choice of the best conditions, according to the percentage of Robusta type in the finished product, could be an efficient mitigation strategy for acrylamide formation in coffee, maintaining the manufacturer's requirements of the finished product.

Level of Biogenic Amines in Red and White Wines, Dietary Exposure, and Histamine-Mediated Symptoms upon Wine Ingestion.

Biogenic amines (BAs) are involved in physiological processes. Foods where typically high levels of BAs occur are fermented food and beverage. This work set out to evaluate the occurrence of BAs in red and white wines, and to also ascertain the dietary exposure to BAs among consumers. Besides, a case report of a probable histamine intoxication upon ingestion of contaminated wine was described. The samples were analyzed through derivatization with dansyl chloride and HPLC-UV detection. Red wines showed higher levels of BAs, especially putrescine (PUT) and histamine (HIS), than white wines (median concentrations of 7.30 and 2.45 mg/L, respectively). However, results of our investigation showed that the dietary exposure to BAs through the consumption of wine (red and white) were lower than the recommended maximum levels for the acute exposure to HIS and tyramine (TYR). In contrast, the levels of BAs in wine on tap were much higher than in bottled wine and close to recommended values. The levels of HIS, TYR, and PUT in tap wine of 9.97, 8.23, and 13.01 mg/L, respectively, were associated with histamine-mediated symptoms in six young individuals after consumption of about three glasses of wine. The overall results and multivariate analysis confirm that red wine shows a higher concentration of BAs than white wine, especially putrescine and histamine. This finding is attributable to the malolactic fermentation that is common for most red wine production. It is also evident that incorrect preservation processes can lead to an increase in BA levels, probably due to the action of bacteria with high decarboxylase activity. The exposure values, although below the toxicity thresholds, could lead to histamine-mediated symptoms in susceptible individuals, also according to the case report discussed in this study.

BPA, BPB, BPF, BADGE and BFDGE in canned beers from the Italian market.

A survey of BPA, BPB, BPF, BADGE and BFDGE contamination in canned beers from the Italian market is reported. An analytical method for the determination of these five bisphenols down to 0.5 ng mL-1 using UPLC with fluorescence detection was developed and validated. A total of 40 canned beers were collected from the market in Southern Italy and analysed. The results showed that only 14 samples were contaminated at concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 2.5 ng mL-1 by at least BPA, BPF and BADGE. No contamination by BPB and BFDGE was detected. This survey suggests that canned beers from the Italian market should represent neither a relevant source of intake of bisphenols nor a risk for consumer's health.

A systematic risk characterization related to the dietary exposure of the population to potentially toxic elements through the ingestion of fruit and vegetables from a potentially contaminated area. A case study: The issue of the "Land of Fires" area in Campania region, Italy.

Potentially toxic elements are widespread soil contaminants, whose occurrence could entail a concern for human health upon ingestion of fruit and vegetables harvested in a polluted area. This work set out to evaluate the concentrations of lead and cadmium as well as the levels of thirteen heavy metals for which a limit value is yet to be established by the food safety authorities, in order to perform a risk characterization related to the dietary intake of these metals and to provide a scientific opinion with wider relevance in the light of current worldwide regulatory issues. The sampling consisted of fruit and vegetables grown in a potentially contaminated area of southern Italy due to the illegal dump of hazardous wastes. An evaluation of the dietary exposure through the calculation of the Hazard Index (HI), the Maximum Cumulative Ratio (MCR) and the Target Cancer Risk (TCR) was adopted to this end. The results revealed that about the 30% of samples showed quantifiable levels of chemicals and no significant difference emerged between the potentially polluted area and the nearby cities that were selected as a control landfill site. The overall risk characterization for non-carcinogenic endpoints showed that the HI did not reach unsafe values, except for a small number of samples mainly because of aberrant occurrences and, in any case, the cumulative toxicity was mainly driven by thallium and vanadium. As far as the carcinogenic effects of arsenic are concerned, the distribution of TCR values broadly lay below the safety threshold; a certain percentage of data, however, exceeded this limit and should be taken into account for the enforcement of future regulatory thresholds.

Multiple sclerosis following anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha therapy for psoriasis: first case in Italy?

The use of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) antagonists has greatly improved clinical management of psoriasis and other inflammatory diseases, but acute and chronic adverse reactions, including demyelination, are becoming increasingly recognized. We reported a case of multiple sclerosis in a 48-year-old Italian man with plaque psoriasis treated with etanercept. Through a literature review, we found a total of 35 psoriatic patients, including our case, in whom a demyelinating disease developed in course of TNF-α antagonists therapy. Since neurological disorders are rarely associated with the use of anti-TNF-α therapy in psoriatic patients, but have severe side effects, physicians should screen patients before starting therapy, excluding a positive anamnesis for demyelinating disease; if patients receiving anti-TNF-α drugs develop new or unusual neurological symptoms, the anti-TNF-α should be stopped and patients should be properly examined. Furthermore, therapies for demyelinating diseases that could exacerbate psoriasis manifestations should be carefully avoided.

Determination of acrylamide levels in potato crisps and other snacks and exposure risk assessment through a Margin of Exposure approach.

Potato crisps, corn-based extruded snacks and other savoury snacks are very popular products especially among younger generations. These products could be a potential source of acrylamide (AA), a toxic compound which could develop during frying and baking processes. The purpose of this study was the assessment of the dietary intake to AA across six groups of consumers divided according to age through the consumption of potato crisps and other snacks, in order to eventually evaluate the margin of exposure (MOE) related to neurotoxic and carcinogenic critical endpoints. Different brands of potato crisps and other popular snacks were analyzed through a matrix solid-phase dispersion method followed by a bromination step and GC-MS quantification. The concentration of detected AA ranged from 21 to 3444 ng g-1 and the highest level occurred in potato crisps samples which showed a median value of 968 ng g-1. The risk characterization through MOE assessment revealed that five out of six consumers groups showed higher exposure values associated with an augmented carcinogenic risk.