Valorization of poultry slaughterhouse waste into fertilizers with designed properties.

Climate change, soil erosion, air and water pollution, or problems related to waste management are just some of the many problems in the modern world. Comprehensive solutions are sought to reduce the effects of progressive environmental degradation according to the assumptions of the concept of sustainable development. The paper presents a technological concept that may be a response to these problems. The presented solution assumes full utilization of slaughterhouse waste with the simultaneous recovery of nutrients and the production of functional fertilizing products with designed properties. Four liquid fertilizer formulations with the following composition were prepared: N - 2.30-3.64%, P2O5 - 2.18-9.66%, and K2O - 0.11-4.49%. The manufactured products were characterized by a high sulfur content and the addition of microelements. The tests carried out on plants confirmed their effectiveness similar to commercial mineral fertilizers. An increase in green matter yield of peas by 5 t/ha and maize by 2 t/ha was observed. The lack of microbiological risk associated with their use has been proven. Good efficiency with a simultaneous reduction in production costs resulting from the use of waste materials, as well as limiting the negative impact of poultry farms on the environment, make this solution an attractive alternative to mineral fertilizers, in line with the assumptions of the circular economy.

Processing of nuisance animal waste into agricultural products.

A technological solution was developed to process slaughter waste and farm manure and transform them into organic and mineral fertilizers. It has been shown that the formation of an enclosure on a goose farm from nitrogen-binding substances (brown coal, a mixture of brown coal with magnesite, used ash substrate) has a positive effect on reducing nitrogen emissions, even to about 80%. The presented solution is in line with ecological trends and ensures comprehensive management of agri-food waste. It reduces the loss of valuable nutrients from renewable sources, increases the efficiency of fertilizers and reduces the environmental nuisance of poultry farms. Organic-mineral fertilizers made from slaughterhouse waste and poultry manure were as effective as expensive commercial mineral fertilizers. New fertilizers helped to obtain a yield similar to the groups fertilized with mineral fertilizers: 11 t per ha for maize (grain), 0.8 t per ha for mustard (seed), 10 kg per 1 m2 of radish (all), and 18.5 kg per 1 m2 of beet (whole) while reducing production costs thanks to the use of waste materials.

Valuable natural products from marine and freshwater macroalgae obtained from supercritical fluid extracts.

The biologically active compounds (fatty acids, pigments, phenolics, and flavonoid content) were studied in supercritical fluid extracts from the biomass of marine (Ulva clathrata, Cladophora glomerata, Polysiphonia fucoides, and their multi-species mixture) and freshwater (C. glomerata) macroalgae. Different extraction techniques were used in order to compare differences in the biologically active compound composition of the macroalgal extracts. The results indicated that the saturated and unsaturated fatty acids ranged from C9:0 to C22:0. The analysis of differences in the composition of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids in extracts showed that palmitic acid (C16:0) and oleic acid (C18:1, n-9) reached the highest value not only in marine monospecies and multi-species biomass but also in the freshwater macroalga C. glomerata. When comparing the similarity between the concentration of fatty acids and the ratio of the concentration of unsaturated fatty acids to saturated in macroalgal extracts, we found small but not statistically significant variations in values between years (up to 10%). This is acceptable for applications as a stable raw material for industrial purposes. Significantly higher values of fatty acids, carotenoids, and chlorophylls were obtained in the case of SC-CO2 extraction. The active ingredients of polyphenols, possessing antioxidant activity ranged from approximately 2-4%. Moreover, flavonoids represented less than 10% of the total content of polyphenolic compounds. The extraction efficiency of polyphenols was higher from a mixture of marine algae for the ultrasound-assisted extraction compared to freshwater. All these findings show that marine and freshwater macroalgae, as a raw material, have the optimal biologically active compounds composition for cosmetics.

Effect of the New Plant Growth Biostimulants Based on Amino Acids on Yield and Grain Quality of Winter Wheat.

Field and laboratory experiments were carried out in 2012-2013, aimed at evaluating the influence of new products stimulating plant growth based on amino acids on crop yield, characteristics of grain and content of macro- and micronutrients in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The tests included two formulations produced in cooperation with INTERMAG Co. (Olkusz, Poland)-AminoPrim and AminoHort, containing 15% and 20% amino acids, respectively, and 0.27% and 2.1% microelements, respectively. Field experiments showed that the application of products based on amino acids influenced the increase of grain yield of winter wheat (5.4% and 11%, respectively, for the application of AminoPrim at a dose 1.0 L/ha and AminoHort at dose 1.25 L/ha) when compared to the control group without biostimulant. Laboratory tests showed an increase of technological characteristics of grain such as ash content, Zeleny sedimentation index and content of protein. The use of the tested preparations at different doses also contributed to the increase of the nutrients content in grains, in particular copper (ranging 31-50%), as well as sodium (35-43%), calcium (4.3-7.9%) and molybdenum (3.9-16%). Biostimulants based on amino acids, tested in the present study, can be recommended for an efficient agricultural production.

Reference values of elements in human hair: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The lack of systematic review on reference values of elements in human hair with the consideration of methodological approach. The absence of worldwide accepted and implemented universal reference ranges causes that hair mineral analysis has not become yet a reliable and useful method of assessment of nutritional status and exposure of individuals. OBJECTIVES: Systematic review of reference values of elements in human hair. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge, Scopus. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Humans, hair mineral analysis, elements or minerals, reference values, original studies. RESULTS: The number of studies screened and assessed for eligibility was 52. Eventually, included in the review were 5 papers. The studies report reference ranges for the content of elements in hair: macroelements, microelements, toxic elements and other elements. Reference ranges were elaborated for different populations in the years 2000-2012. The analytical methodology differed, in particular sample preparation, digestion and analysis (ICP-AES, ICP-MS). Consequently, the levels of hair minerals reported as reference values varied. CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to elaborate the standard procedures and furtherly validate hair mineral analysis and deliver detailed methodology. Only then it would be possible to provide meaningful reference ranges and take advantage of the potential that lies in Hair Mineral Analysis as a medical diagnostic technique.

Exposure to nickel by hair mineral analysis.

The aim of the present work was to investigate the exposure to nickel from various sources by investigation of mineral composition of human scalp hair. The research was carried out on hair sampled from subjects, including 87 males and 178 females (22 ± 2 years). The samples of hair were analyzed by ICP-OES. The effect of several factors on nickel content in hair was examined: lifestyle habits (e.g. hair coloring, hair spray, hair straighteners, hair drier, drugs); dietary factors (e.g. yoghurts, blue cheese, lettuce, lemon, mushroom, egg, butter); other (e.g. solarium, cigarette smoking, tap water pipes, tinned food, PVC foil, photocopier, amalgam filling). These outcomes were reached by linking the results of nickel level in hair with the results of questionnaire survey. Basing on the results it can be concluded that exposure to nickel ions can occur from different sources: lifestyle, eating habits and environmental exposure.

Assessment of the exposure to elements from silver jewelry by hair mineral analysis.

The aim of the present article was to assess the effect of wearing silver jewelry on mineral composition of human scalp hair. To investigate the possible effect of gender, a group of females and males was distinguished. Subjects, who declared in the questionnaire wearing silver jewelry, constituted 55% of the whole population. It was found that individuals wearing jewelry had increased levels of Ag (~3 times), Ba (30%), Ca (33%), La (40%), Li (25%), and Zn (27%) in hair and lowered level of: Al (34%), K (79%), and Na (32.5%) in comparison with the group that did not wear jewelry. Those differences were statistically significant. Lower levels of K and Na in hair of subjects wearing jewelry was probably related with an antagonism between Ag-K and Ag-Na found in the present work. Analyzing the effect of two grouping variables-gender and wearing silver jewelry-on hair composition, it was observed that statistically significant differences were determined for the following elements: As, Ba, Ca, and Se. Female hair contained two times more Ca, four times Ba, 36% less As, and five times less Se. It was found that 34% of the population wearing silver jewelry had higher Ag content in hair than the upper value of the reference range (0.567 mg/kg) determined for subjects who did not wear jewelry. Ag and other metals (especially Cu and Zn) from jewelry could be absorbed through the skin and therefore hair mineral analysis is useful in the assessment of this exposure. The study was carried out on Poles, among which silver jewelry is particularly popular. The population can be thus considered as exposed.

Inter-relationship between elements in human hair: The effect of gender.

The aim of the present work was to examine the inter-relationship between elements in human hair depending on gender. In the whole population, the following groups of correlated elements were identified: alkaline earth metals (Ba, Ca, Mg, Sr), major microelements (Cu, Mn, Si, Zn) and La, Ti. In the subpopulation of males, the (Ag, Al, As, Fe) group was additionally included, whereas in the group of females (Ag, Al, Fe, Zr) was included. The group of alkali metals (Li, Na, K) and P was particularly visible in the group of males. In the group of females correlations among (Al, Co, Fe, K, Ti) were stronger than in males. In both sexes correlations between Mo, B and V (in females additionally Bi was present) and Bi-Co were found. Only in hair of males (Cd, Fe, Mn) and (Cu, Na, P) were detected, and the group of (As, Co, Cr, Fe, K, Ti) was detected only in females.

Reference values for hair minerals of Polish students.

In the present work, reference values for the content of elements in human hair were elaborated. The population chosen for the study was a group of students in Polish urban area, which served as a representative group of a population of 20 years old individuals living in Europe. The content of 36 elements (essential (B, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, P, S, Si, Sn, V, Zn), toxic (Al, As, Cd, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sb, Tl) elements and others (Ag, Ba, Bi, Ce, La, Li, Rb, Sr, Ti, Y, Zr)) was determined in hair sampled from 117 subjects. Hair were digested with nitric acid in microwave oven in closed Teflon bombs and underwent multielemental analysis for the content of macroelements by ICP-OES and for micro- and trace elements by ICP-MS. Reference ranges were determined and considered as the values between 10th and 90th percentile. It was assumed that the values of the extreme low and high 10% in the population reflected mineral imbalance. In the population, a group of females and males was distinguished, and also a group of women which tinted their hair was separated. This enabled to point out the differences in hair mineral content between genders and for tinted and non-tinted hair. Statistical significance of differences was found for several elements, for which separate reference values were elaborated. This concerned the following elements: Ba, Ca, Cu, K, La, Mg, Mn, Si, Sr and Ti. In the interpretation of the level of these elements it is necessary to take into consideration both sex and artificial coloring. Also ratios between elements were evaluated - between nutritive (Ca/Mg, Ca/P, Na/K, Zn/Cu) and nutritive vs. toxic (Zn/Cd, Zn/Pb). In this case the differences were detected only for Ca/P ratio. This shows that perhaps in the future, inter-element ratios rather than the absolute levels of elements would be considered for the interpretation of the results of mineral analysis of hair.

The effect of dietary habits on mineral composition of human scalp hair.

In the present work, hair mineral analysis of 117 individuals was carried out. The subjects were asked to fill a questionnaire concerning their dietary habits. The content of minerals in hair was determined by ICP-OES (macroelements) and ICP-MS technique (micro-, toxic and other trace elements). The results were elaborated statistically by Statisticaver. 8.0. It was found that consuming highly processed food causes increased levels of e.g. Na and P in hair, intake of slimming preparation resulted in increased content of Al, Cr, Ti, taking in laxative agents caused lower level of Pb (this element was probably eliminated by other excretory routes). Individuals which declared the use of analgesic agents had more Si in their hair. Drinking coffee was related with higher level of Al, Ni, S and Ti and lower Pb in hair. Drinking tea caused reduction in the level of Hg. These results show that hair mineral content reflects exposure of elements from the diet.