Evaluation of the impact of anthropogenic activities on arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mercury, lead, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon levels in seafood from the Gulf of Naples, Italy.

The principal aim of this study was to monitor the occurrence of some metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in fish and mussels from the Gulf of Naples. A comparison with previous researches of the same area was carried out, and the intakes of these compounds through the diet and their effect on the tolerable intake values (when available) were assessed. Cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), and lead (Pb) were detected by flameless atomic absorption spectroscopy (Cd, Cr, and Pb); arsenic (As) and mercury (Hg) were detected by applying the hydride method. PAHs were detected by high-performance liquid chromatography. Widespread contamination was found. Among the metals, Hg showed the highest maximum levels of 284.94 ng/g wet weight (ww) in fish and 480.00 ng/g ww in mussels. Chrysene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, anthracene, and benzo[k]fluoranthene were the most common PAHs in fish, whereas benzo[a]anthracene, pyrene, phenanthrene, acenaphthylene, and acenaphthene were the most frequently occurring compounds in mussels. The concentrations of As, Cr, Hg, Pb, and PAHs in fish were found to decrease over a period of 30 years, whereas the Cd levels remained constant. The Hg, Pb, and PAH levels in mussels increased over the period 2010 to 2016. Finally, the average consumption of mussels led to the highest effect on the Tolerable Daily Intake of Hg, which was exceeded by 19%.

The Rapid Alert System: implementation in NA 2 North LHA over the five-year period from 2008 to 2012.

INTRODUCTION: The Rapid Alert System was established by the European Union (EC Regulation 178/2002 Art.50, paragraph 1) for food intended for human consumption and for animal feed, with the aim of ensuring the protection of public, animal and environmental health. The purpose of the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) is to provide the control authorities with the means of exchanging information on the measures taken to ensure food safety. This system allows for a rapid intervention following the discovery of food or feed already placed on the market and which represent, directly or indirectly, a serious risk for human, animal or environmental health. METHODS: Our work intends to examine all alert and information notified to the Hygiene Department of Food and Nutrition of what was formerly NA3 LHU in the last 5 years (2008-2012), and is now Naples 2 North LHU, bearing in mind that, according to regional law 16/2008 (10), the Local Health Units in Campania have been redefined. The types of risk regarding the food subject of the alerts received are: chemical, physical and biological. Food frauds (adulteration, counterfeiting, sophistication and alteration) and the poor state of preservation were considered separately. RESULTS: Out of 146 cases of non-conformity reported, 87 involved chemical risk, 28 biological risk and 17 included foreign bodies; there were also 7 food frauds and 1 case of poor state of preservation. As for the origin, the food subject of non-conformity were for the most part (61,64%) of national origin, while 34.24% came from abroad. Of these, about 66% were of non-EU origin. CONCLUSIONS: The experience gained during the period from 2008 to 2012 allows us to state that the information flow has been improved allowing local services that have been assigned the control to act more rapidly. A critical issue sometimes remains concerning the completeness of the given data, above all regarding the type of risk that, when well reported, provides a valuable contribution to the success of a comprehensive and responsible risk management programme. The encouraging fact that emerges from this study, however, is that, despite the premises made about the characteristics of the area examined, the number of alerts we received involving production sites located in the area of the LHU jurisdiction is less than what we might have expected.

Candida spp. morphotype differentiation on Sabouraud-Triphenyltetrazolium-Agar (STTZ-Agar) under three different experimental conditions.

One hundred and thirty-two strains of Candida spp. were cultured on STTZ-Agar at 37 degrees C for 6 days and at 25 degrees C for 6 and 21 days to determine the culture conditions that would ensure maximum reproducibility in the discrimination of the strains of the same species. Standardization is of utmost importance, as varying experimental conditions can alter the results of the tests. Further studies are needed also implementing molecular tests to establish possible relationships between morphotype, genotype and virulence.

Lead in human blood from children living in Campania, Italy.

Blood lead (PbB) levels were determined in children living in Campania (in Naples and in a rural zone in the district of Caserta). Atmospheric lead (PbA) concentration in these considered areas was monitored for 1 yr (1993-1994). The children tested were questioned about common sources of lead, other than atmospheric, relating to their living and dietary habits. The PbB levels in children living in Naples were, at the 50th percentile, 13.8 micrograms/dl in males and 13.7 micrograms/dl in females; in children living in the rural area the median PbB levels were 8.9 micrograms/dl in males and and 8.8 micrograms/dl in females. The annual mean values of atmospheric lead were 1.15 +/- 0.24 micrograms/m3 in Naples and 0.23 +/- 0.07 micrograms/m3 in the rural area. Significant and congruent mean differences between urban and rural sites were found in children's blood and concurrent air lead. Considering the PbB level of 10 micrograms/dl as the maximum level that is not associated any known adverse effect in children, the Neapolitan group can be considered at risk of chronic intoxication by lead.

Evaluation of the selenium content of the traditional Italian diet.

Food samples and ready-made meals from the traditional Italian-type diet were analysed for selenium content. The average Se content varied in food samples from 7 micrograms/kg w/w (fresh fruit) to 226 micrograms/kg w/w (fish). The highest average contents were obtained in the animal products and in legumes. Among ready-made foods the animal derived dishes were the richest in Se, representing 78% of the estimated total daily dietary intake of Se. The average daily dietary intake of selenium for Italian people is estimated to be 50.9 +/- 29.8 micrograms Se/day when results obtained on complete meals are used, while it is 45.0 +/- 30.8 micrograms Se/day when results on foods and statistical data on consumption are used.

Study of an endemic goiter area in northern Campania.

The purpose of this paper was the determination, in the endemic goiter area of Teano (Caserta, Italy), of: i) The goiter prevalence in a group of 920 patients who attended the Outpatient Endocrinology Department; ii) The urinary iodine excretion in 150 adults (20-73-year-old) and 502 children (10-16-year-old; iii) The thyroid size in the 502 children; iv) The environmental iodine levels. Out of 920 patients a total of 750 (81.5%) goiters were detected. Out of these 750 cases, 415 (55.3%) were of grades 1b and 2, 335 (44.7%) of grades 3 and 4. A statistically significant association between goiter size and age was found (p less than 0.05). Laboratory data were entirely available for 506 goitrous patients. Serum TG levels was increased with goiter size and age, whereas there was a progressive decrease in mean serum TSH levels with increasing goiter size and age. The screening program performed on 502 schoolchildren aged 10 to 16 yr found a 68.3% prevalence of grade 1 goiter and a mean urinary ratio iodine/creatinine of 52 +/- 32 (SD) micrograms/g. A mean urinary ratio iodine/creatinine of 60 +/- 27 (SD) micrograms/g was reported in a sample of 150 adult inhabitants. Iodine measurements in water supplies showed levels equal to or less than 1 microgram/l. The area investigated can be identified as a moderate iodine deficient area and classified as grade 1-2 according to the Pan American Health Organization criteria.

[Evaluation of the effectiveness of topical application in vivo of preparations consisting of fluoride and strontium on human teeth]. / Valutazioni sull'efficacia di applicazioni topiche in vivo di preparazioni a base di fluoro e stronzio su denti umani.

The effect of the topical application of fluoride and strontium on dental enamel has been studied. 30 subjects were split into two groups, all of whom had to have their first superior premolars extracted. One of the two premolars to be extracted was treated with three applications of APF gel in the first group, and with a series of topical applications of SrCl2 at 0.2% and EDTA at 10% in the second group. The results obtained show a significant increase in the concentration of trace elements in enamel of the treated teeth, the increase being of 0.23 and 0.05 mcg/mcm for the fluoride in the most superficial and in the deepest respectively of the observed strata. In the control teeth the average concentrations of fluoride resulted in 0.08 mcg/mcm on the surface and in depth, while the strontium showed an average concentration of 0.03 mcg/mcm. Similar behaviour was observed for the depth of biting resulting in an average of 6.8 mcm in the two groups of treated samples and of 11.4 and 9.7 mcm for the controls, respectively. The results confirm the usefulness of topical treatments and should stimulate further investigations of the problem mainly for the evaluation in the long run of the benefits and the efficacy of treatments integrating the two active principles.