Estimation of the Withdrawal Time of Levamisole in Eggs after Oral Administration to Laying Hens.

This study was conducted to evaluate withdrawal time of levamisole in eggs after oral administration in laying hens at different doses. Sampling of eggs was conducted for 37 days after the end of treatment, and levamisole concentrations were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry validated according to the Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. Estimated validation parameters were as follows: decision limit, 0.54 µg/kg; detection capability, 0.56 µg/kg; limit of detection, 0.04 µg/kg; limit of quantification, 0.15 µg/kg; accuracy (recovery), between 92.9 and 102.3%; precision (relative standard deviation), ≤4.62%; and within-laboratory precision (relative standard deviation), ≤5.19%. Levamisole residue levels were significantly higher in egg yolks than in egg whites. The highest levels of levamisole were detected on day 2 posttreatment in groups receiving 50 mg/kg of body weight (556.2 µg/kg in egg yolks and 166.5 µg/kg in egg whites). Significant elimination occurred within 5 days after the cessation of treatment in all groups, with an elimination half-life of 1.3 days. Levamisole was still detectable on day 30 after the end of treatment in egg whites (0.06 µg/kg) and on day 37 in egg yolks (0.06 µg/kg). The longest withdrawal time for levamisole in eggs (14.9 days) was determined in a group treated with 25 mg of levamisole per kg of body weight for two consecutive days. According to the results, oral treatment of laying hens with levamisole may result in noncompliant egg samples even 14 days after treatment.

Essential and toxic element concentrations in monofloral honeys from southern Croatia.

The concentrations of 24 elements in seven honey types (multifloral, heather, common heather, bearberry, sage, mandarin orange-blossom and honeydew) collected in southern Mediterranean regions of Croatia were determined using ICP-MS. Significant differences were found in the concentrations of Ag, As, Ba, Cu, Co, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Se, Sb, U and Th (p<0.05, all) among honeys. The highest element concentrations were determined in honeydew honeys, with the exception of multifloral (Ca, Cr, Mo, Se), common heather (Mg, Na), bearberry (Ba, Fe, Pb) and sage (Ag) honeys. Among the floral honeys, the highest concentrations were found in multifloral honey (Al, As, Be, Ca, Cr, Mn, Mo, Ni, Se, Th and U), common heather (Co, K, Mg, Na, V), sage (Ag, Cd, Cu), and bearberry (Ba, Fe, Pb, Sb, Zn). The results contribute to the evidence supporting the role of botanical origin on the elemental composition of honey.

Lead Concentrations in Raw Cow and Goat Milk Collected in Rural Areas of Croatia from 2010 to 2014.

A total of 249 cow and 33 goat milk samples were collected in rural areas of Croatia during the period 2010-2014. Lead concentrations in milk samples were analyzed by graphite furnace-atomic absorption spectroscopy. Mean Pb concentrations in milk ranged from (µg/kg): cow 10.8-12.2; goat 9.33-60.0. The highest Pb level of 131 µg/kg in cow milk was measured during 2014. There were no significant differences in Pb levels between cow and goat milk and also in goat milk among the analysed years. However, significant differences were found in cow milk among years. The highest Pb was determined in 2011 (157 µg/kg in goat milk). The calculated estimated weekly intakes of Pb concentrations for cow and goat milk contribute only 1.37 % and 1.84 % to the provisional tolerable weekly intake. Therefore, the consumption of milk from both species should not pose a consumer health risk.