Detection of lead nanoparticles in game meat by single particle ICP-MS following use of lead-containing bullets.

This study investigated whether game meat may contain nanoparticles of lead from ammunition. Lead nanoparticles in the range 40 to 750 nm were detected by ICP-MS in single particle mode in game shot with lead-containing bullets. The median diameter of the detected nanoparticles was around 60 nm. The particle mass concentration ranged from 290 to 340 ng/g meat and the particle number concentrations from 27 to 50 million particles/g meat. The size limit of detection strongly depended on the level of dissolved lead and was in the range of 40 to 80 nm. In game meat sampled more than 10 cm away from the wound channel, no lead particles with a diameter larger than 40 nm were detected. In addition to dissolved lead in meat that originated from particulates, the presence of lead nano particles in game meat represents a hitherto unattended source of lead with a largely unknown toxicological impact to humans. Graphical Abstract Detection of lead nanoparticles in game meat by single particle ICP-MS following use of leadcontaining bullets.

Multi-Element Assessment of Potentially Toxic and Essential Elements in New and Traditional Food Varieties in Sweden.

With the global movement toward the consumption of a more sustainable diet that includes a higher proportion of plant-based foods, it is important to determine how such a change could alter the intake of cadmium and other elements, both essential and toxic. In this study, we report on the levels of a wide range of elements in foodstuffs that are both traditional and "new" to the Swedish market. The data were obtained using analytical methods providing very low detection limits and include market basket data for different food groups to provide the general levels in foods consumed in Sweden and to facilitate comparisons among traditional and "new" food items. This dataset could be used to estimate changes in nutritional intake as well as exposure associated with a change in diet. The concentrations of known toxic and essential elements are provided for all the food matrices studied. Moreover, the concentrations of less routinely analyzed elements are available in some matrices. Depending on the food variety, the dataset includes the concentrations of inorganic arsenic and up to 74 elements (Ag, Al, As, Au, B, Ba, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Ga, Ge, Hf, Hg, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Nb, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, S, Sb, Sc, Se, Si, Sn, Sr, Ta, Te, Th, Ti, Tl, U, W, V, Y, Zn, Zr, rare Earth elements (REEs) (Ce, Dy, Er, Eu, Gd, Ho, La, Lu, Nd, Pr, Sm, Tb, Tm, and Yb), platinum group elements (PGEs) (Ir, Os, Pd, Pr, Pt, Re, Rh, Ru, and Pr), and halogens (Br, Cl, and I)). The main focus (and thus the most detailed information on variation within a given food group) is on foods that are currently the largest contributors to dietary cadmium exposure in Sweden, such as pasta, rice, potato products, and different sorts of bread. Additionally, elemental concentrations in selected food varieties regarded as relatively new or "novel" to the Swedish market are provided, including teff flour, chia seeds, algae products, and gluten-free products.

Mild blanching prior to pH-shift processing of Saccharina latissima retains protein extraction yields and amino acid levels of extracts while minimizing iodine content.

The seaweed Saccharina latissima is often blanched to lower iodine levels, however, it is not known how blanching affects protein extraction. We assessed the effect of blanching or soaking (80/45/12 °C, 2 min) on protein yield and protein extract characteristics after pH-shift processing of S. latissima. Average protein yields and extract amino acid levels ranked treatments as follows: blanching-45 °C âˆ¼ control > soaking âˆ¼ blanching-80 °C. Although blanching-45 °C decreased protein solubilization yield at pH 12, it increased isoelectric protein precipitation yield at pH 2 (p < 0.05). The former could be explained by a higher ratio of large peptides/proteins in the blanched biomass as shown by HP-SEC, whereas the latter by blanching-induced lowering of ionic strength, as verified by a dialysis model. Moreover, blanching-45 °C yielded a protein extract with 49 % less iodine compared with the control extract. We recommend blanching-45 °C since it is effective at removing iodine and does not compromise total protein extraction yield.

Fast multi-element screening of non-digested biological materials by slurry introduction to ICP-AES.

A fast method for direct multi-element analysis of non-digested biological samples is presented. The only sample preparation needed is 1 min homogenization with a Polytron mixer in a small volume of neutral phosphate buffer saline solution (PBS). The total time for analysis (sample preparation and measurement) is 4 min only. This "mix and measure" method can handle large sample loads of biological samples and thus minimize dilution of trace elements. For example 100% whole blood was introduced without any clogging of the introduction system or extinguishing of the plasma. In 70% (v/v) whole blood reference material 14 of 16 analytes were quantified within +/-10% (Al, B, Ba, Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, P, Pb, S, Sr, Ti and Zn) and two semi-quantified within +/-20% (Cd and K). Fresh bovine liver was also analyzed with the same method and 7 of 9 analytes were quantified in 5% (w/v) liver slurry. Three different nebulizers were tested, Glass Expansion Concentric (GEC) of Meinhard type, Cross Flow and Burgener T2100 and they performed roughly equally well in giving quantitative results for the slurries but the sensitivity was better with the GEC. The stability of the plasma was studied by evaluating the ratio of Mg 280.270 nm and Mg 285.213 nm lines. When increasing the sample load from 20 to 100% (v/v) of whole blood and from 0.5 to 10% (w/v) of bovine liver the Mg ratio was constant within a few percent for all of the nebulizer tested. The ratio of the sensitivity between GEC and Burgener T2100 was studied and the ratio increased with the energy sum for atomic and ionic lines separately.