Radioactivity in coffee

On the radiotoxic 210Po in coffee beans worldwide and the impact of roasting and brewing on its extraction into beverages: from the experiments to 210Po content prediction

We determined radiotoxic 210Po in roasted coffee beans from different regions worldwide, the beverages, and tried to create the prediction model of 210Po content based on its growth location. Additionally, the experiments on 210Po losses and extraction were performed to describe the actual exposure to 210Po. 210Po concentrations in coffee beans and brews tuned out low (maximally of 0.20 Bq∙kg-1 and 2.31 Bq∙L-1, respectively). We assessed the impact of the roasting process on 210Po content and its losses at a maximum of 56.7%. During infusion experiments, we estimated the extraction of 210Po to the coffee brew at a maximum of 40.6%. The amount of 210Po in the coffee brew depended on the infusion style and water type. We calculated the effective radiation doses from the coffee drink ingestion. Coffee drinking does not contribute significantly to the annual effective radiation dose worldwide.

Coffee's Phenolic Compounds. A general overview of the coffee fruit's phenolic composition

Phenolic compounds are secondary metabolites ubiquitously distributed in the plant kingdom which come in a wide array of molecular configurations which confer them a comprehensive set of chemical attributes such as, but not limited to: nutraceutical properties, industrial applications (e.g., dyes, rawhide processing, beer production, antioxidants), and plant self-defense mechanisms against natural enemies also known as the Systemic Acquired Resistance (SAR).However, despite the fact, that there is a large number of phenolic-containing food products (e.g., chocolate, green tea, wines, beer, wood barrel-aged spirits, cherries, grapes, apples, peaches, plums, pears, etc.), coffee remains, in the western hemisphere, as the main source of dietary phenolic compounds reflected by the fact that, in the international market, coffee occupies the second trading position after oil and its derivatives. The following discussion is the product of an extensive review of scientific literature that aims to describe essential topics related to coffee phenolic compounds, especially chlorogenic acids, their purpose in nature, biosynthesis, determination, metabolism, chemical properties, and their effect on cup quality. Keywords: phenolic acids, caffeoylquinic acid, antioxidant capacity, metabolism, biosynthesis.

Public exposure to radioactivity levels in the Lebanese environment

In the framework of a National Environmental Radiation Survey Program, a total of 950 samples were collected and analyzed over 7 years. The program covers different compartment of Lebanese environment, rivers, wells, marine samples, soil, and foodstuff. Air was monitored continuously through a radiation early warning network system. Data collected from 2009 to 2015 are presented in this work. Gross alpha/gross beta values in well samples were below the guidance levels stated by the WHO. Cesium-137 was detected in milk samples, whey, and jam. However, its content was much lower than the national permissible level, while its activity concentration in marine samples was lower than the values reported in studies carried out in the Mediterranean Sea. The activity concentration of ⁴⁰K in food samples was comparable to studies carried out in neighboring countries and higher than the content determined in non Mediterranean countries. Concerning marine environment, the activity concentrations of natural radionuclides ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K were comparable to those reported in other studies carried out in different countries. As well as their content in rivers and sediments was lower than those reported in neighboring region. Potassium-40 in food and ²¹⁰Po in fish were the main contributors to the internal dose. The average annual effective dose due to external exposure and internal, excluding radon gas which constitutes around 43 % of the total dose, was found to be lower than the total worldwide value, 2.4 mSv year^-1. Iodine-131 was detected in grass samples, collected in 2011 during Fukushima accident; its content ranged from 0.40 ± 0.06 to 0.9 ± 0.1 Bq kg^-1, as well as ¹³⁷Cs was detected in some seafood samples imported from Japan and neighboring countries. Its activity concentration varied between 0.15 ± 0.04 and 0.40 ± 0.02 Bq kg^-1.