Monitoring of Carcinogenic Environmental Pollutants in raw Cows’ Milk

Relevant safety aspects of raw milk for dairy foods processing

The concern with food safety in the milk chain begins with the quality of the raw milk. Due to the health hazard that this food can carry when contaminated, the focus of studies has turned to microbiological and chemical contaminants that may be present in raw milk. There is an essential concern about conventional pathogens (Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter spp., Salmonella spp., and coagulase-positive Staphylococcus spp.) and emerging pathogens (Arcobacter butzleri, Yersinia enterocolitica, Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis, Helicobacter pylori, and Cronobacter sakazakii) found in raw milk and dairy products. In addition, a growing public health issue has been raised regarding antimicrobial-resistant pathogens and commensal strains found in milk and dairy products. The antibiotic residues in milk can also damage health, such as allergies, and cause technological problems in dairy products processing. This health issue extends to other chemical contaminants such as heavy metals, pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, melamine, dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls, plasticizers, and additives in milk and dairy products. Other chemical substances formed by microorganisms are also of high importance, such as biogenic amines and mycotoxins. Therefore, this chapter aimed to revise and discuss relevant biological and chemical risks to ensure the safety and quality of raw milk and dairy products.

Environmental impact and human health risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (pahs) in raw milk from free-ranging cattles in northwest nigeria

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined in raw milk from Northwest Nigerian cattle (cow, goat and sheep) as indicators in assessing the current pollution status of the region. In Northwest Nigeria, most animals are free rangers with the likelihood that PAHs have been taken up by these animals on the process of drinking PAHs contaminated surface waters, eating road-side grasses, and soils. A total of 42 composite milk samples were collected by milking 3-5 animals. PAHs were extracted after saponification of the milk fats through sonication using dichloromethane/hexane mixture and the five ascertained most abundant PAHs are: Phe > BaP > Chr > Fla. > Pyr using gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID). The diagnostic ratios showed that combustion is the major pathway of PAHs emission in the study area which judging from the economic level of the area, could be attributed to vehicular exhaust emission, use of firewood, industrial fumes, waste incineration and bush burning at the beginning of the farming season. The values of PAHs showed no significant variations (p > 0.05), either between the milk types (cow, goat and sheep) or between the seven states' milk samples, indicating a similar source of the PAHs. The European Food Safety Authority set 2 μg/kg w/w BaP as a marker for the occurrence of PAHs contamination and assessment of likely effect of carcinogenic PAH in foodstuffs, the value of BaP obtained was however much higher even though raw milk is about 80% water. Most PAHs have carcinogenic effects on humans and induce various cancers. Therefore there should be a reduction in the bush burning at the beginning of the farming season, use of firewood and other pronounced sources of PAHs in the region.

Environmental status of an Italian site highly polluted by illegal dumping of industrial wastes: The situation 15 years after the judicial intervention

In 2008 the Italian government classified the Bussi sul Tirino area (Central Italy) as Site of National Interest destined to remediation which, unfortunately, has not yet begun. The decision followed >20 years of illegal dumping of industrial wastes, lasting from 1984 to 2005, that generated the biggest illegal toxic waste disposal site in Europe. The contamination profile of the site was mainly characterized by PCDD/Fs, PCBs, PAHs, chlorinated solvents, Hg, and Pb. Due to the health concern of the population and local authorities, an extensive monitoring and biomonitoring campaign was carried out in 2017-2018, checking the site-specific pollutants in local food (free-range hens' eggs, milk from grazing sheep and goats, wild edible mushrooms, and drinking water), environmental (air and freshwaters) and biological (human urine) matrices. A total of 314 samples were processed, obtaining 3217 analytical data that were compared with regulatory limits, when available, and values reported by international literature. The sum PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs ranged from 0.24 to 3.6 pg TEQ g^-1 fat, and from 0.46 to 8.3 pg TEQ g^-1 fat, respectively in milk in eggs, in line with the maximum levels established by CE Regulations except for an egg sample. As regards PAHs, all our results were lower than the literature data, as well as for Hg and Pb. Outdoor air showed levels of chlorinated solvents ranging from <LOD to 36 μg m^-3, and freshwaters from 0.21 to 2.8 μg L^-1. All drinking water samples resulted compliant with the maximum levels established by the current EU directive. Despite the severe pollution of the illegal dumping site and the remediation not yet carried out, the local environment and the population living in Bussi and surroundings seem not to be affected by significant exposure to the toxics characterizing the landfill.