1
|
Guerrini A, Roncada P, Al-Qudah KM, Isani G, Pacicco F, Peloso M, Sardi L, Tedesco DEA, Romeo GA, Caprai E. Content of Toxic Elements (Arsenic, Cadmium, Mercury, Lead) in Eggs from an Ethically Managed Laying Hen Farm. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1133. [PMID: 38612373 PMCID: PMC11010967 DOI: 10.3390/ani14071133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Domestic chicken farming has been promoted and spread in several Italian municipalities and worldwide as an aid to the self-consumption of domestically produced food. This study investigated the levels of four toxic elements (As, Cd, Hg, and Pb) in eggs from an ethical laying hen farm, comparing the element concentrations with those possibly present in supermarket eggs. A total of 201 eggs, 141 from the farm and produced by different hen genotypes, and 60 from the supermarket, were collected. The levels of the toxic elements were evaluated in the yolk, albumen, and eggshells of all eggs. The results show that the supermarket eggs' yolk and albumen were more contaminated with lead, compared to the rural eggs. Contrarily, the mean content of arsenic was higher in the albumen and eggshells of the rural eggs, compared to the supermarket eggs. The cadmium content was below the LOQ (0.005 mg/kg) in all samples. The mercury content was below or around the LOQ in all rural eggs. Overall, the supermarket egg albumens were significantly more contaminated than the rural ones. No significant differences were found in quality parameters for both types of eggs. The toxic element values that were detected were in line with other studies in the literature. However, despite the concentrations found not representing a risk to the consumers' health, the results of this study raise a potential food safety issue, and it would be desirable to set specific MRLs for eggs for consumers' protection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Guerrini
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy; (A.G.); (D.E.A.T.)
| | - Paola Roncada
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano dell’Emilia, Italy; (G.I.); (L.S.)
| | - Khaled Mefleh Al-Qudah
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan;
| | - Gloria Isani
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano dell’Emilia, Italy; (G.I.); (L.S.)
| | - Fausto Pacicco
- Department of Economics, LIUC Cattaneo University, Via Corso G. Matteotti 22, 21053 Castellanza, Italy;
| | - Mariantonietta Peloso
- Chemical Food Department, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna ‘Bruno Ubertini’, Via P. Fiorini 5, 40127 Bologna, Italy; (M.P.); (E.C.)
| | - Luca Sardi
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano dell’Emilia, Italy; (G.I.); (L.S.)
| | - Doriana Eurosia Angela Tedesco
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy; (A.G.); (D.E.A.T.)
| | - Gianluca Antonio Romeo
- Directorate General for Animal Health and Veterinary Medicinal Products (DGSAF), Italian Ministry of Health (MOH), Office 4, Viale Giorgio Ribotta 5, 00144 Roma, Italy;
| | - Elisabetta Caprai
- Chemical Food Department, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna ‘Bruno Ubertini’, Via P. Fiorini 5, 40127 Bologna, Italy; (M.P.); (E.C.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Nobile M, Mosconi G, Arioli F, Chiesa L, Peloso M, Accurso D, Butovskaya E, Fedrizzi G, Curci D, Panseri S. Evaluation of the Risk from Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) in Italy's Most Consumed Processed Fish Products. Foods 2024; 13:456. [PMID: 38338592 PMCID: PMC10855315 DOI: 10.3390/foods13030456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
In a balanced diet, regular fish consumption provides positive outcomes for human health. On the other hand, the seafood supply chain faces a significant food safety risk due to the presence of potentially toxic elements (PTEs). In the present study, to assess the risk for Italian consumers, the concentrations of five PTEs, namely lead, chromium, cadmium, mercury, nickel, and aluminum, were determined in the three most consumed preserved fish in Italy: tuna (Thunnus albacares, Katsuwonus pelamis), mackerel (Scomber scombrus) and anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus). Samples were collected from the national market, and the instrumental analysis was performed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The analyzed PTEs were found in all the species that were investigated. However, after considering the target hazard quotient (THQ) and the hazard index (HI), it was observed that the three fish preserves did not pose any risk of chronic toxicity for the average consumer, even at the highest concentrations detected. However, for significant consumers, mercury detected in tuna samples represented almost 90% of the tolerable weekly intake (TWI) reported by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), representing a matter of concern for consumers, particularly regarding developmental neurotoxicity, whose HI exceeded 111%. The acute toxicity of nickel was also considered for significant consumers at the highest concentration detected, and the margin of exposure (MOE) calculated was above 7000, much higher than the value of 30 indicated by EFSA. Due to the lack of data on non-professional carcinogenicity or human intake through foods with low cancer risk, this toxicity was not considered in the analysis of PTEs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Nobile
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Milan, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (M.N.); (G.M.); (L.C.); (D.C.); (S.P.)
| | - Giacomo Mosconi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Milan, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (M.N.); (G.M.); (L.C.); (D.C.); (S.P.)
| | - Francesco Arioli
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Milan, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (M.N.); (G.M.); (L.C.); (D.C.); (S.P.)
| | - Luca Chiesa
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Milan, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (M.N.); (G.M.); (L.C.); (D.C.); (S.P.)
| | - Mariantonietta Peloso
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna (IZSLER), Reparto Chimico degli Alimenti di Bologna, Via Fiorini 5, 40127 Bologna, Italy; (M.P.); (D.A.); (G.F.)
| | - Damiano Accurso
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna (IZSLER), Reparto Chimico degli Alimenti di Bologna, Via Fiorini 5, 40127 Bologna, Italy; (M.P.); (D.A.); (G.F.)
| | - Elena Butovskaya
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna (IZSLER), Reparto Chimica Alimenti e mangimi, Via Bianchi, 9, 25124 Brescia, Italy;
| | - Giorgio Fedrizzi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna (IZSLER), Reparto Chimico degli Alimenti di Bologna, Via Fiorini 5, 40127 Bologna, Italy; (M.P.); (D.A.); (G.F.)
| | - Dalia Curci
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Milan, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (M.N.); (G.M.); (L.C.); (D.C.); (S.P.)
| | - Sara Panseri
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Milan, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (M.N.); (G.M.); (L.C.); (D.C.); (S.P.)
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Peloso M, Minkoumba Sonfack G, Paduano S, De Martino M, De Santis B, Caprai E. Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids in Food on the Italian Market. Molecules 2023; 28:5346. [PMID: 37513219 PMCID: PMC10385305 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28145346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are secondary metabolites produced by over 6000 plant species worldwide. PAs enter the food chain through accidental co-harvesting of PA-containing weeds and through soil transfer from the living plant to surrounding acceptor plants. In animal studies, 1,2-unsaturated PAs have proven to be genotoxic carcinogens. According to the scientific opinion expressed by the 2017 EFSA, the foods with the highest levels of PA contamination were honey, tea, herbal infusions, and food supplements. Following the EFSA's recommendations, data on the presence of PAs in relevant food were monitored and collected. On 1 July 2022, the Commission Regulation (EU) 2020/2040 came into force, repealed by Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915, setting maximum levels for the sum of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in certain food. A total of 602 food samples were collected from the Italian market between 2019 and 2022 and were classified as honey, pollen, dried tea, dried herbal infusions, dried herbs, and fresh borage leaves. The food samples were analyzed for their PA content via an in-house LC-MS/MS method that can detect PAs according to Regulation 2023/915. Overall, 42% of the analyzed samples were PA-contaminated, 14% exceeded the EU limits, and the items most frequently contaminated included dried herbs and tea. In conclusion, the number of food items containing considerable amounts of PAs may cause concern because they may contribute to human exposure, especially considering vulnerable populations-most importantly, children and pregnant women.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mariantonietta Peloso
- National Reference Laboratory for Plant Toxins in Food, Food Chemical Department, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna, Via Fiorini 5, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Gaetan Minkoumba Sonfack
- National Reference Laboratory for Plant Toxins in Food, Food Chemical Department, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna, Via Fiorini 5, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Sandra Paduano
- Ministry of Health, General Directorate for Hygiene and Food Safety and Nutrition, Via G. Ribotta, 5, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Michele De Martino
- Ministry of Health, General Directorate for Hygiene and Food Safety and Nutrition, Via G. Ribotta, 5, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Barbara De Santis
- National Reference Laboratory for Plant Toxins in Food, Food Chemical Department, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Caprai
- National Reference Laboratory for Plant Toxins in Food, Food Chemical Department, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna, Via Fiorini 5, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Roncada P, Isani G, Peloso M, Dalmonte T, Bonan S, Caprai E. Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids from Monofloral and Multifloral Italian Honey. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2023; 20:5410. [PMID: 37048023 PMCID: PMC10094242 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20075410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are secondary metabolites produced by plants as a self-defense against insects. After bioactivation in the liver, some PAs can cause acute or chronic toxicity in humans. The aim of this study was to determine the presence of PAs in 121 samples of monofloral and multifloral honey from three different Italian regions (Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Marche and Calabria) to meet the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) suggestion. An in-house liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was validated according to European Union Reference Laboratory (EURL) performance criteria. This method allowed the detection and quantification of 35 PAs. Of the 121 honey samples, 38 (31%), mostly from Calabria, contained PAs. The total content of the PAs ranged from 0.9 µg/kg to 33.1 µg/kg. In particular, echimidine was the most prevalent PA. A rapid human exposure assessment to PAs in honey and a risk characterization was performed using the EFSA RACE tool. The assessment highlighted a potential health concern only for toddlers who frequently consume elevated quantities of honey. This study showed a low presence of PAs in Italian honey; however, the importance of continuously monitoring these compounds is stressed, along with the suggestion that the relevant authorities establish maximum limits to guarantee support for producers and consumer safety.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paola Roncada
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, via Tolara di sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano dell’Emilia, Italy
| | - Gloria Isani
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, via Tolara di sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano dell’Emilia, Italy
| | - Mariantonietta Peloso
- National Reference Laboratory for Plant Toxins in Food, Food Chemical Department, IZSLER, Via Fiorini, 5, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Thomas Dalmonte
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, via Tolara di sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano dell’Emilia, Italy
| | - Stefania Bonan
- National Reference Laboratory for Plant Toxins in Food, Food Chemical Department, IZSLER, Via Fiorini, 5, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Caprai
- National Reference Laboratory for Plant Toxins in Food, Food Chemical Department, IZSLER, Via Fiorini, 5, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Bartolo N, De Luca V, Franciolini G, Lewis A, Peloso M, Riotto A. Primordial Black Hole Dark Matter: LISA Serendipity. Phys Rev Lett 2019; 122:211301. [PMID: 31283317 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.122.211301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2018] [Revised: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
There has recently been renewed interest in the possibility that the dark matter in the Universe consists of primordial black holes (PBHs). Current observational constraints leave only a few PBH mass ranges for this possibility. One of them is around 10^{-12} M_{⊙}. If PBHs with this mass are formed due to an enhanced scalar-perturbation amplitude, their formation is inevitably accompanied by the generation of gravitational waves (GWs) with frequency peaked in the mHz range, precisely around the maximum sensitivity of the LISA mission. We show that, if these primordial black holes are the dark matter, LISA will be able to detect the associated GW power spectrum. Although the GW source signal is intrinsically non-Gaussian, the signal measured by LISA is a sum of the signal from a large number of independent sources suppressing the non-Gaussianity at detection to an unobservable level. We also discuss the effect of the GW propagation in the perturbed Universe. PBH dark matter generically leads to a detectable, purely isotropic, Gaussian and unpolarized GW signal, a prediction that is testable with LISA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- N Bartolo
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia "G. Galilei," Università degli Studi di Padova, via Marzolo 8, I-35131 Padova, Italy
- INFN, Sezione di Padova, via Marzolo 8, I-35131 Padova, Italy
- INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova, Vicolo dellOsservatorio 5, I-35122 Padova, Italy
| | - V De Luca
- Département de Physique Théorique and Centre for Astroparticle Physics (CAP), Université de Genève, 24 quai E. Ansermet, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - G Franciolini
- Département de Physique Théorique and Centre for Astroparticle Physics (CAP), Université de Genève, 24 quai E. Ansermet, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - A Lewis
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9QH, UK
| | - M Peloso
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia "G. Galilei," Università degli Studi di Padova, via Marzolo 8, I-35131 Padova, Italy
- INFN, Sezione di Padova, via Marzolo 8, I-35131 Padova, Italy
| | - A Riotto
- Département de Physique Théorique and Centre for Astroparticle Physics (CAP), Université de Genève, 24 quai E. Ansermet, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
|
7
|
Sergi G, Coin A, Enzi G, Volpato S, Inelmen EM, Buttarello M, Peloso M, Mulone S, Marin S, Bonometto P. Role of visceral proteins in detecting malnutrition in the elderly. Eur J Clin Nutr 2006; 60:203-9. [PMID: 16234837 DOI: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In the clinical practice, visceral proteins are used as indirect markers of protein energy malnutrition (PEM), but their reliability could be reduced with advancing age. The aim of this work is to investigate the reliability of albumin, prealbumin, retinol-binding protein (RBP) and transferrin in evaluating nutritional status in old patients and their relationship with fat-free mass (FFM). DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING Padua, Italy. SUBJECTS In 44 underweight (body mass index < 20 kg/m(2)) (66-97 years) and 69 normal weight or overweight elderly subjects (62-98 years), albumin, prealbumin, transferrin and RBP were determined in the plasma. Body composition and particularly FFM was obtained by dual X-ray absorptiometry. FFM was also expressed as FFM index (FFMI) calculated as FFM divided by height squared. Subjects affected by acute illnesses and inflammatory states were excluded. RESULTS Albumin, prealbumin and RBP mean values were significantly lower in underweight subjects. No differences between two groups were found for transferrin. Albumin prealbumin and RBP resulted under the normal range in 55, 25 and 54% of underweight subjects, respectively. Transferrin's values were low in about 40% of underweight and normal weight subjects, respectively. In all subjects, FFMI shows a significant correlation with albumin (r: 0.52), prealbumin (r: 0.64) and RBP (r: 0.57). No correlation between FFMI and transferrin was found. CONCLUSIONS Visceral proteins, except for transferrin, seem to be useful indexes in detecting malnutrition in the elderly; low values still in the normal range should also be carefully evaluated because they could suggest a poor nutritional status.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G Sergi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Division of Geriatrics, University of Padua, Italy.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Abstract
We explicitly calculate nonthermal gravitino production during the preheating period in the inflationary Universe. Contrary to earlier investigations, we consider a two-field model to separate the mechanisms of supersymmetry breaking and inflation. We show that the superpartner of the inflaton is significantly generated, while the gravitino production is considerably smaller. Nonthermal production of gravitinos seems thus less worrisome than recently claimed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- H P Nilles
- Physikalisches Institut, Universität Bonn, Nussallee 12, D-53115 Bonn, Germany
| | | | | |
Collapse
|