Alfina Grasso

Mercury and selenium intake by seafood from the Ionian Sea: A risk evaluation

The subject of the present study is the evaluation of the concentrations of mercury (Hg) and selenium (Se) in fish and shellfish from the Gulf of Catania (Ionian Sea) and the assessment of related risk-based consumption limits per single contaminant in adults and children. In contrast to the potential harm from Hg, Se is an essential element that is normally found in high levels in seafood. If the amount of Hg is high enough, it could bind Se and irreversibly inhibit selenium-dependent enzymes. Thus, adequate levels of Se need to be available to replace the amount of Se lost to Hg sequestration, thereby maintaining normal selenoprotein synthesis. Hg analysis was conducted using a flow injection analysis system coupled with an atomic adsorption spectrometer, and Se analysis was conducted using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Of the trace elements investigated, only Hg has a limit set by the European Community for human consumption, and this was never exceeded. Nevertheless, based on Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) over 1, and on the Estimated Daily Intake per meal (EDIm) higher than the Provisional Tolerable Intake (PTI) suggested by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additive (JECFA), Hg oral exposure derived from consumption of the benthonic fish and of the bigger pelagic fish species analyzed, could follow the occurrence of systemic effects. Se was found always in molar excess respect to Hg in all pelagic fish and in the shellfish, nearly equimolar in the benthonic fish. Determining the evidence that foods, such as pelagic fish, with high molar excess of Se, could contribute to replace the amount of Se bound to Hg and thereby maintaining normal selenoprotein synthesis, is useful for a better understanding of the seafood safety.

First data on trace elements in Haliotis tuberculata (Linnaeus, 1758) from southern Italy: Safety issues.

This study evaluated for the first time the concentrations of 10 metals in wild specimens of abalone, Haliotis tuberculata (Ht) (Linnaeus, 1758) from three sites along the southern Italian coast: Gulf of Catania (CT), the Northern Coast of Messina (ME) and the harbor of Villa San Giovanni (VSG). The species is commonly found in the area and has significant commercial value. Additionally, it is long lived, thus suitable as bioindicator of the environmental monitoring. The potential human health risks due to consumption of Ht have been assessed by estimated average daily intake (EDI) and target hazard quotient (THQ) of metals, respectively. In particular arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), mercury (Hg), selenium (Se) and vanadium (V) were quantified in the edible tissue of specimens by acid digestion of the samples and ICP-MS determination. The highest concentrations were found in CT sample area for most metals analyzed. Mean values for Pb, Cd and Hg were lower than the maximum levels (MLs) set for bivalve mollusks by Regulation (CE) no. 1881/2006 in all sites, and average intake values below the risk levels for human consumption.

Determination of total vanadium and vanadium(V) in groundwater from Mt. Etna and estimate of daily intake of vanadium(V) through drinking water

Vanadium(V) can be found in natural waters in the form of V(IV) and V(V) species, which have different biological properties and toxicity. The purpose of this study was to determine the concentrations of total V and V(V) in groundwater from the area of Mt. Etna and to assess the estimated daily intake (EDI) of V(V) of adults and children through drinking water. Water was sampled monthly at 21 sites in 2011. Total vanadium was determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and speciation by ion chromatography-ICP-MS (IC-ICP-MS). The concentration of V(V) species ranged from 62.8 to 98.9% of total V, with significantly higher concentrations in samples from the S/SW slope of Mt. Etna. The annual mean concentrations of total V exceeded the Italian legal limit of 140 μg/L at four sites on the S/SW slope. In the absence of thresholds for V(V) intake, only the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has calculated a reference dose. Childrens EDI of V(V) at the sites with the higher V concentrations exceeded EPA thresholds (9 μg/kg/day). In particular, we found in Camporotondo, Mascalucia, Ragalna and San Pietro Clarenza sites childrens EDIs of 11, 9.3, 11 and 9.9, respectively. The EDI of V(V) was significantly higher than the literature range (0.09-0.34 μg/kg/day).

Bioaccumulation of metals and biomarkers of environmental stress in Parablennius sanguinolentus (Pallas, 1814) sampled along the Italian coast

Heavy metal pollution is one of the greatest threats to the ecosystems because it degrades the habitat and is potentially toxic to wildlife and human populations. In the last few decades, bioaccumulation studies performed with a multimarker approach have been a valuable tool for the investigation of environmental and animal safety. We perform an analysis of a benthic teleost fish species - Parablennius sanguinolentus - sampled at several Italian coastal sites with different degrees of anthropogenic pressure. Our integrative analysis encompasses bioaccumulation of 10 metals, biomarkers of environmental stress (micronuclei and nuclear abnormalities) and neutral genetic variation (using sequences of the mtDNA control region). We find a clear and significant correlation of metal bioaccumulation with micronuclei and nuclear abnormalities, especially with undisputed genotoxic metals, such as Cd, Cr, Hg and Pb. Furthermore, the molecular genetic analysis revealed a decrease of genetic variability in the populations more subjected to anthropic pressure.

Trace elements in seafood from the Mediterranean sea: An exposure risk assessment

Fish and shellfish belonging to five different species among pelagic, benthonic and molluscs, were collected from the Gulf of Catania in 2017 to evaluate arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), selenium (Se) vanadium (V) and zinc (Zn). Risk of developing chronic systemic effects derived from seafood consumption was evaluated with the Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) and compared with the results obtained from the same area and the species, collected in 2012. Hg, Cd and Pb concentrations were found below the limits set by European Community for human consumption in all the analysed species. The total risk is reduced from 1.1 to 0.49, and this result is strongly associated with the lower bioaccumulations levels found for Hg, Mn, Se and V. Others metals such as As, Pb, Ni and Zn bioaccumulation levels remain approximately the same, conversely, it is revealed a slight increase of Cd and Cr. Overall, the present study show a positive picture of the studied area, the Gulf of Catania, highlighting not only a decreased metal availability of the study area, but, above all, a decreased risk to develop chronic systemic effects derived from consumption of local seafood.

Trace elements bioaccumulation in liver and fur of Myotis myotis from two caves of the eastern side of Sicily (Italy): A comparison between a control and a polluted area

Environmental pollution is a topic of great interest because it directly affects the quality of ecosystems and of all living organisms at different trophic and systematic levels. Together with the global climate change, the long-term surviving of many species of plants and animals is threaten, distributional patterns at global and regional levels are altered and it results in local assemblages of species that are quite different from those that currently constitute coevolved communities. .For this study, the species Myotis myotis was used as bioindicator and it was sampled from two caves in the south-east of Sicily, Pipistrelli chosen as control area and Palombara chosen as polluted area, to measure the concentrations of trace elements in fur and liver tissues. Results showed higher content of essential elements in fur in bats sampled from Pipistrelli. Conversely, higher concentrations of toxic metals in liver such as As, Cd, Pb and Hg were measured in bat samples in Palombara cave, where specimens have a hunting area extended within the boundaries of the petrochemical plant. Nevertheless, we cannot consider Palombara population as polluted by metal contamination since their tissue concentrations are overall lower than toxic thresholds values suggested for small mammals. Likewise, we cannot exclude other kind of pollutants as potential stressors of the examined population, contributing with the decreasing of bat colonies in Sicily.

Neonatal Systemic Thrombosis: An Updated Overview

Thromboembolic disease is a complex disorder with a multifactorial aetiology and a severe outcome. In newborns and children it may be missed or diagnosed late, thus worsening the prognosis. The neonatal disease is different from the disorder affecting older children and adults. However, scant epidemiological data and few randomised clinical trials regarding paediatric patients are available, and treatment recommendations are largely based on adult guidelines. Younger patients then have several decades over which they will suffer from the complications of thrombosis and risk of a new thrombotic episode. Current knowledge about neonatal thromboembolic disease and its prevention is reviewed here along with maternal, foetal, neonatal, pharmacological, environmental, lifestyle and occupational contributing factors. Additional data are urgently needed to improve diagnostic and therapeutic strategies and patient outcomes.