Chiara Cantaluppi

Essential and toxic elements in seaweeds for human consumption

ABSTRACT Essential elements (K, Ca, P, S, Cl, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Ni, Br, and I) and nonessential or toxic elements (Al, Ti, Si, Rb, Sr, As, Cd, Sn, and Pb) were determined by energy-dispersive polarized x-ray fluorescence spectrometry in 14 seaweeds purchased in local specialty stores in Italy and consumed by humans. The differences in elements between the algae species reached up to 2–4 orders of magnitude. Lithothamnium calcareum showed the highest levels of Ca, Al, Si, Fe, and Ti. Palmaria palmata showed the highest concentrations of K, Rb, and Cl. The highest content of S was in Chondrus crispus. Laminaria digitata contained the highest concentrations of total As, Cd, Sn, Br, and I. The highest concentration of Zn was in Chlorella pyrenoidosa. Ulva lactuca displayed the highest levels of Cu, Ni, Mn, and Pb. Iodine levels ranged from 3.4 in Chlorella pyrenoidosa to 7316 mg/kgdry in Laminaria digitata. The nutrimental importance of essential elements was assessed using nutritional requirements. The results showed that the consumption of algae might serve as an important source of the essential elements. Health risk due to the toxic elements present in seaweed was estimated using risk estimators. Total As, Cd, and Pb concentrations ranged from <1 to 67.6, to 7.2 and to 6.7 mg/kgdry respectively; therefore, their contribution to total elemental intake does not appear to pose any threat to the consumers, but the concentrations of these elements should be controlled to protect the consumer against potential adverse health risks.

Essential and Toxic Elements in Clays for Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Use

Essential and toxic elements (Al, Si, P, S, K, Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Br, Rb, Sr, Ba, Cd, Ce, Nd, Pb, U, Th, and La) were determined by energy-dispersive polarized x-ray fluorescence spectrometry (EDPXRF) in 15 samples of clay materials for pharmaceutical and cosmetic use. The investigated samples were grouped according to their mineralogical composition determined by x-ray powder diffraction (XRPD). Samples consisting of smectites showed the lowest content of K, Zn, La, Ce, Nd, Pb, Ti, and Th and highest quantity of Sr, Br, and U. The sample containing smectite and kaolinite displayed the lowest content of Ca, Fe, Mn, Cu, Ni, and Sr and highest amount of Al, Si, Ba, Zn, As, La, Ce, Pb, and Th. Samples composed of illite demonstrated minimal amounts of Br and maximal content of K, Rb, Ti, and Fe. In all samples analyzed, Cd and Hg levels were below 2 mg/kg.

Essential and toxic elements in meat of wild and bred animals

Essential and toxic elements were determined by Energy Dispersive Polarized X-Rays Fluorescence Spectrometry (EDPXRF) in the meat of 145 wild and bred animals to provide the baseline data regarding meat of wild and bred animals consumed in central Italy. As far as K, Fe, Ni, Zn, and Cu are concerned, no significant differences resulted between young and adults and between males and females for farmed and wild animals. No marked differences were found between hunted and non-hunted animals groups. In all samples analyzed, Mn, Cr, and Mo were below the detection limit. As far as the non-essential or toxic elements are concerned, As, Cd, V, and Hg concentrations in muscle from wild and bred animals were low and always below the detection limits. Among the wild animals killed with lead (Pb) bullets, elevated Pb concentrations in tissues were detected. This finding may result in elevated Pb levels in meat ingested by humans.

Radiochemical Characterization of Algae Products Commercialized for Human Consumption.

AbstractNatural radionuclides and 137Cs were determined by alpha (238U, 234U, 230Th,210Po,232Th, and 228Th) and gamma spectrometry (137Cs, 40K, 226Ra, 210Pb, and 228Ra via 228Ac) in 14 dried seaweeds commercialized for human nutrition in Italy. The study was carried out in order to provide information on the concentrations of natural and artificial radionuclides. Cesium-137 (137Cs) concentrations in all analyzed samples were always <2.0 Bq kg−1 (dry weight), while the naturally occurring radionuclide concentrations were detectable in all the samples and significantly different in the analyzed seaweeds. Potassium-40 (40K) showed a mean activity of 894 Bq kg−1 with a range of 14.1–3,256 Bq kg−1. The mean of activity for 210Po was 5.1 Bq kg−1 with a range of 1.5–13.6 Bq kg−1. The mean of activity for 210Pb was 8.9 Bq kg−1 with a range of 2.9–25.7 Bq kg−1. The mean of 238U and 226Ra activity concentration was 4.7 and 8.4 Bq kg−1 with a range of 0.1–27.7 and 3.2–24.6 Bq kg−1, respectively. The mean activity concentrations for 232Th, 228Th, and 228Ra were 0.69, 3.0, and 6.6 Bq kg−1 with ranges of 0.05–3.39, 0.24–15.7, and 0.5–35.6 Bq kg−1, respectively. Radionuclide activity concentrations were within ranges reported in the scientific literature. The committed effective dose due to all the radionuclides analyzed, from ingestion of 1 kg y−1 of seaweeds, accounts for 0.66% of the natural radiation exposure in Italy.

Radioactivity measurements and dosimetric evaluation in meat of wild birds

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to determine the background activity concentration of natural radionuclides and 137Cesium (Cs) in meat of 14 migratory birds originating from central and northern Europe. This meat is largely consumed by the Italian population. 40K, 210Pb, and 137Cs were determined by gamma spectrometry and 210Po by alpha spectrometry. The mean 40K activity concentration detected was 490 ± 117 Bq/kgdw. In all the samples, 210Pb was below the limit of detection (LOD), and therefore it was not possible to calculate the ratio 210Po/210Pb. The 210Po activity concentration ranged between 0.11 ± 0.02 Bq/kgdw and 6.2 ± 0.93 Bq/kgdw with a mean value of 1.03 ± 1.75 Bq/kgdw. The 137Cs activity concentration was not detectable or near LOD except in two samples with 45 ± 0.7 Bq/kgdw (wood pigeon, from Italy) and 139.1 ± 1.9 Bq/kgdw (woodcock, from Sweden). The effective dose of 210Po ingested by consumption of wild birds meat accounts for only 0.01–0.6% of natural radiation exposure in Italy. These data indicate that the meat analyzed was safe.

Radiocesium Contamination in Samples of Blueberries Jams Collected in Stores of NE Italy (2013-2017)

The monitoring of radioactivity in foodstuffs is carried out for the purposes of food safety in order to follow the evolution of the contamination as result of incidents that occurred both in the past (eg Chernobyl) and in more recent times (eg, Fukushima). Then, the movement of goods from these countries to European Union may cause the propagation of foods potentially toxic for health. At the Port of Trieste, in the period of September 2013, some loads of blueberries (Vaccinum mirtyllus L.) were examined within the application of EC Regulation 733/2008, on the conditions governing imports of agricultural products originating in the countries affected by the nuclear accident of Chernobyl in 1986. The fruits came from Ukraine and were intended for the food preparations containing blueberries, in particular jams and marmalades. As in some cases significant values of Radiocesium concentrations (Cesium-137) were found in blueberries, though below the limit of 600 Bq/kg as required by the Regulations, it was decided to verify whether the presence of this contaminant in the raw material at the tested levels could interest the finished products. In this work, we have therefore collected and analyzed some samples of concentrated blueberries products in different large stores, in order to verify the magnitude of the possible contamination by radio Cesium.

Investigation on the Content of Uranium and Other Elements in Imported Mushrooms, from the Balkan Region

In this paper the results of the analyses carried out on some radionuclides in mushrooms have been reported. Mushrooms have been collected in countries outside the European Union. This research have been pointed out the absence of a contamination due to uranium in the products coming from the ex Jugoslavia regions.