Gemma Falcó

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Foods: Human Exposure through the Diet in Catalonia, Spain

The dietary intake of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (naphthalene, acenaphthylene, acenaphthene, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benz[a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, dibenz[a,h]anthracene, benzo[g,h,i]perylene, and indeno[1,2,3-c,d]pyrene) by the general population of Catalonia, Spain, was calculated. Concentrations of PAHs in food samples randomly acquired in seven cities of Catalonia from June to August 2000 were measured. Eleven food groups were included in the study. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to analyze PAHs. The dietary intakes of total and carcinogenic PAHs was calculated for five population groups: children, adolescents, male adults, female adults, and seniors. Among the analyzed PAHs, there was a predominance of phenanthrene (16.7 microg/kg) and pyrene (10.7 microg/kg). By food group, the highest levels of total PAHs were detected in cereals (14.5 microg/kg) and in meat and meat products (13.4 microg/kg). The mean estimated dietary intake of the sum of the 16 PAHs was as follows: male adults, 8.4 microg/day; adolescents, 8.2 microg/day; children, 7.4 microg/day; seniors, 6.3 microg/day; female adults, 6.3 microg/day. The calculated daily intake of PAHs would be associated with a 5/106 increase in the risk for the development of cancer in a male adult with a body weight of 70 kg.

Exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons through Consumption of Edible Marine Species in Catalonia, Spain

The concentrations of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs; naphthalene, acenaphtylene, acenaphtene, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo[a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, indeno[1,2,3-c,d]pyrene, dibenzo[a,h]anthracene, and benzo[g,h,i]perylene) were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in samples of 14 edible marine species (sardine, tuna, anchovy, mackerel, swordfish, salmon, hake, red mullet, sole, cuttlefish, squid, clam, mussel, and shrimp) collected in March and April 2005. These species are widely consumed by the population of Catalonia, Spain. PAH intake was also estimated for eight age and sex groups of this population. Mussel, clam, and shrimp had the highest PAH concentrations (22.4, 21.5, and 15.9 ng/g of fresh weight, respectively). In contrast, sole (2.5 ng/g of fresh weight) and cuttlefish and squid (both 3.0 ng/g of fresh weight) had the lowest mean concentrations. The highest PAH intake was found in women and girls (5.3 and 5.2 ng/kg/day, respectively), but female adolescents and female seniors had the lowest PAH intakes (3.3 ng/kg/day in both groups). The intake of benzo[a]pyrene and six other PAHs that are probably human carcinogens through consumption of these marine species would be associated with 0.27/10(6) increase in the risk of development of cancer over a 70-year life span.

Contribution of medicinal plants to the daily intake of various toxic elements in Catalonia, Spain

Objective: To determine the levels of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb) in a number of samples of the most consumed species of medicinal plants in Catalonia, Spain. To calculate the daily intake of these elements and to assess potential health risks. Materials and methods: A total of 115 samples of 15 different species were analyzed. The concentrations of As, Cd, Hg and Pb were determined by ICP-MS. In all samples, Hg levels were under the detection limit. Daily intakes of As, Cd and Pb were calculated assuming a consumption of 2 herbal teas of 2 g per day (4 g/day). Results: The median and range intakes (μg/day) through medicinal plants consumption were the following: As 0.56 (0.36 -303.8), Cd 0.2 (0.16 - 6.84) and Pb 2.72 (0.12 - 39.44). For the population of Catalonia, the contribution of medicinal plants to the As, Cd and Pb daily intake was found to be about 0.2%, 1% and 5%, respectively, of the total dietary intake. Health risk assessment of these elements was based on their dietary intakes together with daily intake through medicinal plants. Conclusion: According to the FAO/WHO provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI), the above quantities of As, Cd and Pb should not mean potential toxic effects derived from the consumption of medicinal plants. However, due to the high variability of the current data, a systematic control might be advisable.