M. Delise

Nonylphenol and octylphenol in human breast milk

Human milk is the most important form of nourishment for newborn children. Its consumption is strongly recommended by health authorities also for other important advantages. Unfortunately, in the last three decades a great number of investigations have shown the occurrence of several environmental contaminants in human milk, especially those with lipophilic properties. This study investigates the presence of nonylphenol, octylphenol (OP), nonylphenol monoethoxylate (NP1EO) and two octylphenol ethoxylates (OPEOs) (namely OP1EO and OP2EO), in human breast milk of Italian women. NP was the contaminant found at the highest levels with mean concentrations of 32 ng/mL, about two orders of magnitude higher than OP (0.08 ng/mL), OP1EO (0.07 ng/mL) and OP2EO (0.16 ng/mL). In the group of study a positive correlation among fish consumption and levels of NP in the milk was observed, in accordance with the evidence that seafood represents one of the most important sources of exposure to this group of contaminants in Italy. On the basis of the concentrations found in the breast milk samples, a maximum NP daily intake of 3.94 microg/kg/day can be calculated, which is close to the Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) of 5 microg/kg body weight (bw) proposed by the Danish Institute of Safety and Toxicology. In the cases of OP no TDI is available, but its intake is at least six orders of magnitude lower than the NOAEL of 10 mg/kg/day derived from a two generation study on rats.

Alkylphenols and their ethoxylates in seafood from the Tyrrhenian Sea

The present study reports the results of an investigation on occurrence of octylphenols (OPs), nonylphenols (NPs) and their respective ethoxylates (with 1-6 ethoxylic group) in aquatic species of commercial interest from the Tyrrhenian Sea. Samples were collected at Livorno, Fiumicino and Salerno commercial harbors, during September-October 2003. The data obtained showed that almost all of the tested compounds were found in all the samples. NP was generally detected at the highest concentrations. Among the tested species common to the three sampling sites, mullets and seabreams generally showed high values of total alkylphenols (APs) and alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEOs) (44-55 ng g(-1) and 27-525 ng g(-1) fw), yet, the maximum concentrations were found in shrimps from Fiumicino (1255 ng g(-1) fw). On the contrary, the lowest concentrations were observed in hakes and anchovies (34-36 ng g(-1) and 6-37 ng g(-1) fw). Tuna, exhibited very high concentrations of total alkylphenolic compounds (APEs) (889 ng g(-1) fw). Seafood from Fiumicino fishing area, which is under the influence of the River Tiber, showed a degree of contamination of at least one order of magnitude higher than the other two sites. On the basis of the results of this study, the corresponding daily intakes of NPs are much lower than the TDI proposed by the Danish Environmental Agency.

Investigation into the benzene and toluene content of soft drinks

Abstract Sixty samples of different types of soft drinks with an aqueous base were analysed (Cola, Cola light, orange, carbonated) for the purpose of evaluating the presence and content of the principal aromatic hydrocarbons responsible for environmental pollution. The analyses were done using the purge and trap technique and gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry. The deuterated isotopes of the same hydrocarbons were used for quantitative determination by the internal standard technique. Although an examination of the data found does not show values in excess of the limits recommended by the WHO for benzene in drinking water, nevertheless a constant presence of benzene and toluene was found in all the beverages analysed which gives food for thought about a possible cumulative effect, taking the intake of other contaminated foods and environmental pollution into account.

Aromatic hydrocarbon residues in milk: preliminary investigation

Abstract A total of 35 samples of commercially obtainable milk were analysed, including whole, semi-skimmed and fully skimmed pasteurised milk and whole and semi-skimmed UHT milk, in order to assess quantitatively the presence and content of certain aromatic hydrocarbons deriving from environmental contamination. The analysis was performed using the purge and trap technique combined with gas chromatography (GC) and using a mass spectrometer (MS) as detector. Deuterated standards of the same aromatic hydrocarbons were used for determination of retention times and for quantitative evaluation. From examination of the data obtained and their subsequent statistical processing it seems clear that, although there are differences between some of the types of milk, the aromatic hydrocarbon content in the samples analysed was at rather modest levels in line with the values reported in the literature.

Biochemical (fatty acid profile) diversity in anostracan species of the genus Chirocephalus Prévost

Wild populations of five Chirocephalus species from Italy were tested for their fatty acid profiles, particularly essential fatty acids (EFA) in order to obtain information on species differences. Chirocephalus diaphanus, C. kerkyrensis and C. salinus were from temporary plain pools, whereas C. ruffoi and C. marchesonii came from a mountain pool and an astatic high altitude lake. Statistical comparisons of the results obtained revealed significant (P < 0.05) qualitative and quantitative differences among the species studied. Besides genetic make-up, other factors are presumably involved in these differences. Among these, environmental stability, and hence food quality and quantity, may play a major role, an hypothesis supported by previous findings regarding the possibility of manipulating fairy shrimp fatty acid patterns by using different diets. Further investigation is needed, however, on the fatty acid composition of the food resources from different habitats in relation to the fairy shrimp inhabitants.

SEASONAL VARIATION OF THE FATTY ACID PROFILE IN CYSTS AND WILD ADULTS OF THE FAIRY SHRIMP CHIROCEPHALUS KERKYRENSIS PESTA, 1936 (ANOSTRACA)

The fatty acid profiles of wild adults and cysts of a population of the fairy shrimp Chirocephalus kerkyrensis from Circeo National Park (central Italy) were analysed at regular time intervals during the water phase of the pond, with the aim of relating eventual differences in fatty acid composition and profile to differences in environmental conditions. Four samplings were performed: at the beginning of adult life, at two intermediate stages, and at the end of the life cycle. The results show that lipid content and profile vary significantly in the samples examined, thus suggesting a relation with the fluctuations in the abiotic environmental variables, which, on their turn, cause variation in food quality and quantity. Les profils d’acides gras des adultes et des œufs de duree d’une population de l’anostrace Chirocephalus kerkyrensis, provenant du parc National du Circeo (Italie centrale) ont ete analyses a des intervalles de temps reguliers au cours de la phase en eau de la mare dans le but de deceler d’eventuelles differences dans la composition et le profil d’acides gras suivant les conditions de l’environnement. Quatre echantillonnages ont ete realises: au debut de la vie adulte, a deux stades intermediaires et a la fin du cycle de vie. Les resultats montrent que le contenu en lipides et le profil varient significativement dans les echantillons examines, suggerant ainsi une relation avec les fluctuations des variables abiotiques de l’environnement, qui a leur tour, peuvent modifier la qualite et la quantite de la nourriture.

Intraspecific Variation of Fatty Acid Profile in Wild Populations of Chirocephalus Diaphanus Prévost (Anostraca)

Ten Chirocephalus diaphanus populations from mountain and plain pools have been studied to evaluate intraspecific variation in fatty acid composition. A high variability in total lipid contents was recorded within mountain and plain populations, the latter having on the average higher lipid totals than the former. Similarly, significant differences in fatty acid profiles were found irrespective of the predictable or stable characteristics of the pool of origin and of the range of variation in the environmental variables. This seems to suggest that food quality and/or availability, rather than abiotic characteristics themselves, affect the fatty acid pattern of the fairy shrimps.

Evaluation of the fatty acid profiles of two fairy shrimp species, Branchipus pasai Cottarelli, 1969 and Chirocephalus kerkyrensis Pesta, 1936 (Crustacea, Anostraca) fed different diets

Laboratory cultured fairy shrimps Branchipus pasai and Chirocephalus kerkyrensis, fed on an alga (Selenastrum capricornutum), a yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and an HUFA enriched yeast (Lansy PZ, produced by Artemia Systems, Gent, Belgium) were evaluated for their fatty acid (FA) profiles and total lipid content in order to obtain information on species differences in food conversion. The results indicate significant qualitative and quantitative differences (P < 0.001) in FA profiles both of feed and of fairy shrimp species. Among the three different diets, an appreciable lipid amount was recorded in the alga, as compared with baker’s yeast which showed the poorest lipid content. The algal fatty acid profile showed adequate amounts of the EFA 18:2n6, 18:3n3 and 20:5n3 (the most meaningful for aquacultural purposes). The enriched yeast was characterised by a considerable total lipid amount and by the presence of all the EFA.