Milka Popovic

Ochratoxin A and aflatoxin B1 in breakfast cereals marketed in Serbia – occurrence and health risk characterisation

ABSTRACT The present paper reports data on the occurrence of ochratoxin A (OTA) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in breakfast cereals marketed in Serbia and interprets consequent dietary exposure. A total of 136 samples was collected in 2012 and 2015 and analysed using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. OTA was detected in 20.7% of the samples in 2012 and 13.0% in 2015, with 3.6% and 0% of the samples above the EU maximum level, respectively. AFB1 was found in low concentrations in 11.1% of the samples collected in 2015, mainly corn based. Comparison of estimated exposure of Serbian adult population with respective toxicological reference values showed no concern for public health.

Testing for viral material in water of public bathing areas of the Danube during summer, Vojvodina, Serbia, 2014.

From August to September 2014 a water quality study was conducted on five popular public Danube beaches in Vojvodina, Serbia. To assess the safety of Danube water for bathing, physical, chemical, bacteriological tests were performed. While many parameters for monitoring the quality of water are regulated by law, there are neither national nor international legislations addressing the presence of viruses in recreational waters. In this study, we performed analyses that surpassed national requirements, and investigated if adenovirus, enterovirus or rotavirus genetic material was present in samples of recreational water collected for quality monitoring. Of 90 water samples obtained during the study, enterovirus material was not found in any sample, but adenovirus and rotavirus genetic materials were respectively detected in 60 and 31 samples. Statistical analyses showed a significant correlation between adenovirus DNA and total coliforms in the water. Even when water samples were adequate for recreational use, adenoviruses were detected in 75% (57/76) of such samples. Our results indicate that implementation of viral indicators in recreational water might be helpful to better assess public health safety. This might be particularly relevant in areas where urban wastewater treatment is insufficient and surface waters affected by wastewater are used for recreation.

Cardiovascular diseases and air pollution in Novi Sad, Serbia

ObjectivesA large body of evidence has documented that air pollutants have adverse effect on human health as well as on the environment. The aim of this study was to determine whether there was an association between outdoor concentrations of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and a daily number of hospital admissions due to cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in Novi Sad, Serbia among patients aged above 18.Material and MethodsThe investigation was carried out during over a 3-year period (from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2009) in the area of Novi Sad. The number (N = 10 469) of daily CVD (ICD-10: I00–I99) hospital admissions was collected according to patients’ addresses. Daily mean levels of NO2 and SO2, measured in the ambient air of Novi Sad via a network of fixed samplers, have been used to put forward outdoor air pollution. Associations between air pollutants and hospital admissions were firstly analyzed by the use of the linear regression in a single polluted model, and then trough a single and multi-polluted adjusted generalized linear Poisson model.ResultsThe single polluted model (without confounding factors) indicated that there was a linear increase in the number of hospital admissions due to CVD in relation to the linear increase in concentrations of SO2 (p = 0.015; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.144–1.329, R2 = 0.005) and NO2 (p = 0.007; 95% CI: 0.214–1.361, R2 = 0.007). However, the single and multi-polluted adjusted models revealed that only NO2 was associated with the CVD (p = 0.016, relative risk (RR) = 1.049, 95% CI: 1.009–1.091 and p = 0.022, RR = 1.047, 95% CI: 1.007–1.089, respectively).ConclusionsThis study shows a significant positive association between hospital admissions due to CVD and outdoor NO2 concentrations in the area of Novi Sad, Serbia.

Seasonal distributions of heavy metal concentrations in different snail (Helix pomatia) tissues from an urban environment in Serbia

The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences between concentrations of heavy metals (cadmium, copper, zinc, iron, and manganese) in terrestrial gastropods, Helix pomatia, collected in four different environment locations in Pančevo city, Serbia. Metal concentrations in the foot and in the digestive gland were measured. Heavy metals cadmium, copper, zinc, iron, and manganese were measured in triplicate by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Also, this study investigated correlations between the trace element content in the soft tissues and different seasons (summer and fall). The results showed that heavy metal concentrations of the measured elements in both snail tissues were significantly higher in polluted sites when compared to the background levels in the city. In digestive gland tissues, the concentration of heavy metals was higher compared with that in foot tissues. The bioaccumulation (heavy metal concentrations in soft tissues) of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Zn, Fe, and Mn) in snails, Helix pomatia, has been assessed and related to seasons and sites. Heavy metal accumulation in the soft tissues of snails could provide a powerful monitoring tool for the assessment of environmental heavy metal pollution.

Energy, biological and salt content values in public mass catering meals dedicated to children in elementary schools in City of Novi Sad

M Jevtic, J Bjelanovic, R Velicki, M Popovic University of Novi Sad, Medical Faculty, Novi Sad, Serbia Institute of Public Health of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia Contact: marijamd@eunet.rs, marija.jevtic@uns.ac.rs Issue/problem Irregular nutrition, regarding the energy intake and biological value, is a major public health problem – often considered as a risk factor for development of cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this paper is to present data of 4-year (2008-2011) program on monitoring and correction of energy, biological and salt (sodium chloride) values in single daily meals (breakfast or lunch) of public elementary schools, in Novi Sad. Description of the problem Relating to the established 4-year program, 963 daily meals were sampled from school canteens. Energy, biological values and salt content in acquired samples were evaluated using standardized methods. Descriptive statistics were presented for categorical variables as frequencies and compared between groups by using the Pearson 2 test. Continuous variables, expressed as means standard deviation were compared between groups by using the Student t test. Results The average annual energy value of the controlled daily meals during the first year of the project was 1539.23 255.20 g; and increase was observed during the final year 1602.04 288.04 g (p > 0.05). The average annual salt content value was reduced from 8.62 1.55 g (first year) to 3.58 0.87 g (final year) (p < 0.0001). Content of macronutrients: proteins, fats and carbohydrates was in the concordance with recommended daily intake values of 10-15%, up to 30% and 55-75% respectively. Conclusions During the four year period, energy and biological values of meals were satisfactory and in accordance with current legislatives in Republic of Serbia and World Health Organization recommendations for population nutrition from 1998. The program on salt reduction in meals in schools has been implemented successfully, salt content dropped significantly, but the established goal of 5g intake per day is still to be reached. Key message Continuing education and cooperation with all entities responsible for children’s health is necessary for the prevention of chronic noncommunicable diseases in adulthood.