Monia Perugini

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in farmed rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) processed by traditional flue gas smoking and by liquid smoke flavourings

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with fluorescence detection in rainbow trout fillets processed by traditional flue gas smoking and by liquid smoke flavourings, at low temperature (25 degrees C for 3h). Raw fillets were also investigated as control group. The following compounds, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benz(a)anthracene, chrysene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene and benzo(ghi)perylene were detected in all samples and no significant difference (p>0.05) was found neither between fresh and processed samples nor between the two different smoking techniques, except for chrysene and benzo(b)fluoranthene. The results show that PAHs found in rainbow trout fillets could be considered as a consequence of environmental pollution and the mild smoking process described in the present study did not affect their concentrations.

Monitoring of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Bees (Apis mellifera) and Honey in Urban Areas and Wildlife Reserves

The honeybee is a good biological indicator that quickly reflects chemical impairment of the environment by its high mortality and the presence of pollutants in its body or in beehive products. In this work the honeybee (Apis mellifera) and honey were used to detect the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in several areas with different degrees of environmental pollution. All sampling sites showed the presence of PAHs. Benzo(a)pyrene was never detected. Fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, benz(a)anthracene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, and benzo(k)fluoranthene were the PAHs detected in bees, whereas the honey contained only phenanthrene, anthracene, and chrysene. Phenanthrene showed the highest mean values in honeybees and honey. Independent from the season and location the pattern of PAHs in honeybees and honey was dominated by the presence of the lowest molecular weight PAHs. Furthermore, the mean PAH concentrations in honey samples were lower than those reported in honeybees, and no positive correlation was found between the compounds detected in bees and those in honey.

Heavy metal (As, Cd, Hg, Pb, Cu, Zn, Se) concentrations in muscle and bone of four commercial fish caught in the central Adriatic Sea, Italy

Heavy metal (As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, Hg and Se) concentrations in the muscle and bone of four fish species (Mullus barbatus, Merluccius merluccius, Micromesistius poutassou, and Scomber scombrus) from the central Adriatic Sea were measured and the relationships between fish size (length and weight) and metal concentrations in the tissues were investigated. Samples were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrophotometry with automatic dual viewing. In the muscle, results of linear regression analysis showed that, except for mercury, significant relationships between metal concentrations and fish size were negative. Only mercury levels were positively correlated with Atlantic mackerel size (p < 0.05). No significant variations of heavy metal concentrations were observed in muscles of the examined species, but a significant difference (p < 0.01) was found for As, Cd, Pb, and Se concentrations in bone. All the investigated metals showed higher values in the muscle than in bone, except for lead and zinc. Regarding cadmium, lead, and mercury maximum levels, set for the edible portion by European legislation, several samples exceeded these values, confirming the heavy metal presence in species caught near the Jabuka Pit.

Predicting dioxin-like PCBs soil contamination levels using milk of grazing animal as indicator

Dioxin-like PCBs (dl-PCBs) are ubiquitous persistent organic pollutants of recognized negative effects on human health. Assessing highly polluted areas should be an important public health issue. This study proposes to use the milk of grazing animals as a bioindicator of dl-PCB contamination in the environment. The hypothesis is that milk concentration of dl-PCBs are related to soil concentrations of these compounds, and that soils are generally reflective of a larger environmental issue of dl-PCB contamination. In this study, we evaluate the possibility of predicting soil concentrations using milk of sheep, cows and buffalos in a spatial model. For this purpose, samples of soil and milk collected in Campania (Italy) were introduced in a GIS platform to perform geostatistical analysis for building a simple predictive model. The ordinary least squares regressions (OLS) showed a statistically significant correlation (p<0.05) between soil and milk contamination. However, this relationship was spatially variable. Thus, a geographically weighted regression (GWR) was performed, obtaining R(2) values of 0.91, 0.77 and 0.66 for sheeps, buffalos and cows milk respectively. Assessed the mathematical relationships between the variables, new data was introduced to evaluate the performance of the model. Predictions of soil contamination with dl-PCBs using sheeps, cows and buffalos milk showed a mean error of 23%, 25% and 36% respectively. According to these results the sheeps milk can be considered the best bioindicator of dl-PCBs contamination among the three species. The results of this project evidence the potentialities of the proposed approach to assess bioindicator performance in a spatial predictive model.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Fresh and Cold-Smoked Atlantic Salmon Fillets

The occurrence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in smoked fish as a consequence of cold smoking was studied. Raw fillets of Salmo salar from Norway or the Irish Sea were sampled in a modern smokehouse and examined for PAH content. The same fillets, labeled with an identification number, were sampled immediately after the smoking process and analyzed. Among the investigated compounds, acenaphthene, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, benz[a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, and benzo[ghi]perylene were detected in both raw and smoked fillets. No significant difference (P < 0.01) was observed between raw and smoked samples in the concentrations of six PAHs, but significant differences were found for fluorene, anthracene, fluoranthene, benz[a]anthracene, and benzo[ghi]perylene. Results confirm that PAHs concentrations in smoked fish are the product of both sea pollution and the smoking process. A modern smoking plant with an external smoke generator and a mild treatment as described here will not add significantly to the concentration of PAHs, except for some compounds.

Contamination of different portions of raw and boiled specimens of Norway lobster by mercury and selenium

The aim of this study was to evaluate mercury and selenium distribution in different portions (exoskeleton, white meat and brown meat) of Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus). Some samples were also analysed as whole specimens. The same portions were also examined after boiling, in order to observe if this cooking practice could affect mercury and selenium concentrations. The highest mercury concentrations were detected in white meat, exceeding in all cases the maximum levels established by European legislation. The brown meat reported the highest selenium concentrations. In all boiled samples, mercury levels showed a statistically significant increase compared to raw portions. On the contrary, selenium concentrations detected in boiled samples of white meat, brown meat and whole specimen showed a statistically significant decrease compared to the corresponding raw samples. These results indicate that boiling modifies mercury and selenium concentrations. The high mercury levels detected represent a possible risk for consumers, and the publication and diffusion of specific advisories concerning seafood consumption is recommended.

PCB concentrations in freshwater wild brown trouts (Salmo trutta trutta L) from Marche rivers, Central Italy.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the degree of PCBs contamination of wild brown trouts (Salmo trutta trutta L) caught in Marche Region rivers and to study the percentage contribution of the sum of the six indicators PCBs with respect to the sum of eighteen congeners in wild brown trouts. The determination of eighteen PCBs was made on the edible portion (fillets) of trouts by GC-ECD analysis. Fish samples were collected from fourteen rivers, selected to represent the fluvial pollution in the Marche Region. The total sum of eighteen congener concentrations was 8.2±0.9 ng/g wet weight. All the analysed samples showed a high variability of their congener profile even though the six PCBs indicators stood for 49.8% of the total PCBs. In the muscle of brown trout the Σ eighteen PCB and the Σ six PCB concentrations were not statistically correlated with the length and the body mass of specimens. Total PCB (Σ eighteen PCBs and Σ six PCBs) concentrations measured in the different sampling sites showed significant statistical differences among districts and, in the same district, among rivers (p<0.01). In particular, the lowest PCB levels (p<0.01) were detected in fish caught in Pesaro-Urbino Province rivers with the mean total PCB concentrations of 102.4±6.3 ng/g fat weight while the highest PCB levels were measured in specimens coming from Macerata Province rivers (1147.8±456.6 ng/g fat weight).

Monitoring of levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in bees caught from beekeeping: remark 1

Monitoring of levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in bees caught from beekeeping: remark 1 M. Amorena & P. Visciano & A. Giacomelli & E. Marinelli & A. G. Sabatini & P. Medrzycki & L. Persano Oddo & F. M. De Pace & P. Belligoli & G. Di Serafino & S. Saccares & G. Formato & V. Langella & M. Perugini Published online: 4 July 2009 # Springer Science + Business Media B.V. 2009

The effect of GnRH on in vitro bovine myometrial activity

The aim of this study was to evaluate, in vitro, the effects of increasing concentrations of GnRH on spontaneous mechanical activity patterns of uterine smooth muscle preparations of cows during the follicular and the luteal phases of the oestrus cycle. Uterine smooth muscle strips from 14 cows in follicular and 9 in luteal phase were collected immediately after slaughter and processed within 60 min from collection. Two strips of the same uterus were mounted in an isolated organ bath with two chambers to evaluate the role of decapeptide GnRH on spontaneous myometrial contractility. After equilibration period at 20 mN resting tension, the mechanical activity of the uterus was recorded for 10 min and the mean contractile force (MCF) was calculated. Then GnRH antagonist (antide) was added to one chamber at fixed concentration (10(-4)mol) and allowed to diffuse in solution and make contact with the strips. Subsequently, GnRH was added to the two baths at the same time at increasing concentration and MCF was recorded for 10 min. The effect of GnRH on spontaneous myometrial activity was evident only in the strips from subjects in follicular phase. Our results are suggestive of the presence of GnRH receptors in bovine myometrial tissue. The involvement of GnRH on uterine contractions at mating can be postulated.

Occurrence of agrochemical residues in beeswax samples collected in Italy during 2013–2015

Considering the importance of honey bees for pollination activity and biodiversity preservation different studies have dealt with the impact of pesticides on honeybee health. Within the hive, beeswax is a matrix of particular interest because most of the chemicals used in agricultural and beekeeping activities can easily accumulate and persist in this matrix long after treatment has ceased, affecting honeybees survival. However, chemical analyses of pesticide residues in beeswax are not mandatory, so there are no residue limits, for beeswax. The present study was carried out with the aim of investigating the beeswax residue pattern in the Italian hives. 178 beeswax samples collected from 2013 to 2015 were analyzed for 247 pesticides. 73.6% of the analyzed samples reported the presence of one or more pesticides. On average every single sample showed a mean of three different pesticides each with a maximum of fourteen compounds, some of which were banned in Europe or not authorized in Italy. The higher frequencies were associated with three acaricides: coumaphos (60.7% of samples), tau-fluvalinate (50%) and chlorphenvinphos (35.4%), but the higher concentrations were associated to pyrethrins and piperonil butoxide.