Ochratoxin A in corn and wheat: geographical association with endemic nephropathy.

AIM: To determine the presence and concentration of ochratoxin A in wheat and corn from Slavonski Brod surroundings, the area of endemic nephropathy allegedly caused by ochratoxin. METHODS: Thin-layer chromatography was used to determine ochratoxin A concentrations in 92 wheat and 51 corn samples from the surroundings of Slavonski Brod, Osijek, Hrvatsko Zagorje, Istria, and Celje (Slovenia). RESULTS: Ochratoxin A was present in 74 of 92 (75.8%) wheat samples and 17 of 51 (33.3%) corn samples, in a concentration range of 0.02-160.00 mg/kg in wheat and 0.02-40.00 mg/kg in corn. Wheat samples from the Slavonski Brod surroundings contained the highest level of ochratoxin A (38.8 +/- 27.2 mg/kg), followed by Osijek (8.7 +/- 8.3 mg/kg). Ochratoxin A levels in the wheat from Hrvatsko Zagorje, Istria, and Celje were considerably lower (2.1 +/- 1.5, 1.3 +/- 2.6 and 0.2 +/- 0.5 mg/kg, respectively). Wheat samples from Slavonski Brod significantly differed from all other sample groups (p < 0.001), and wheat samples from Osijek differed from those from Hrvatsko Zagorje, Istria, and Celje (p < 0.001, p = 0.003, p < 0.001, respectively). Ochratoxin A level was the highest in the corn samples from the Slavonski Brod surroundings (20.0 +/- 14.8 mg/kg) and considerably lower in samples from Osijek, Celje, Hrvatsko Zagorje, and Istria (0.8 +/- 1.4, 0.7 +/- 1.9, 0.4 +/- 0.4, and 0.4 +/- 0.8 mg/kg, respectively). A statistically significant difference was also observed between the Slavonski Brod samples and all other corn samples (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Irrespective of the real association between ochratoxin A and endemic nephropathy, our data clearly demonstrate their geographical overlap.

Small countries and the dioxin scandal: how to control imported food?

The aspiration of the countries in transition to join the developed European countries resulted in opening their borders and several-fold increase in import, especially of food products. The imported foods are less expensive than domestic foods, but their quality is often highly questionable. In analyzing the safety of these products for human health, small countries encounter at least two sets of problems. One is related to legal provisions on the parameters to be analyzed, whenever new requirements emerge in practice, like the latest one on dioxin. The other, even more difficult set of problems, is related to the expensive equipment needed for the monitoring of foodstuff safety, the procurement of which exceeds the financial possibilities of these countries. For example, from June 11 until July 31, 1999, during the so-called European dioxin crisis, a total of 58 foodstuffs produced in Belgium, Netherlands, and France between January 19 and March 3, 1999, were referred to the Department of Health Ecology, Zagreb Institute of Public Health, the only laboratory authorized for identification of polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and dibenzofurans in the Republic of Croatia. In 40 samples, the level of dioxin was below the detection limit of 0.5 ng - international toxic equivalents per kg fat (ng-I-TEQ/kg fat), whereas in 18 positive samples the level of dioxin did not exceed the limit of 5 ng-I-TEQ/kg fat for the foodstuff commercial usability. Although highly contaminated products have not yet appeared on the Croatian market, recent developments in Europe have pointed out that establishing an authorized laboratory for dioxins in the Republic of Croatia or in the region is needed.

Fish as an indicator of eco-system contamination with mercury.

AIM: To compare the total and organic mercury content in sea-fish samples from Croatia, where fishing occurs in a closed part of the Mediterranean Sea, and from other countries fishing mostly in the oceans. METHOD: During 1997, we collected at the Zagreb fish market a total of 115 samples of fifteen kinds of fish including bathypelagic, pelagic and elasmobranch fish, caught in the wider coastal areas of Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Argentina, Belgium, and Croatia. Total mercury and organic methyl-mercury in the fish were determined at the laboratory for testing of food and other common use material at the Zagreb Institute of Public Health. Total mercury was determined by the method of atomic absorption spectrometry. Methyl-mercury was determined by the method of gas chromatography. The mean annual fish consumption in each country was used to calculate the mean weekly intake of mercury and methyl-mercury in each individual country relative to the recommended values. RESULTS: The mean content of total mercury and organic mercury in pooled samples was 111+100 ug/kg and 95+87 ug/kg (85.6%), respectively. The highest values were found in the fish from Croatia (170+124 ug/kg and 150+107 ug/kg; 88.2%, respectively). This concentration did not exceed the maximal allowed level of 500 ug/kg for total and 400 ug/kg for organic mercury in any of the samples examined. The highest values of total mercury (119+111 ug/kg) and organic mercury (103+96 ug/kg; 86.6%) were found in bathypelagic fish. According to the mean annual per capita fish consumption in each country, the mean weekly mercury intake was highest in Spain (49.8 ug) and lowest in Croatia (19.0 ug. CONCLUSION: At present conditions of mercury content and its mean annual consumption, dietary use of sea-fish can still be recommended, even from the seas with closed circulation, such as Adriatic.

Sanitation of the liberated territories in Croatia after the Storm campaign: the example of Lika-Senj County.

More than 6,000 km2 of the central and southern areas of the Republic of Croatia were liberated by the Storm campaign, August 4 to 7, 1995. On August 8, 1995, the Ministry of Health sent expert teams to the newly liberated areas, to ensure the basic conditions for the displaced persons to return and live there. To describe the public health measures taken we used the examples of Lika-Senj County (3,746 km2 and 71,215 population). By October 1, 1995, 50 bodies, killed in action, had been detected, pathologically and forensically examined, and then buried. Two hundred thirty-three mostly elderly and sick persons were admitted to the reception center in Gospic; 93 of them returned to their homes, 133 were accommodated with their relatives and friends, and 7 were referred for treatment (4 of them died). Two hundred ten cattle carcasses were buried using adequate sanitation measures, whereas 5,575 sheep, 3,138 head of horned cattle, 298 head of hoofed animals, and 300 head of other cattle were caught alive. The procedures of disinfection, disinfestation, and deodorization were performed in 720 apartments, 2 hotels, 3 schools, 1 kindergarten, 1 health care unit, 1 sports hall, and 5 shops. The main water pump was cleared of mines and partially repaired, whereas some 20 water supply facilities were placed under surveillance. Three food depots were found and properly treated. The entire territory was closely observed for possible occurrence of infectious disease.

[Improvement of sanitation conditions in the liberated Croatian regions after the "Storm" campaign--the Lika-Senj County example]. / Asanacija oslobodenih podrucja Hrvatske nakon akcije "Oluja"--primjer Licko-senjske zupanije.

More than 6,000 sq km of the central and southern areas of the Republic of Croatia were liberated by the Storm campaign, August 4-7, 1995. On August 8, 1995, the Ministry of Health sent expert teams to the newly liberated areas, in order to ensure the basic conditions for the displaced persons to return and live there. To describe the public health measures taken we used the example of the Lika-Senj County (3,746 sq km and 71,215 population). Until October 1, 1995, 50 bodies, killed in action, were detected, pathologically and forensically examined, and then buried. Two hundred and thirty-three mostly elderly and sick persons were admitted to the reception center in Gospic; 93 of them returned to their homes, 133 were accommodated with their relatives and friends, and seven were referred for treatment (four of them died). Two hundred and ten cattle carcasses were buried using adequate sanitation measures, whereas 5,575 sheep, 3,138 head of horned cattle, 298 head of hoofed animals and 300 head of other cattle were caught alive. The procedures of disinfection, disinfestation and disodoration were performed in 720 apartments, 2 hotels, 3 schools, one kindergarten, one health care unit, one sports hall and 5 shops. The main water pump was cleared of mines and partially repaired, whereas some 20 water supply objects were placed under surveillance. Three food depots were found and properly treated. The entire territory was closely observed for a possible occurrence of infectious diseases.

[Caloric and nutritive value of kindergarten meals in Zagreb from 1988 to 1993]. / Energetska i prehrambena vrijednost obroka u djecjim vrticima grada Zagreba u razdoblju od 1988. do 1993. godine.

In the 1988-1993 period the mean energy value of meals in 24 Zagreb kindergartens was 4,161.63 kJ or 110.46 of the recommended standard (3,768 kJ). In the same time, the mean protein value 39.53 g/day amounted to 117.13% of the recommended amount of 33.75 g/day. The mean fat value was 139.04% of the recommended amount of fat (32.25 g) or 44.84 g/day. The mean amount of carbohydrate was 107.97 g/day, which was 95.97% of the standard (112.50 g/day). In the 1988-1990 period, the mean energy value of meals was 4,242 kJ or 112.66% of the recommended standard. In the same period, the mean protein value of 39.87 g/day amounted to 118.13% of the recommended. The mean fat value was 128.70% of the recommended amount of fat (32.25 g) or 45.37 g/day. The mean amount of carbohydrate was 111.75 g/day, which was 99.33% of the recommended values. In the 1991-1993 period, the mean energy value of meals was 4,102 kJ or 108.88% of the standard. With a mean amount of the 39.10 g/day, protein was represented by 115.85% of the standard. The mean amounts of fat and carbohydrate also considerably increased to 44.39 and 106.13 g/day or 125.92% and 94.33% of the standard, respectively. In 10 (41.6%) kindergartens (240 meals in total) normal value et least one out of the four parameters measured was not obtained throughout the period of observation.