ABSTRACT
The Istituto Zooprofilattico dell'Abruzzo e del Molise 'G. Caporale' (IZS A&M) has been monitoring contamination of food by the polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDD) and polychlorinated dibenzo-furans (PCDF) as part of the National Surveillance Plan (NSP) in Italy since 1999, on license from the Italian Ministry of Health. Between 1999 and 2000, 238 samples (including meat, fish, eggs, milk, fat, feedstuffs) were analysed. The results of the tests were expressed in terms of international toxic equivalents (I-TEQs from NATO/CCMS, 1988) and World Health Organization toxic equivalents (WHO-TEQs). These results showed contamination levels comparable to those detected in similar studies conducted in other European countries for products such as milk (mean: 0.81 pg I-TEQ/g fat), meat (mean: 0.73 pg I-TEQ/g fat) and fat (mean: 0.51 pg I-TEQ/g fat). The highest dioxin content was found in fish (mean: 5.28 pg I-TEQ/g fat) and fish feeds (mean 6.60 pg ITEQ/ g fat). These two matrices also showed complete duplication of contamination profiles. Other edible matrices (milk, meat, eggs) revealed the presence of HpCDD and OCDD. This could be due to the introduction into Italy of the animal feed additive choline chloride contaminated by these congeners.
ABSTRACT
A method to determine residues of the insecticide rotenone in honey using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is described. The sample was extracted with an acetone/water mixture, followed by a liquid/liquid partition with diethyl ether. A solid-phase extraction (SPE) clean-up step on alumina neutral cartridge was then performed. The chromatographic analysis was conducted on a C18 column (250 x 4 mm, 5 microm) using acetonitrile-water (65:35, v/v) as mobile phase. Rotenone was detected in the ultraviolet range at a wavelength of 295 nm. The specificity of the method was demonstrated through analyses of raw and commercial honey samples. The limit of detection was equal to 40 microg kg(-1). The precision and accuracy of the method were evaluated trueness honey samples spiked at three concentration levels (100-250-500 microg kg(-1)). The intra-laboratory coefficient of variation (from 9.2 to 10.6%) and mean recovery values (from 81.4 to 86.6%) were satisfactory. The calibration curve was linear in the range 0.125-2 microg ml(-1), with a determination coefficient R2 of 0.9999. Rotenone levels in honey samples from bees treated with this miticide were in the range 120-430 microg kg(-1).
ABSTRACT
Laryngeal keratosis may frequently precede the appearance of carcinoma of the larynx which might well indicate that these diseases have a common denominator. A retrospective study of 120 subjects with laryngeal keratosis was examined. The intention of the Authors was to verify whether the principle risk factors involved in the appearance of laryngeal carcinoma were the same as those implicated in laryngeal keratosis formation. Sex age, work activity, cigarette smoke, alcohol consumption and vocal chord abuse were considered. Laryngeal keratosis takes keratosis with dysplasia as well as keratosis without. A link between these two types of keratosis and cancer was sought. In particular, the possibility that a persistent action of the mentioned risk factors could cause laryngeal dysplasia-free keratosis to change into dysplastic lesions and subsequently into cancer was investigated. A case-control study was performed in order to analyze the importance of work activity. Results were statistically significant (P < 0.001). The Cramer V2 calculation demonstrated a clear correlation between the number of cigarettes smoked and the appearance of dysplasia (V2 = 0.117; P < 0.005). Results showed a clearly different behaviour between sexes. The number of males was much higher than females as was the age at which keratosis appeared greater in males. The fact that the average age in which keratosis appeared preceded the appearance of laryngeal cancer by ten years indicates that this interrum is sufficient for keratosis with dysplasia to be transformed into cancer (due to the continued action of the mentioned etiologic factors, mainly referred to cigarette smoke). In our data analysis, no correlation was demonstrated between keratosis without dysplasia and cancer.
