Cereal Samples Research Articles

Sixty Years After the First Description: Genome Sequence and Biological Characterization of European Wheat Striate Mosaic Virus Infecting Cereal Crops.

High-throughput sequencing technologies were used to identify plant viruses in cereal samples surveyed from 2012 to 2017. Fifteen genome sequences of a tenuivirus infecting wheat, oats, and spelt in Estonia, Norway, and Sweden were identified and characterized by their distances to other tenuivirus sequences. Like most tenuiviruses, the genome of this tenuivirus contains four genomic segments. The isolates found from different countries shared at least 92% nucleotide sequence identity at the genome level. The planthopper Javesella pellucida was identified as a vector of the virus. Laboratory transmission tests using this vector indicated that wheat, oats, barley, rye, and triticale, but none of the tested pasture grass species (Alopecurus pratensis, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Lolium multiflorum, Phleum pratense, and Poa pratensis), are susceptible. Taking into account the vector and host range data, the tenuivirus we have found most probably represents European wheat striate mosaic virus first identified about 60 years ago. Interestingly, whereas we were not able to infect any of the tested cereal species mechanically, Nicotiana benthamiana was infected via mechanical inoculation in laboratory conditions, displaying symptoms of yellow spots and vein clearing evolving into necrosis, eventually leading to plant death. Surprisingly, one of the virus genome segments (RNA2) encoding both a putative host systemic movement enhancer protein and a putative vector transmission factor was not detected in N. benthamiana after several passages even though systemic infection was observed, raising fundamental questions about the role of this segment in the systemic spread in several hosts.

Identification of the wild and cultivated hosts of wheat dwarf virus and oat dwarf virus in Iran.

In the last decade two mastreviruses, Wheat dwarf virus (WDV) and Oat dwarf virus (ODV) have been reported from cereal farms in Iran. In a survey, wild and cultivated hosts of these mastreviruses were studied during 2015 to 2017. Symptomatic small grain cereal samples and weed species were collected and assayed for WDV and/or ODV infection by PCR. While WDV which was detected in 139/284 (49%) of total symptomatic samples, low incidence (2%) was recorded for ODV which was detected only in slender wild oat (Avena barbata Pott ex Link) and red brome (Bromus rubens L.). In agroinfection studies, the clone of ODV infected common oat (A. sativa) and slender wild oat (A. barbata) with the low efficiency and did not infect wheat or barley. ODV was transmitted by the leafhopper Psammotettix alienus, from agroinfected common oat to healthy seedlings. The results show that, in contrast to WDV, ODV has a low incidence and a narrow host range in gramineous plants.

Monodisperse cobalt(II) based metal-organic coordination polymer beads as a sorbent for solid-phase extraction of chlorophenoxy acid herbicides prior to their quantitation by HPLC.

Metal-organic coordination polymer beads (MOCBs) are described for use as a sorbent for solid-phase extraction of chlorophenoxy herbides. By applying regulation of Co(II) ions, micro-sized monodisperse MOCBs were obtained through the microwave heating. The MOCBs-based method displays excellent extraction efficiency towards chlorophenoxy herbicides, specifically of 2-chlorophenoxyacetic acid, 4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid, 4-chloromethylphenoxyacetic acid, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)propionic acid. Following extraction, the herbicides were eluted with 8% formic acid in methanol and quantified by HPLC. The method, when applied to analyze spiked cereals, exhibits a wide linear range (from 0.6 to 1000ngg-1) and low limits of quantification (ranging from 0.10 to 0.25ngg-1). For a single column, the inter-day and intra-day precisions, expressed as the relative standard deviation are in the range of 2.5-6.8%. The batch-to-batch reproducibility (for n= 3) is <4.6%. For spiked cereal samples, relative recoveries are very good (90.3-102.3%, for n= 4). The extraction efficiency of MOCBs remains unchanged after reusing for 40 times. Graphical abstractSchematic presentation of Co(II)-doped metal-organic coordination polymer beads (Co(II)@MOCB) using for solid-phase extraction (SPE).

Study of the surface properties of buckwheat flour produced by different enterprises by De-Nui methods and tenzimetric to predict its technological properties

The scientific and industrial community of specialists is developing indirect methods for predicting the technological properties of flour, which would reduce economic costs in a production environment. The results of comparing the colloidal properties of 4 samples of different producers of buckwheat flour from steamed cereals and 1 from green are presented. As methods for predicting the technological properties of flour used surface properties. The graphs of the dependence “surface tension at the air-liquid interface - concentration of dissolved substance” were constructed using experimental data obtained by the De Nui method. The surface activity of the compared samples was established by solving equations obtained by mathematical processing of experimental data. The adsorption properties of buckwheat flour samples were studied by the tensimetric method. Based on the study of surface properties, flour samples were arranged in a row according to the manifested colloidal properties. Studies of the surface properties of flour samples from steamed and non-steamed cereals showed that buckwheat flour produced by different enterprises is characterized by various adsorption properties, which should be taken into account during its storage and use in flour products. A sample of unpaired cereal has the highest surface activity, which allows us to recognize it as the best sample. The main influence on the technological advantages of flour is exerted by the fraction of flour with a particle size of up to 50 microns, the amount of which should be 58.69 ± 2%. At a higher content of particles of this fraction, the flour is characterized by reduced surface activity and has a higher hygroscopicity, which negatively affects its technological properties.

Risk profiling of exposures to multiclass contaminants through cereals and cereal-based products consumption: A case study for the inhabitants in Shanghai, China

The co-occurrence of food contaminants has caught the public concern worldwide owing to their extensive distribution and the potential risk on human health. In this study, a total of 6471 samples of cereals and cereal-based products was collected from Shanghai between 2008 and 2011. The food contaminants co-occurred, including mycotoxins (aflatoxin B1, deoxynivalenol and ochratoxin A), pesticides (organic phosphorus pesticides and methyl bromide), heavy metals (cadmium, lead, and inorganic arsenic), and food additives (aluminum and food pigments), were analyzed for their contents. The point evaluation and probabilistic evaluation based on the Monte Carlo model were performed to assess the risks of the contaminants. The results showed the mean levels of all the tested contaminants were lower than the maximum residue levels (MRLs) set by China, except aluminum, exceeding China MRLs of 100 mg/kg in 2010 and 2011. The point evaluation showed the mean daily exposures (40.7–63.9 ng/kg bw/day) of ochratoxin A in 2010 for different consumer groups were higher than the provisional tolerable daily intake (PTDI) of 17 ng/kg bw/day recommended by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Meanwhile, the mean daily exposures of the tested contaminants in each year for 7-to-10-year old children were higher than those for adults. The probabilistic evaluation indicated that the margin of safety (MOS) values of the tested contaminants at percentile 95th (P95) were lower than 1, except aluminum, suggesting the potential health risk of aluminum intake to the consumer groups in Shanghai. Additionally, the risk ranking of these contaminants in cereals and cereal-based products was obtained as follows: aluminum > deoxynivalenol > ochratoxin A > inorganic arsenic > cadmium > lead > chlorpyrifos-methyl > malathion.

Synthesis and application of magnetic-surfaced pseudo molecularly imprinted polymers for zearalenone pretreatment in cereal samples

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a fungal contaminant widely found in grains. In cereal samples, trace zearalenone was extracted and enriched using magnetic-surfaced pseudo molecularly imprinted polymers (SPMIPs) and detected. SPMIPs were prepared with Fe3O4 as the magnetic core, modified halloysites nanotubes as supporting materials, and selective imprinted polymers as shells. Vinyl was modified on the surface of halloysites nanotube. SPMIPs were synthesized with pseudo templates. SPMIPs as the adsorbent of dispersed-solid phase extraction (μ-SPE) were used to purify and enrich ZEA from maize samples. After optimized, the pretreatment method was evaluated. The linearity of the method was ranged within 10–200 ng mL−1. LOD and LOQ were 2.5 ng mL−1 and 8 ng mL−1 respectively. The ZEA spiking recoveries in maize samples ranged within 74.95–88.41% were with good RSDs lower than 4.25%. The developed method was successful applied in maize, oat, and wheat sample treatments and compared.

LC-MS/MS and LC-UV Determination of Moniliformin by Adding Lanthanide Ions to the Mobile Phase.

An innovative chromatographic analysis was developed for the determination of moniliformin (MON). Because of its ionic nature, MON is weakly retained in reversed-phase chromatography and the separation may be tricky. Nevertheless, this technique is normally used either with the formation of ion pairs or employing specific RP columns for polar compounds, or combining anion exchange and hydrophobic interactions. Hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) was also used, but a non-negligible peak tailing was observed. Besides its ionic nature, MON is a di-ketone and di-ketones, mainly β-di-ketones, can easily form complexes with lanthanide ions. Then, in this work the addition of lanthanide ions to the mobile phase was investigated, aiming at improving peak shape and MON separation. La3+, Tb3+ or Eu3+ aqueous solutions were used as mobile phase and MON was chromatographed using a LC-NH2 column. The probable formation of coordination complexes lanthanide-MON in the HPLC mobile phase allowed to obtain a symmetrical peak shape and a satisfactory chromatographic separation by both mass spectrometry (MS/MS) and UV detection. Finally, a suitable extraction and purification method for MON determination in cereal samples was developed.

Highly sensitive atrazine fluorescence immunoassay by using magnetic separation and upconversion nanoparticles as labels.

A high-sensitivity fluorescence immunoassay for atrazine was established. It is making use of hydrophilic NaYF4:Yb/Er upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) conjugated to the anti-atrazine antibody as signal probe, and of polystyrene magnetic microspheres (PMMs) conjugated to the coating antigen as the capture probe. The coating antigen on the capture probe competes with atrazine for binding to the antibody on the signal probe to form the immuno complex. The complex is separated from the test system by magnetic action, and its green fluorescence is then measured at excitation/emission wavelengths of 980/552nm using a fluorescence spectrophotometer equipped with an external 980nm laser. The method was applied to the determination of atrazine in corn, rice, sugar cane juice, and river water. The immunoassay has a linear range that extends from 0.005 to 10μg·L-1. The assay also recognizes propazine and prometryn, and it therefore can be applied to detect these three herbicides simultaneously. Sugar cane juice and river water samples can be analyzed directly without any pretreatment. The detection limits for atrazine are 2ng·L-1 in sugar cane juice and river water samples, and 20ng·kg-1 in corn and rice samples. The recoveries of spiked samples range from 84.7 to 113.6%. Graphical abstract A sensitive fluorescence immunoassay combining magnetic separation for the detection of atrazine in cereal, juice, and water samples using NaYF4:Yb/Er upconversion nanoparticles as labels.

Contribution of gut microbiota to metabolism of dietary glycine betaine in mice and in vitro colonic fermentation

BackgroundAccumulating evidence is supporting the protective effect of whole grains against several chronic diseases. Simultaneously, our knowledge is increasing on the impact of gut microbiota on our health and on how diet can modify the composition of our bacterial cohabitants. Herein, we studied C57BL/6 J mice fed with diets enriched with rye bran and wheat aleurone, conventional and germ-free C57BL/6NTac mice on a basal diet, and the colonic fermentation of rye bran in an in vitro model of the human gastrointestinal system. We performed 16S rRNA gene sequencing and metabolomics on the study samples to determine the effect of bran-enriched diets on the gut microbial composition and the potential contribution of microbiota to the metabolism of a novel group of betainized compounds.ResultsThe bran-enriched study diets elevated the levels of betainized compounds in the colon contents of C57BL/6 J mice. The composition of microbiota changed, and the bran-enriched diets induced an increase in the relative abundance of several bacterial taxa, including Akkermansia, Bifidobacterium, Coriobacteriaceae, Lactobacillus, Parasutterella, and Ruminococcus, many of which are associated with improved health status or the metabolism of plant-based molecules. The levels of betainized compounds in the gut tissues of germ-free mice were significantly lower compared to conventional mice. In the in vitro model of the human gut, the production of betainized compounds was observed throughout the incubation, while the levels of glycine betaine decreased. In cereal samples, only low levels or trace amounts of other betaines than glycine betaine were observed.ConclusionsOur findings provide evidence that the bacterial taxa increased in relative abundance by the bran-based diet are also involved in the metabolism of glycine betaine into other betainized compounds, adding another potential compound group acting as a mediator of the synergistic metabolic effect of diet and colonic microbiota.

Rapid determination of antibiotic residues in cereals by liquid chromatography triple mass spectrometry.

Antibiotics may be present in agricultural soils through the application of organic amendments as fertilizers or by irrigation of fields with recycled water. As a result of these agricultural practices, antibiotics in soil can lead to their uptake by plants, entering in this way the food chain. Studies on the levels of antibiotics in cereal samples are scarce in the available literature. In this work, an analytical method was developed for the determination of 19 antibiotics (fluoroquinolones, sulfonamides, tetracyclines, and lincosamides) in four types of cereal grains (wheat, barley, rice, and oat). Ultrasound-assisted matrix solid-phase dispersion was selected as extraction technique with recoveries of target analytes ranging from 73 to 127% for the four cereals analyzed. Limits of quantification obtained ranged from 0.8 to 5.8ngg-1. Compared with methods described for the analysis of antibiotics in cereals, the developed method uses a lower volume of extraction solvent and very good recoveries were obtained for all compounds. The validated method was applied to the analysis of different types of cereals samples, harvested from agricultural fields or purchased from local supermarkets. The analysis of the five cereal samples grown in fields with 3years of consecutive organic amendments revealed that none of the nineteen antibiotics selected were found in any sample. Eleven commercial samples of cereals of different types and presentations were analyzed and enrofloxacin was detected in one rice sample; the presence of enrofloxacin in cereals or its incorporation into crops from soil or water not previously reported. Graphical abstract.

Biogenic Amines Determination in “Plant Milks”

“Plant milks” are water-based beverages, such as, extracts from cereals, pseudo-cereals, oil seeds, legumes or fruits. Plant milk consumption is rising in European and North American markets due to problems related to cow milk allergies, intolerances, but also because of vegan diets and sensitivity to environmental issues. There is no specific regulation for these beverages, therefore their composition can vary considerably, even in the same category. The aim of this study is to characterize the main categories of cereal and pseudo-cereal milks on the market by studying the profile of 8 biogenic amines (histamine, serotonin, spermine, spermidine, putrescine, β-phenylethylamine, cadaverine, tyramine) through a RP-HPLC/FD method with a pre-column derivatization. Biogenic amines are ubiquitous compounds, produced by the decarboxylation of the respective amino acids and they have been proposed as quality and safety markers of different foods and beverages. In the analyzed samples, the total biogenic amines content ranged from a minimum of 1.92 mg/L, to a maximum of 9.27 mg/L. The main biogenic amine found in the samples was histamine. The results show a low content of biogenic amines in all types of analyzed products. This ensures the quality and safety of cereal and pseudo-cereal milk samples.

The effect of thermal processing on the reduction of deoxynivalenol and zearalenone cereal content

Fusarium mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEN) often contaminate cereals and cereal by-products. Certain thermal processing methods used in the food industry show promising results in terms of reduction of cereal contamination with mycotoxins. In order to establish the degree of DON and ZEN reduction in naturally contaminated cereals (maize, wheat and oat), this study investigated the effects of cooking, roasting and extrusion cooking, performed at different temperatures (100 – 220 °C) and for a different length of time (10 – 30 min) on these mycotoxins concentrations. Before and after the treatment, cereal samples were analysed for DON and ZEN concentrations using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In comparison to cooking, which achieved only a negligible mean mycotoxin reduction (of up to 8% for DON and 11% for ZEN), roasting and extrusion cooking resulted in a significantly more pronounced mycotoxin reduction (of up to 40% for DON &amp;amp; 46% for ZEN and of up to 75% for DON &amp;amp; 80% for ZEN, respectively) (p &amp;lt; 0.05). The results show similar effects of thermal processing on all of the studied cereals (p &amp;gt; 0.05), suggesting that extrusion cooking can be considered as an effective thermal method capable of reducing mycotoxin content in cereals.

Fusarium species and enniatin mycotoxins in wheat, durum wheat, triticale and barley harvested in France.

Contamination with enniatins A, A1, B and B1 was investigated in 1240 samples of small grain cereals (470 wheat, 260 durum wheat, 282 spring barley, 172 triticale and 56 winter barley) from the French harvests of 2012 to 2014. Associations with Fusarium avenaceum, F. tricinctum and F. poae were assessed, with the identification of Fusarium species by real-time PCR and mycotoxin quantification by LC-MS/MS. Enniatins were common in the fields sampled. Enniatin concentrations varied between years but were consistently highest on spring barley (mean values of 199 to 1316μg/kg) and triticale (mean values from 131 to 1218μg/kg), and lower on wheat (mean values from 47 to 142μg/kg) and durum wheat (mean values from 55 to 596μg/kg). The concentrations of the various enniatins were strongly correlated with each other (Pearson's correlation coefficient of 0.61 to 0.98). Enniatin B was the most frequent (68% of the total enniatin content), followed by enniatin B1 (22%), enniatin A1 (7%) and enniatin A (3%). Fusarium species were quantified by calculating arithmetic mean total DNA levels. F. tricinctum was the most abundant (0.177pg/ng total DNA), followed by F. avenaceum (0.141pg/ng total DNA) and F. poae (0.091pg/ng total DNA). Total DNA levels for each species, and the predominant species varied between years and crops. Small grain cereal species (p value < 0.001), harvest year (p value = < 0.001) and the presence of F. avenaceum (p value < 0.001), F. tricinctum (p value < 0.001) or F. poae (p value = 0.017) affected enniatin content. F. tricinctum was the leading enniatin producer on durum wheat (29% to 45%) and spring barley (23 to 37%). F. avenaceum produced large amounts of enniatins on durum wheat (13% to 17%) and wheat (1% to 18%) and was the leading producer on triticale (30% to 55%). F. poae made a minor contribution on all crops, never accounting for more than 2% of total enniatin content. Enniatins are, thus, highly prevalent in French small grain cereals and are mostly produced by F. avenaceum and F. tricinctum.

Determination of niacin profiles in some animal and plant based foods by high performance liquid chromatography: association with healthy nutrition.

Vitamin B3 (niacin) is essential for all living cells and plays a central role in energy metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation. Vitamin B3, a water-soluble vitamin, is present in the form of nicotinic acid and nicotinamide, a monocarboxylic acid derivative of pyridine. While nicotinic acid is commonly effective in lowering cholesterol levels, unlike nicotinic acid, nicotinamide is ineffective on lipids. Presence rates of nicotinic acid and nicotinamide, which are the available forms of vitamin B3, are different for each food. However, the studies in the literature are generally based on the analysis of total amount of vitamin B3 in foods and the studies determining the profile of vitamin B3 in foods are limited. The aim of the study was to determine the vitamin B3 profiles of 10 kinds of animal based food and 10 different plant based food samples. In this study, 10 kinds of animal based food samples consisting of veal (veal steak fillet), chicken (breast), turkey meat (thigh), goat meat (leg, belly), lamb (leg, back, arm), mutton (belly), bovine meat (loin) and 10 different plant based food samples namely; barley, rye, wheat (bread), wheat (durum), oat, rice, dried pea, green lentil, red lentil and chickpea were studied by high performance liquid chromatography using post-column derivatization system. The presence rates of nicotinic acid and nicotinamide were determined in the meat samples as 30% and 70% and as 87% and 13% in the cereal and legume samples, respectively. Nicotinic acid levels were found in low amounts in the meat samples. The amounts of nicotinic acid in the cereal and legume samples were significantly higher than the meat samples. Consequently, the plant based foods such as cereals and legumes, with a ratio of 87% nicotinic acid presence, standout as the best source of nicotinic acid and encouraging regular intake of those cereals and legumes containing rich nicotinic acid would remove nicotinic acid deficiency in human.

Graphene Adsorbent-Based Solid-Phase Extraction for Aflatoxins Clean-Up in Food Samples

In this research, graphene nanoparticles were used as an adsorbent for the extraction and pre-concentration of the aflatoxins (AFs) in rice and wheat samples. The graphene was synthesized according to the Hummer’s method, packed in empty SPE cartridges and different parameters affecting the efficiency of the process for the extraction of AFs were thoroughly investigated. The extracts were subsequently analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography and fluorescence detection (HPLC–FLD). Under the optimized conditions, limits of detection of 0.63, 0.47, 0.62 and 0.83 ng g−1 and limits of quantification of 1.92, 2.65, 1.88 and 2.83 ng g−1 were obtained for AFs B1, B2, G1 and G2, respectively. The accuracy was estimated by determination of the relative recoveries (RR%) and acceptable values obtained. The RR% values of 75.88–113.30 and 70.61–110.75 were obtained in cereal samples and at the spiked level of 2 and 5 ng g−1, respectively. Within-laboratory relative standard deviations (%RSDs) for repeatability (n = 6) were in the range of 2.14–3.17. The proposed new method can be applied for the separation and pre-concentration of the mentioned AFs in food samples with satisfactory results.

Development of an immunoassay for the detection of carbaryl in cereals based on a camelid variable heavy‐chain antibody domain

The variable domain of camelid heavy-chain antibodies (VHH) is increasingly being adapted to detect small molecules in various matrices. The insecticide carbaryl is widely used in agriculture while its residues have posed a threat to food safety and human health. VHHs specific for carbaryl were generated from an alpaca immunized with the hapten CBR1 coupled to keyhole limpet hemocyanin. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on the VHH C1 and the coating antigen CBR2-BSA was developed for the detection of carbaryl in cereals. This assay, using an optimized assay buffer (pH6.5) containing 10% methanol and 0.8% NaCl, has a half-maximum signal inhibition concentration of 5.4ng mL-1 and a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.3ng mL-1 for carbaryl, and shows low cross reactivity (≤0.8%) with other tested carbamates. The LOD of carbaryl using the VHH-based ELISA was 36 ng g-1 in rice and maize and 72 ng g-1 in wheat. Recoveries of carbaryl in spiked rice, maize and wheat samples were in the range of 81-106%, 96-106% and 83-113%, respectively. Relative standard deviations of repeatability and intra-laboratory reproducibility were in the range of 0.8-9.2% and 2.9-9.7%, respectively. The VHH-based ELISA was highly effective in detecting carbaryl in cereal samples after simple sample extraction and dilution. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Investigation and determination of acrylamide in the main group of cereal products using advanced microextraction method coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Cereal products as the main group of food diet have most important effect on human health. Acrylamide as a dangerous toxic compound has highly potential to be form in carbohydrates and proteins-rich foods at high temperature. In this research, we have successfully analyzed the amount of acrylamide in the important group of cereal products. Efficient, sensitive and selective microextraction technique has been applied to extract acrylamide from cereal samples. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry has been employed as powerful analytical instrument in the quantitation step. Parameters on the extraction procedure were studied and optimized using central composite design. The calibration curves showed high linearity (R2 = 0.998) in the range of 1–500 ng g−1. Limit of detection and limit of quantitation were obtained 0.6 ng g−1 and 2 ng g−1, respectively. The average acrylamide levels for wafer, traditional flat bread, biscuit, cracker, cake, cookie and industrial leavened bread were 233.94, 218.26, 200.67, 190.50, 186.39, 156.10 and 100.22 ng g−1 respectively. The acrylamide content in all tested sample was higher than 100 ng g−1. Wafer samples showed the highest amount of acrylamide. The composition of cereal sample and baking time and temperature have directly affected on acrylamide level in sample.

Characterization of short- and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins in cereals and legumes from 19 Chinese provinces

Short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) were added to the Stockholm Convention Annex A in May 2017. China is the largest producer of chlorinated paraffins (CPs). CPs in the environment can be transferred to foodstuffs directly and through bioaccumulation and then ingested by humans. Cereals and legumes are important components of Chinese diets, so the risks posed by CPs in cereals and legumes should be of concern. 1710 cereal samples and 1710 legume samples from 19 Chinese provinces were pooled by type and province (giving 19 pooled cereal and 19 pooled legume samples). The SCCP and medium-chain chlorinated paraffin (MCCP) concentrations in the samples were determined by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC-TOFMS). The mean SCCP concentrations in the cereal and legume samples were 343 and 328 ng g−1 wet weight (ww), respectively, and the mean MCCP concentrations were 213 and 184 ng g−1 ww, respectively. The dominant SCCP congener groups were C10Cl6–7 in cereals and C10Cl5–6 in legumes. The MCCP congener groups C14Cl6–7 were dominant in both cereals and legumes. The CP concentrations were higher in samples from eastern China than in samples from other regions. Risk assessments indicated that SCCPs and MCCPs in cereals and legumes do not pose strong risks to Chinese residents.

Determinations of 210Pb contents in food, diet, environmental samples and estimations of internal dose due to daily intakes

210Pb in food, diet and environmental samples collected in China during the period of 2015–2017 was analyzed and discussed in this study. The activity concentrations of 210Pb were measured by gamma spectrometry, the average of which in sea food, cereal, mushroom, duplicate diet, soil, sediment, biomass ash and aerosol samples were 1.22 ± 0.69 Bq kg−1 fresh weight, 2.77 ± 0.33 Bq kg−1 fresh weight, 8.2 Bq kg−1 dry weight, 1.21 Bq kg−1 dry weight, 172 ± 44 Bq kg−1 dry weight, 87.2 ± 39.2 Bq kg−1 dry weight, 140 ± 185 Bq kg−1 and 813 ± 520 μBq m−3, respectively. The results were higher than those observed in various countries except for seafood. The annual effective dose due to mushroom, duplicate diet and aerosol were estimated. Furthermore, the transfer factor (TF) of 210Pb from soil to some species of mushroom were also considered. This study provided useful data for radiation protection of the public.

Occurrence and Exposure Assessment of Aflatoxins and Deoxynivalenol in Cereal-Based Baby Foods for Infants.

Aflatoxins are carcinogenic to humans and deoxynivalenol causes digestive disorders, and both mycotoxins occur frequently in cereal-based foods. The purpose of this study was to investigate the occurrence and levels of aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1 and G2) and deoxynivalenol (DON) in cereal-based baby foods as well as to calculate the estimated daily intakes (EDI) in different stages of infancy. Sixty samples of infant cereals (wheat-, corn-, rice-, oat-, and mixed grain-based) were collected during a 2-year period and analyzed by validated methods. Aflatoxins were detected in 12 samples (20%), six of which exceeded the EU maximum level for aflatoxin B1 set at 0.10 µg/kg. Deoxynivalenol appeared in 20% of baby food samples, with one sample exceeding the EU maximum level established at 200 µg/kg. There were no significant differences between gluten-free products for babies aged 4–6 months and multi-cereal products for infants aged 7–12 months, nor between whole-grain-based and refined ingredients. However, baby food products of organic origin showed significantly higher levels of deoxynivalenol than conventional ones (p < 0.05). It is proposed for the health protection of infants and young children, a vulnerable group, to establish the lowest maximum level for the sum of aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1 and G2) in baby food.