Consumption Of Leafy Vegetables Research Articles

Uptake of tire-derived compounds in leafy vegetables and implications for human dietary exposure

IntroductionTire and road wear particles are one of the most abundant types of microplastic entering the environment. The toxicity of tire and road wear particles has been linked to their organic additives and associated transformation products. Tire and road wear particles, and associated tire-derived compounds are introduced to the agricultural environment via atmospheric deposition, irrigation with reclaimed wastewater, and the use of biosolids (treated sewage sludge) as fertilizer. In the agricultural environment, these tire-derived compounds could be taken up by edible plants, leading to human exposure.MethodsSixteen tire-derived compounds were measured in twenty-eight commercial leafy vegetable samples from four countries. Based on the results, the estimated daily intake of these tire-derived compounds was calculated due to leafy vegetable consumption based on local diets under a mean and maximum concentration scenario.ResultsIn commercial leafy vegetables, six tire-derived compounds were detected: benzothiazole (maximum concentration—238 ng/g dry weight), 2-hydroxybenzothiazole (maximum concentration—665 ng/g dry weight), 1,3-diphenylguanidine (maximum concentration—2.1 ng/g dry weight), N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N′-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD, maximum concentration—0.4 ng/g dry weight), N-Isopropyl-N-phenyl-4-phenylenediamine (IPPD, maximum concentration—0.1 ng/g dry weight), and N-phenyl-N-cyclohexyl-p-phenylenediamine (CPPD, maximum concentration—0.3 ng/g dry weight). At least one compound was present in 71% of samples analyzed. The estimated daily intake for 1,3-diphenylguanidine ranged from 0.05 ng/person/day in the mean scenario to 4.0 ng/person/day in the maximum scenario; benzothiazole ranged from 12 to 1,296 ng/person/day; 6PPD ranged from 0.06 to 2.6 ng/person/day; IPPD ranged from 0.04 to 1.1 ng/person/day; CPPD ranged from 0.05 to 2.6 ng/person/day.DiscussionStatistical analyses did not reveal correlation between known growth conditions and tire-derived compound concentrations in the leafy vegetable samples. The estimated daily intake via leafy vegetable consumption was generally lower than or comparable to the estimated daily intake via other known sources. However, we show that tire-derived compounds are taken up by foodstuff, and exposure might be higher for other produce. Future studies are needed to uncover pathways of tire-derived compounds from road to food, assess the exposure to transformation products, and investigate the biological effects associated with this exposure.

Assessment of potential health risks associated with heavy metal concentrations in leafy vegetables in Kerman, Iran

ABSTRACT Despite the growing awareness of the nutritional benefits of leafy vegetables, there is a lack of information about the presence of heavy metals and the associated risks in these products. This study aimed to investigate the concentration of heavy metals in leafy vegetables in Kerman City. The research also assessed the intake of heavy metals and the associated drisks for children and adults who consume these vegetables. The study followed the recommended methods by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to evaluate both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic diseases. A total of 400 leafy vegetable samples, including parsley, coriander, Persian leek, and basil, were randomly collected from agricultural farms in the outskirts of Kerman City. The samples were analysed using a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer to measure the concentrations of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), iron (Fe), and copper(Cu). The results revealed that the levels of heavy metals in leafy vegetable samples exceeded the recommended standards set by international organisations such as FAO/WHO, European countries, and Iran. The total target hazard quotient (THQ) for non-carcinogenic diseases resulting from the consumption of leafy vegetables was higher than one for both children and adults in all studied areas, indicating a potential risk of non-carcinogenic diseases associated with the consumption of these vegetables. Furthermore, the average Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk (ILCR) resulting from exposure to agricultural soil through leafy vegetable consumption exceeded the hazardous and unacceptable range of 104− × 10−6 in both children and adults. This suggests the possibility of carcinogenic diseases caused by Pb and Cd through the consumption of leafy vegetables in all studied areas, with a higher overall risk observed in children compared to adults. In conclusion, while leafy vegetables are widely recognised for their nutritional benefits, our study underscores a critical gap in understanding the presence of heavy metals and the associated risks in these products. The findings reveal that the concentrations of heavy metals in leafy vegetables from Kerman City exceed international standards, posing potential health risks, particularly in children. Further research and regulatory actions are warranted to address this pressing issue and ensure the safety of our food supply.

Risk assessment of trace elements in vegetables grown in river Yamuna floodplain in Delhi.

Urban agriculture is common in fertile river floodplains of many developing countries. However, there is a risk of contamination in highly polluted regions. This study quantifies health risks associated with the consumption of vegetables grown in the floodplain of the urban river 'Yamuna' in the highly polluted yet data-scarce megacity Delhi, India. Six trace elements are analyzed in five kinds of vegetable samples. Soil samples from the cultivation area are also analyzed for elemental contamination. Ni, Mn, and Co are observed to be higher in leafy vegetables than others. Fruit and inflorescence vegetables are found to have higher concentrations of Cr, Pb, and Zn as compared to root vegetables. Transfer Factor indicates that Cr and Co have the highest and least mobility, respectively. Vegetable Pollution Index indicates that contamination levels follow as Cr > Ni > Pb > Zn. Higher Metal Pollution Index of leafy and inflorescence vegetables than root and fruit vegetables indicate that atmospheric deposition is the predominant source. Principal Component Analysis indicates that Pb and Cr have similar sources and patterns in accumulation. Among the analyzed vegetables, radish may pose a non-carcinogenic risk to the age group of 1-5year. Carcinogenic risk is found to be potentially high due to Ni and Cr accumulation. Consumption of leafy vegetables was found to have relatively less risk than other vegetables due to lower Cr accumulation. Remediation of Cr and Ni in floodplain soil and regular monitoring of elemental contamination is a priority.

Enrichment, Bioaccumulation and Health Risks of Trace Metals in Soils and Leafy Vegetables Grown on the Banks of the Ugandan Lifeline River, River Rwizi

Urban vegetable farming in wetlands and riverbanks are common features of Ugandan cities. However, urbanization has led to various anthropogenic activities that can lead to the pollution of water resources, enrichment of pollutants in soils and, consequently, pollutant bioaccumulation in edible tissues of plants cultivated on such soils. In this study, we report on the levels of six trace metals (TMTs) in 75 samples of leafy vegetables (Brassica oleracea L., Spinacia oleracea L., Amaranthus hybridus L., Cucurbita pepo L. and Solanum nigrum L.) and soils (n = 75) grown on the banks of River Rwizi, the second longest river in Uganda only after the Nile River. The concentrations of TMTs (Mn, Zn, Cd, Pb, Cr and Cu) in edible vegetable tissues and soils were quantified using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The mean concentrations (in mg kg−1) of the TMTs in the soil samples were 205–373.84 (Mn), 12.72–65.04 (Zn), 0.26–0.42 (Cd), 3.36–16.80 (Pb), 5.96–25.06 (Cr) and 2.83–35.27 (Cu). In vegetable samples, the concentrations ranged from 43.25 to 110.00 (Mn), 1.08 to 1.83 (Cd), 41.06 to 71.20 (Zn), 4.31 to 6.16 (Pb), 0.65 to 0.81 (Cr) and 5.70 to 14.35 (Cu). With the exception of Mn and Cr, the rest of the TMTs were bioaccumulated in the edible vegetable tissues (bioconcentration factors = 1.03 to 10.71). Considering chronic daily intake through ingestion, dermal contact and inhalation of the TMTs in soils from the banks of River Rwizi, there are no potential non-cancer and carcinogenic health effects that could be experienced in both adults and children. Consumption of leafy vegetables could pose both non-cancer health risks (from ingestion of Zn, Pb, Cr, Mn and Cd) and cancer health risks (due to intake of Cd) in both children and adults. There is therefore a need to enforce regulations to mitigate the pollution of River Rwizi for a more sustainable economic development.

A Review on the Nutritional Value of Some Leafy Vegetables used in India

This review explores the nutritional profiles of leafy vegetables commonly used in Indian cuisine, emphasizing their significance in promoting human health and well-being. Leafy greens play a pivotal role in traditional Indian diets, contributing essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. The low calorific value of leafy vegetables makes them ideal for human weight balance. The good nutrition profile of leafy vegetables are beneficial in reducing the risk of major diseases such as cardiovascular and cancer. Anti nutritional factors are chemical compounds in plant tissues, which deter the absorption of nutrients in humans. From all the findings it was suggested that consumption of leafy vegetables fulfills the nutrition reqiurements and avoid from malnutrition.

Case reports of tropane alkaloid contamination in spinach from Italy and its potential implications for consumer health

This study reports cases of intoxication that occurred in various regions of Italy in October 2022. These incidents were linked to the consumption of leafy vegetables contaminated with tropane alkaloids (TAs), likely due to suspected cross-contamination with toxic plants from the Datura genus. Although official controls were unable to identify the specific weed responsible for the contamination, chemical analysis of the remaining spinach and spinach-based foods consumed by the affected patients revealed concentrations of atropine and scopolamine up to 4642 μg/kg and 8158 μg/kg, respectively. While European regulations currently lack maximum limits for TAs in leafy vegetables, the concentrations detected in 4 out of 5 samples exceeded the maximum limits currently established for cereal-based foods, infant cereal-based foods, and herbal infusions.To assess the acute dietary exposure to atropine and scopolamine, estimated daily intakes of the Italian population were calculated using the TA concentrations measured in spinach samples or assuming the presence of 1 % of the weight of one Datura stramonium leaf in a 500 g spinach pouch. Both exposure scenarios resulted in concerning exposure levels, far exceeding the acute reference dose of 0.016 μg/kg bw by 2–1200 times. Toddlers exhibited the highest mean and 95th percentile acute dietary exposures compared to adults and the elderly. These findings emphasize the necessity of intensifying monitoring efforts and enacting regulatory measures to minimize exposure to TAs from dietary sources that are less commonly associated with contamination, especially for mitigating potential health risks for vulnerable population groups.

Health risk assessment associated with consumption of heavy metal-contaminated vegetables: A case study in the southern area of Northeast Thailand

This study aims to determine the amount of lead exposure and investigate the health hazards linked to the consumption of leafy vegetables contaminated with lead and cadmium. It focuses on a specific case study conducted in the southern region of Northeast Thailand. Five types of leafy vegetables, including Chinese kale, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, lettuce, and parsley, were collected from the Southern Northeast region of Thailand. The vegetable consumption of 3,831 individuals was calculated. The results showed that Chinese kale had the highest average lead contamination (0.009±0.015 mg/kg DW), followed by Chinese cabbage (0.005±0.01 mg/kg DW), cabbage (0.004±0.003 mg/kg DW), lettuce (0.003±0.003 mg/kg DW), and parsley (0.001±0.01 mg/kg DW), respectively. The evaluation results indicated that the margin of safety values for leafy vegetable consumption ranged between 4.49731E-05 and 0.04550, suggesting no major health risks. Based on geographical information, the lowest altitude was 95 m in the Warin Chamrap District of Ubon Ratchathani Province, while the highest was 450 m in the Pak Chong District of Chum Klat, Nakhon Ratchasima Province. Therefore, people in the Southern Northeast region of Thailand should be encouraged to cultivate vegetables for their own consumption based on the season, and hydroponic systems should be utilized. It is important to assess and monitor the levels of heavy metals in the vegetables intended for consumptions and potential adverse effects on the environment and, consequently, human health. When choosing vegetables, it is advisable for consumers to exercise prudence and choose produce sourced from reputable cultivation facilities. Additionally, to prevent the accumulation of pollutants that could result in long-term health effects, it is prudent to vary their vegetable intake. The data obtained can be used in remediation techniques and to implement control measures for heavy metal contamination in vegetables.

Contamination and health risks brought by arsenic, lead and cadmium in a water-soil-plant system nearby a non-ferrous metal mining area

Heavy metal(loid)s contamination prevails in the water-soil-plant system around non-ferrous metal mining areas. The present study aimed to evaluate the heavy metal(loid)s contamination in Nandan Pb-Zn mining area (Guangxi, China). A total of 36 river water samples, 75 paired paddy soil and rice samples, and 128 paired upland soil and plant samples were collected from this area. The concentrations of arsenic (As), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd) in these samples were measured. Results showed that the average water quality indexes (WQIs) at the 12 sampling sites along the main river ranged from 41 to 5008, indicating the water qualities decreasing from “Excellent” to “Undrinkable”. The WQIs nearby tailings or industrial park were significantly higher than those at the other sites. 34.0% and 64.5% of soil samples exceeded the risk screening values for As and Cd. The Pb and Cd concentrations in all rice samples exceeded the Chinese food safety limits by 18.7% and 82.7%, respectively. Leafy vegetables had a higher concentration of As, Pb, and Cd than other vegetables, exceeding the maximum permissible limits by 14.1%, 61.2%, and 40.0%, respectively. The biological accumulation coefficient (BAC) of Cd was the highest in rice and lettuce leaves. The hazard quotients (HQs) of As and Cd, indicating non-carcinogenic risks, were 4.15 and 1.76 in adult males, and 3.40 and 1.45 in adult females, all higher than the permitted level (1.0). The carcinogenic probabilities of As and Cd from rice and leafy vegetables consumption were all higher than 1 × 10−4. We conclude that metal(loid)s contamination of the water-soil-plant system has posed great non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks to the local population.

Clinical and neuroimaging factors associated with 30-day fatality among indigenous West Africans with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage

BackgroundSpontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is associated with a high case fatality rate in resource-limited settings. The independent predictors of poor outcome after ICH in sub-Saharan Africa remains to be characterized in large epidemiological studies. We aimed to determine factors associated with 30-day fatality among West African patients with ICH. MethodsThe Stroke Investigative Research and Educational Network (SIREN) study is a multicentre, case-control study conducted at 15 sites in Nigeria and Ghana. Adults aged ≥18 years with spontaneous ICH confirmed with neuroimaging. Demographic, cardiovascular risk factors, clinical features and neuroimaging markers of severity were assessed. The independent risk factors for 30-day mortality were determined using a multivariate logistic regression analysis with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). ResultsAmong 964 patients with ICH, 590 (61.2%) were males with a mean age (SD) of 54.3(13.6) years and a case fatality of 34.3%. Factors associated with 30-day mortality among ICH patients include: Elevated mean National Institute of Health Stroke Scale(mNIHSS);(OR 1.06; 95% CI 1.02–1.11), aspiration pneumonitis; (OR 7.17; 95% CI 2.82–18.24), ICH volume > 30mls; OR 2.68; 95% CI 1.02–7.00)) low consumption of leafy vegetables (OR 0.36; 95% CI 0.15–0.85). ConclusionThis study identified risk and protective factors associated with 30-day mortality among West Africans with spontaneous ICH. These factors should be further investigated in other populations in Africa to enable the development of ICH mortality predictions models among indigenous Africans.

Elemental levels in frequently consumed local leafy vegetables from three villages with chronic kidney disease prevalence

Studies on elemental levels in frequently consumed local edibles in any region with a localized disease are meaningful. The present study has identified the levels of 24 elements in nine (6 cultivated and 3 wild) frequently consumed local leafy vegetables from three chronic kidney disease prevalent villages (a total 27samples) using ICP-MS. The comparison of obtained levels of these elements with WHO/FAO permissible values reveals the levels of Ba in all the tested samples, Pb in 15 samples is in excess, whereas Fe and Zn levels are below the required levels, and the other elements are in the permissible levels. Among the 27 tested samples, a high level of Ba was found in Allium cepa of L3, and Pb was in Amaranthus viridis of L2. Among the leafy vegetables Allium cepa from L3 and Amaranthus viridis from L2 showed high levels of Ba and Pb, respectively. In the three locations studied, average Ba and Pb levels are found more in Borivanka (L3) followed by Kusumapuram (L1) and Varaka (L2). Ba levels are excess in both cultivated and wild leafy vegetables, while Pb levels are slightly higher in cultivated than the wild leafy vegetables, which may be due to the usage of chemical pesticides and fertilizers. The present study signifies that frequent consumption of such leafy vegetables may influence the renal functioning in this area, along with other factors like drinking water, other edibles.

Survey Study Of Spontaneous Wild Leafy Vegetables Consumed By The Indigenous Batwa People Living In The Equatorial Forest Near The City Of Mbandaka/DR Congo

This work focuses on the importance of leafy vegetables consumed in 3 localities BOLENGE, BANTOY and BOYEKA 1 and BOYEKA 2 located in the equatorial forest near the city of Mbandaka (DR Congo). The objective of this study is to identify the main spontaneous leafy vegetables gathered by the indigenous Batua people and to carry out a food and nutritional characterization. On the one hand, an ethnonutritional survey on eating habits was conducted among this indigenous Batua population, consumers of spontaneous leafy vegetables. The leafy greens that were investigated are: Ipomea batatas (L) Lam , Solanum aethiopicum L., Talinum triangulare ( jacq ) Wild, Amaranthus viridis L.; Hibiscus Sabdariffa , Manihot esculenta L. Grantz , Colocasia esculanta (L) Schot , Cecropia concolor miq , Lasimonda senegalensis schott , Erythroccoca atrovinens (Pax) Prain , Celosia trigyra L. On the one hand, a survey was conducted among 200 households with reference to some ethnonutritional data on the use and consumption of these leafy vegetables. The results reveal that these leafy vegetables are consumed in descending order by adults whose average age is over 40 years old (50.5%), followed by people whose age is between 30 and 40 years old (32%) and young people whose age is less than or equal to 30 years (17.5%). From the education point of view of the respondents, the most represented class is made up of people with no schooling (50%), followed successively by those with secondary schooling (25%), primary (23.5%) and higher (1 .5%). The socio-demographic analysis reveals that females are the majority consumers of these spontaneous vegetables (52.5%) against (47.5%) males in the 3 villages. The marital status of respondents reveals that married people are the most represented (60.5%). Slightly more than a third of people surveyed (34%) work as a lumberjack. The average percentage of consumption of leafy vegetables of these three villages ( Bolenge , Bantoy , Boyeka ) reveals that the population of Bolenge consumes more leafy vegetables (15.32%) compared to Bantoy (11.9%) and Boyeka (5.36%). Endogenous knowledge of the virtues of three most consumed leafy vegetables ( Ipomea batatas (L) Lam , Solanum aethiopicum L., Talinum triangulare ( jacq ) Wild) in the three villages, reveals that the population of Boyeka presents a higher knowledge (39.3%) than Bantoy (24.66%) and Bolenge (14%). It is observed that knowledge of the nutritional value of leafy vegetables does not correspond to the consuming population of the village, except in the Bolenge village.Mots clés : chenilles, éléments minéraux, micronutriments, insectes comestibles, oligoéléments

Levels of Heavy Metals and Potential Human Health Risks via Consumption of Leafy Vegetables Purchased in Popular Local Market in Lagos, Nigeria

Levels of Heavy Metals and Potential Human Health Risks via Consumption of Leafy Vegetables Purchased in Popular Local Market in Lagos, Nigeria

The Role of Traditional Leafy Vegetables on Household Food Security in Umdoni Municipality of the KwaZulu Natal Province, South Africa.

This study assessed the effect of traditional leafy vegetables (TLVs) on the level of food security in the rural area of Dlangezwa, in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. A total of 100 respondents were selected using a simple random sampling method. The Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) was used to measure the food security status. The influence of TLVs on household food security was examined using an ordered logit model. Pumpkin leaves and blackjack were the most consumed traditional leafy vegetables in the study area, at 97% and 81%, respectively. The results from HFIAS showed that 17% of the households were food secure, 44% were mild food insecure, 26% were moderately food insecure and 13% were severely food insecure. The results from the chi2 test showed that there was a significant correlation between the intake of cowpeas (p = 0.02), blackjack (p = 0.01), and moringa (p = 0.02) with the degree of household food security in the surveyed houses. The ordered logit model's findings indicated that consumption of leafy vegetables, educational attainment, employment status, and marital status all had a substantial impact on the food insecurity of the households. The marital status of a household showed a positive and significant impact on the food insecurity situation, while educational level, employment status, and consumption of leafy vegetables showed a negative and significant impact. For enhanced household food security, there is a need for initiatives that encourage the use of a wide range of traditional leafy vegetables such as Moringa oleifera, Amaranthus, and cowpeas. More awareness should be made regarding the nutritional benefits that TLVs have.

Increasing green leafy vegetable consumption through street food dishes in Lagos, Nigeria

PurposeDespite its health benefits, vegetable consumption is low in urban Nigeria. Interventions have been successful in increasing urban Nigerians' vegetable intake in the home environment, but interventions doing so for popular out-of-home consumption are lacking. This study aimed to design, implement and assess an intervention to increase the vegetable intake of urban Nigerians through street foods.Design/methodology/approachA quasi-experimental design was applied in Lagos, Nigeria. During the intervention, 12 trained street food vendors (SFVs) actively promoted the health benefits of vegetables to their customers (using marketing statements and posters) and provided the option to buy an additional green leafy vegetables (GLVs) side dish to their meal. Purchases were observed, and a survey was conducted before and during the intervention to measure perceived meal quality and satisfaction. Six to eight weeks after the intervention, a mystery shopper visited the vendor to assess if they were still selling additional GLVs.FindingsAlmost half (46%) of the 1,506 observed customers bought additional GLVs during the intervention. Both at baseline (N = 452) and during intervention (N = 564), meal satisfaction was high. Users were on average more educated and older than non-users. Most vendors did not perceive the sale of additional GLVs as additional work. Six to eight weeks after the intervention, nine vendors (75%) were still selling additional GLVs.Originality/valueThis study showed that SFVs informing consumers on the potential health benefits of vegetables and offering these vegetables in street food dishes at a commercially viable price is an interesting option to increase vegetable intake.

Carbon dots-based fluorescent probe for the detection of imidacloprid residue in leafy vegetables

Consumption of leafy vegetables with excessive imidacloprid (IMI) can cause serious harm to the human body. To achieve rapid IMI detection, a carbon dots (CDs)-based fluorescent (FL) probe was hydrothermally prepared using O-phenylenediamine as the precursor. The morphology, particle size distribution, crystal structure, optics and chemical bond state of the as-prepared CDs were characterized. The mechanism of the CDs in detecting IMI was investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and the CDs’ selectivity, stability, sensitivity, and actual sample recovery were tested. The CDs showed good selectivity, stability, and anti-interference ability. Under optimum conditions, there was a strong linear relationship between the FL intensity of the CDs and the IMI concentration in the range of 0.037–0.2 mg/L. The detection limit was 0.00187 mg/kg. The CDs were successfully applied to detect IMI in lettuce, cole, spinach, and pakchoi with spiked recoveries between 81.026% and 106.803% and a relative standard deviation between 0.001 and 0.027%.

Recall of residential history and dietary habits during pregnancy and lactation in the distant past: reliability of questionnaire-based radiation doses for persons exposed in utero and early life.

This study evaluates the reliability of information obtained by standardized questionnaires used in by personal interviews for estimation of radiation thyroid doses of 1065 individuals in the Belarusian cohort of individuals who were exposed in utero and early life following the Chernobyl accident in April 1986. Data from two interviews conducted in 2012-2017 and in 2018-2022 with mothers, who were pregnant or gave birth shortly after the Chernobyl accident, were analysed. The most reliable answers dealt with various attributes related to residential history. In contrast, the reliability of answers regarding consumption rates of milk from privately owned cows or trade network was moderate, while the agreement in responses for consumption of milk products and leafy vegetables was fair. Information from the two interviews was used to calculate thyroid doses received by the cohort members. Specifically, 'model-based' thyroid doses due to 131I were estimated using input data on individual residential history and food consumption reported during the personal interviews and ecological data (131I ground deposition in the corresponding settlements). In addition, for a subset of cohort subjects (n = 205) whose mothers were measured for 131I thyroid activity, 'measurement-based' thyroid doses were calculated by adjusting the model-based dose using a scaling factor that is defined as the ratio of measured 131I thyroid activity to model-based 131I thyroid activity calculated for the date of measurement. A moderate agreement was observed for total (prenatal and postnatal) model-based thyroid doses due to 131I intake, the arithmetic mean ± standard deviation for the Jaccard similarity coefficient ([Formula: see text]) was 0.45 ± 0.34 (median = 0.39), while measurement-based doses showed a much better agreement with a [Formula: see text] of 0.78 ± 0.29 (median = 0.93). For model-based thyroid doses from external irradiation and from ingestion of 134Cs and 137Cs, [Formula: see text] was 0.82 ± 0.23 (median = 0.90) and 0.84 ± 0.24 (median = 0.96), respectively. Measurement-based doses due to ingestion of radiocaesium isotopes resulted in an almost perfect agreement, [Formula: see text] was 0.91 ± 0.19 (median = 1.0). The present findings suggest that long-term memory recall can be reliable, if a person is asked about unique or important life events, such as pregnancy and childbirth occurring around the time of a nuclear reactor accident. However, the substantial difference (more than 10 times) observed for model-bases doses calculated using the two questionnaires represents an important source of human factor uncertainties that needs to be considered in any dose response analyses. Other lessons learned from this study are that (i) individual measurements of radionuclides in the human body are the most valuable source of information for estimating radiation doses, and (ii) whenever a radiation accident occurs, a sample of affected people should be asked to keep a diary, if at all possible.

Food security and resilience: An experimental study of household food consumption in the central region of Mali

Mali is a Sahelian country and structurally vulnerable to food insecurity and malnutrition caused by the recent humanitarian crises the country has faced. The aim of the present study was to assess household food consumption and identify the essential determinants for increasing household dietary diversity and improving one of the pillars of food security for local populations in the locality of Bankass and Koro. The data from the household survey around 1396 households was subjected to an ordinal probit model to perform the econometric analysis. The results showed that the evaluation of household consumption was necessary to properly guide the household food basket in decision making. Our analysis showed a statistically significant relationship for households in Koro at 1% for households that consume fruit, meat and dairy products at Bankass, leaves, sour foods, oil and fats are also consumed by very few households, but only fruit at the 5% and 10% thresholds. However, households in the study area have access to five food groups to ensure their household food consumption. A total demand for cereals, tubers and vegetables was observed to be unavailable to households. About 90% are not able to satisfy the essential food needs of their household. In conclusion the base of daily meals is essentially composed of cereals, fats, sugars and condiments and complemented by the consumption of animal proteins and leafy vegetables. Opportunities for diversifying household diets in a crisis or shock situation in a community still remains an issue despite the humanitarian response households need to support their socio-economic reintegration.

Evaluation of Essential, Toxic and Potentially Toxic Elements in Leafy Vegetables Grown in the Canary Islands.

Forty-seven elements in leafy green vegetables were studied to estimate the daily intakes from this food category in different scenarios (average and high consumers) and age groups of the Canary Islands population. The contribution of the consumption of each type of vegetable to the reference intakes of essential, toxic and potentially toxic elements was assessed and the risk-benefit ratio was evaluated. The leafy vegetables that provide the highest levels of elements are spinach, arugula, watercress and chard. While spinach, chard, arugula, lettuce sprouts and watercress were the leafy vegetables with the highest concentrations of essential elements (38,743 ng/g of Fe in spinach, 3733 ng/g of Zn in watercress), the high levels of Mn in chard, spinach and watercress are noteworthy. Among the toxic elements, Cd is the element with the highest concentration, followed by As and Pb. The vegetable with the highest concentration of potentially toxic elements (Al, Ag, Be, Cr, Ni, Sr and V) is spinach. In average adult consumers, while the greatest contribution of essential elements comes from arugula, spinach and watercress, insignificant dietary intakes of potentially toxic metals are observed. Toxic metal intakes from the consumption of leafy vegetables in the Canary Islands do not show significant values, so the consumption of these foods does not pose a health risk. In conclusion, the consumption of leafy vegetables provides significant levels of some essential elements (Fe, Mn, Mo, Co and Se), but also of some potentially toxic elements (Al, Cr and Tl). A high consumer of leafy vegetables would see their daily nutritional needs regarding Fe, Mn, Mo, and Co covered, although they are also exposed to moderately worrying levels of Tl. To monitor the safety of dietary exposure to these metals, total diet studies on those elements with dietary exposures above the reference values derived from the consumption of this food category, mainly Tl, are recommended.

An Exploration of the Consumption of Indigenous Vegetables in Informal Settlements in the West Coast District Municipality, Western Cape Province, South Africa

Problems affecting the access and consumption of indigenous vegetables in developing countries are related to a decline in cultivation and consumption. The aim of this article was to investigate the consumption of indigenous leafy vegetables in rural and informal settlements of the West Coast District Municipality, Western Cape, South Africa. The majority of the respondents were females (69.8%) aged 35 years or less (64.3%) and were mostly black individuals (90.7%). The majority of respondents (76.1%) had no formal education, and only 20% had a matric qualification. The most accessed crops of indigenous leafy vegetables were sweet potato (82.4%), melons (80.5%), pumpkin (77.6%) and cowpeas (46.3%). The vast majority of respondents (92.6%) consumed indigenous leafy vegetables. The consumption of indigenous leafy vegetables was associated with the ethnicity and the age of the respondents. Indigenous leafy vegetables constitute an important part of the diet of the people of this community and although they are available in local retail outlets, many people are not cultivating them in subsistence farming. It is recommended that the cultivation and consumption of indigenous leafy vegetables should be promoted in this area.

Aquaculture sediments amended with biochar improved soil health and plant growth in a degraded soil

Sustainable and safe management of aquaculture sediments is of great concern. Biochar (BC) and fishpond sediments (FPS) are rich in organic carbon and nutrients and thus can be used as soil amendments; however, it is not fully explored how the biochar amended fishpond sediments can affect soil properties/fertility and modulate plant physiological and biochemical changes, particularly under contamination stress. Therefore, a comprehensive investigation was carried out to explore the effects of FPS and BC-treated FPS (BFPS) on soil and on spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) grown in chromium (Cr) contaminated soils. Addition of FPS and BFPS to soil caused an increase in nutrients content and reduced Cr levels in soil, which consequently resulted in a significant increase in plant biomass, chlorophyll pigments, and photosynthesis, over the control treatment. The most beneficial effect was observed with the BFPS applied at 35 %, which further increased the antioxidant enzymes (by 2.75-fold, at minimum), soluble sugars by 24.9 %, and upregulated the gene expression activities. However, the same treatment significantly decreased proline content by 74.9 %, Malondialdehyde by 65.6 %, H2O2 by 65.1 %, and Cr concentration in spinach root and shoot tissues. Moreover, the average daily intake analysis showed that BFPS (at 35 %) could effectively reduce human health risks associated with Cr consumption of leafy vegetables. In conclusion, these findings are necessary to provide guidelines for the reutilization of aquaculture sediments as an organic fertilizer and a soil amendment for polluted soils. However, more future field studies are necessary to provide guidelines and codes on aquaculture sediments reutilization as organic fertilizer and soil amendment for polluted soils, aiming for a more sustainable food system in China and globally, with extended benefits to the ecosystem and human.