Maximum Tolerable Limit Research Articles

Mineral concentration in citrus peel flours

Citrus fruits are known for their health benefits but managing processing waste is a challenge. Extracting bioactive compounds from these residues to create new products is promising, but mineral analysis is essential for food safety. The objective of this study was to analyze how the methodology for obtaining flour from sweet passion fruit peel, Tahiti lime, Murcott tangerine, and pearl pineapple influences the amounts of minerals Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Cr, and to determine the presence of these minerals in flours according to the defined limits. Maceration demonstrated a significant reduction in mineral content, such as iron, zinc, manganese, copper, and chromium, in the flours of lime and tangerine peels and passion fruit albedo. There was an increase in mineral levels after this process, such as zinc in passion fruit flavedo flour and manganese in tangerine and pineapple peels. Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Cr were respectively determined in 100g-1 in flours, from lime peel: 3,696mg; 1,273mg; 22,834mg, 0.422mg; 1104.945 μg; tangerine peel: 1,322mg; 2,560mg; 13,571mg; 0.236mg; passion fruit albedo: 8,596mg; 6,480mg; 76,003mg; 1,031mg; passion fruit flavedo 8,609mg; 3,363mg; 86,167mg; 2,317mg; in pineapple skin: 12,181mg; 0.704mg; 71,018mg; *mg; 2224.215 μg. Cr was not determined in the flours: albedo and flavedo from passion fruit, and tangerine and Cu from pineapple peel. Flours are sources of minerals but must be consumed with caution due to high quantities that can exceed the maximum tolerable intake limits.

Quantitative risk assessment for aflatoxins in beans from northern Tanzania

Abstract The study focussed on quantitative risk assessment for population exposure to aflatoxins by consuming beans from bean farmers in three villages; Long, Sabilo and Seloto in Babati District, Northern Tanzania. Aflatoxin levels were determined in a total of 144 bean samples; a total of 38 samples were collected from harvesting beans, while 106 samples were collected from stored beans. This kind of assessment allows modelling bean consumption data (kg/kg body weight (bw)/day) using an estimated average weight of an adult of 60 kg with previously collected data for total aflatoxin (AF) contamination (μg/kg) beans samples from the 2013/14 survey. Consumption was estimated by using the minimum annual per capita consumption of beans in Tanzania of 13.02 kg (which is equivalent to 35.67 g/day) and the exposure assessment was performed with the @RISK analysis software. Results from the assessment showed exposure for lower bound (LB) having a mean value of 1.06, 0.79 and 0.95 ng/kg bw/day in Long, Sabilo and Seloto villages, respectively, while for the medium bound (MB) the mean values were 1.33, 1.07 and 1.26 ng/kg bw/day, respectively, and for the upper bound (UB) the values were 1.65, 1.38 and 1.58 ng/kg bw/day, respectively. The margins of exposure (MoE) from this study were below 10,000 for all scenarios and this is of public health concern. Even though all samples had aflatoxin contamination below the maximum tolerable limit (MTL) of 4, 10 and 20 μg/kg for aflatoxins in cereals and pulses in the EU, the East African Community (EAC) and the USA, there is still a serious long-term health implication. Meeting MTL will not by itself guarantee food safety, but using the data collected and available on various health effects from aflatoxin and other mycotoxins, it is important to incorporate them into a risk assessment and show how excessive consumption of foods meets MTLs can still carry significant public health risks.

Occurrence of aflatoxins in organic rice produced and commercialized in Brazil

Since rice is one of the most important cereals for the human diet worldwide, and its organic production has increased over the last years, the objective of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of aflatoxins in samples of organic rice produced and sold in Brazil, and to determine the average probable daily intake (APDI) of aflatoxins due to the consumption of organic rice. Sixty samples were analyzed for aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2 using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results demonstrated that 8.3% of brown rice samples showed levels from 0.13 to 1.24 μg/kg considering the sum of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2, while one sample (8.33%) of polished rice and one sample (33.34%) of red rice presented levels of 0.11 μg/kg and 0.16 μg/kg for AFB1 and AFG2, respectively. According to the Factor Analysis of Mixed Data (FAMD), AFB1 and AFG1 had the highest occurrence in samples, and the rice type was the qualitative variable with the greatest intensity, showing that the rice manufacturing process can influence the levels of aflatoxins found in grains. The APDI value was 0.004 μg/kg b.w./day for the sum of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2, indicating that daily consumption of contaminated rice may pose a risk of hepatocarcinogenicity. Although the concentrations of aflatoxins found in the present study did not exceed the maximum tolerable limit recommended by Brazilian regulations (5 μg/kg for cereals), additional studies are necessary to obtain a vast database for the occurrence of aflatoxins in organic rice and, thus, to establish new tolerable limits avoiding risks for consumer health.

Numerical and Thermal Response of the Bacterivorous Ciliate Colpidium kleini, a Species Potentially at Risk of Extinction by Rising Water Temperatures

We investigated the food-dependent growth and thermal response of the freshwater ciliate Colpidium kleini using numerical response (NR) experiments. This bacterivorous ciliate occurs in lotic water and the pelagial of lakes and ponds. The C. kleini strain used in this work was isolated from a small alpine lake and identified by combining detailed morphological inspections with molecular phylogeny. Specific growth rates (rmax) were measured from 5 to 21 °C. The ciliate did not survive at 22 °C. The threshold bacterial food levels (0.3 − 2.2 × 106 bacterial cells mL−1) matched the bacterial abundance in the alpine lake from which C. kleini was isolated. The food threshold was notably lower than previously reported for C. kleini and two other Colpidium species. The threshold was similar to levels reported for oligotrich and choreotrich ciliates if expressed in terms of bacterial biomass (0.05 − 0.43 mg C L−1). From the NR results, we calculated physiological mortality rates at zero food concentration. The mean mortality (0.55 ± 0.17 d−1) of C. kleini was close to the mean estimate obtained for other planktonic ciliates that do not encyst. We used the data obtained by the NR experiments to fit a thermal performance curve (TPC). The TPC yielded a temperature optimum at 17.3 °C for C. kleini, a maximum upper thermal tolerance limit of 21.9 °C, and a thermal safety margin of 4.6 °C. We demonstrated that combining NR with TPC analysis is a powerful tool to predict better a species’ fitness in response to temperature and food.

Thiamethoxam Residuality in Papaya Plant and Fruit (Carica papaya Linnaeus) Cultivated in Rotation with Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus)

There is evidence of the high use of the neonicotinoid insecticide thiamethoxam, in tropical crops, for its effectiveness in the control of soil and plant pests. The objective of this study was to know the residuality and concentration of thiamethoxam in the papaya agroecosystem, in the main papaya fruit producing zone in the central area of the Gulf of Mexico. It was carried out during a papaya growing cycle with watermelon rotation; the taking of samples was according to the technique established by the NOM -AA-103-1988 for leaves and for fruit the NMX -FF-041- 1996 by the method of quartering in papaya and watermelon, the samples were analyzed with a HPLC-UV, the data obtained were statistically analyzed by parametric and non-parametric Kruskal- Wallis tests. The presence of thiamethoxam was found in papaya and watermelon cultivation plants, the concentrations in papaya leaves reported a maximum value of 0.29 mg/kg, while for the leaves of the watermelon rotation fruit it was 0.15 mg/kg. In papaya fruit, thiamethoxam concentrations are within a range of 0.24 to 0.32 mg/kg. The concentrations and residuality of thiamethoxam mainly exceed the maximum tolerance and residuality limits of the EFSA and FAO.

Fungal Isolation, Detection, and Quantification of Aflatoxins in Nuts Sold in the Lebanese Market

This study examines the prevalence of aflatoxin contamination in 160 nut samples, both shelled and unshelled (including pistachios, peanuts, and walnuts), from the Lebanese market, focusing on their fungal contamination and specific toxigenic strains. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), known for its potent carcinogenic and immunosuppressive properties, was detected in various samples. Moisture content analysis showed that unshelled nuts often exceeded maximum moisture limits more frequently than shelled nuts, with levels ranging from 1.9 to 9.5%. The predominant fungal genus identified through cultivation on potato dextrose agar (PDA) plates was Aspergillus. In total, 55% of samples were contaminated with A. flavus and 45% with A. niger. All toxigenic strains isolated were identified as Aspergillus flavus. The aflatoxins, particularly AFB1, were quantified using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), revealing contamination in 43.8% of the samples, with concentrations ranging from 0.4 to 25 µg/kg. Some samples notably exceeded the established maximum tolerable limits (MTLs) for AFB1, set between 2 and 8 µg/kg. Shelled pistachios showed the highest contamination rate at 52% and were the most frequent to surpass the MTL of 8 µg/kg for pistachios, whereas walnuts displayed the lowest contamination levels, with only 15.4% exceeding the MTL for aflatoxins.

Understanding the detrimental effects of heavy metal pollution in shrimp farming and treatment methods – a review

Abstract High levels of heavy metals in the environment pose a significant risk to the aquatic ecosystem and its organisms. The non-biodegradable nature and lengthy persistence of heavy metals in the environment lead to toxicity in shrimp. Using aquatic animals as bio-indicators of metal contamination provides valuable data on acute and chronic toxicity in aquatic species and environmental quality. This review aims to provide insights into the sources, impacts, diseases and mitigation strategies related to heavy metal pollution in shrimp farming and the dangers to humans. Shrimp growth and development at each stage exhibit distinct responses to toxicity, which can vary depending on the species, types of metals, their mechanisms of action, as well as the concentration of heavy metals and duration of exposure. While several heavy metals are considered essential nutrient elements that enhance shrimp growth and feed efficiency, exceeding the maximum tolerable limit threatens shrimp health, human consumers, and ecological systems’ stability. Shrimp species subjected to lethal toxic metal concentrations experience significant effects on accumulation in histopathology. Heavy metal toxicity has been linked to high mortality rates, malformation rates, oxidative stress, moulting issues, and decreased reproduction with increasing concentrations in shrimp. Various methods have been reported for removing heavy metal ions from aquatic environments, including filtration, adsorbents, removal efficacy, operating conditions, and the pros and cons of each technique. Therefore, this review provides an overview of how heavy metals can affect shrimp physiology and dangers to consumers. It aims to increase awareness about the importance of preventing and regulating their contamination in aquatic environments.

Mitigation of Mycotoxins in Food-Is It Possible?

Among microorganisms found in food, fungi stand out because they are adaptable and competitive in a large range of water activities, temperatures, pHs, humidities and substrate types. Besides sporulating, some species are toxigenic and produce toxic metabolites, mycotoxins, under adverse biotic and abiotic variables. Microorganisms are inactivated along the food chain, but mycotoxins have stable structures and remain in ready-to-eat food. The most prevalent mycotoxins in food, which are aflatoxins, fumonisins, ochratoxin A, patulin, tenuazonic acid, trichothecenes and zearalenone, have maximum tolerable limits (MTLs) defined as ppb and ppt by official organizations. The chronic and acute toxicities of mycotoxins and their stability are different in a chemical family. This critical review aims to discuss promising scientific research that successfully mitigated levels of mycotoxins and focus the results of our research group on this issue. It highlights the application of natural antifungal compounds, combinations of management, processing parameters and emergent technologies, and their role in reducing the levels and bioaccessibility. Despite good crop management and processing practices, total decontamination is almost impossible. Experimental evidence has shown that exposure to mycotoxins may be mitigated. However, multidisciplinary efforts need to be made to improve the applicability of successful techniques in the food supply chain to avoid mycotoxins' impact on global food insecurity.

Factors affecting iodine content of cow milk-A review

This review discusses the importance of iodine as an essential nutrient for human health and the factors that can influence the concentration of iodine in cow milk. For an adult, the daily recommended requirement of iodine is 150 µg/day and the maximum tolerable limit ranges from 600 to 1100 µg/day. Cow milk is a significant source of iodine in many countries, particularly in areas where iodine-rich foods are not readily available. Therefore, evaluating the variables that affect the iodine content of cow milk is important. The iodine concentration of cow milk can vary depending on several factors such as genetics, diet, environment, management practices, season, and processing. Particularly, dietary supplementation and feed composition have been identified as the most impactful on milk's iodine levels, offering a practical approach to mitigating iodine deficiency. Furthermore, environmental factors like soil and water iodine content and management practices, including the type of farming, play substantial roles. Seasonal changes also significantly affect iodine levels, with higher concentrations typically observed in winter due to different feeding practices. The iodine content of cow milk falls between 147 to 605 µg/kg and the highest value of 11100 µg/L was recorded in camel milk. Milk could supply up to 60% of the daily dietary requirement of iodine for an adult person. To fight iodine deficiency through the appropriate approach to such concerns, one must have an in-depth understanding of these issues. This review paper aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of these factors and their implications for human and public health strategies. Bangladesh Journal of Animal Science 53 (1): 1-12, 2024

Level of aflatoxins in dairy feeds, poultry feeds, and feed ingredients produced by feed factories in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Aflatoxins are one of the major factors that affect the quality and safety of feeds. They can be transferred into livestock through contaminated feed and then onto humans via animal sources of food such as milk, meat, and eggs. The objective of this study was to detect and quantify the level of aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, G2, and total aflatoxin) in dairy feeds, poultry (layer and broiler) feeds, and feed ingredients produced in Addis Ababa. A total of 42 feeds and feed ingredients consisting of dairy feeds (n = 5), poultry broiler feeds (n = 6), layer feeds (n = 6), and feed ingredients (n = 25) were collected from feed factories in the city and analyzed in fresh weigh basis. The aflatoxins were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography after clean-up with immunoaffinity columns. Aflatoxin B1 levels in feeds ranged from 51.66 to 370.51µg/kg in dairy cattle feed, from 1.45 to 139.51µg/kg in poultry layer feed, and from 16.49 to 148.86µg/kg in broiler feed. Aflatoxin B1 levels in maize ranged from 2.64 to 46.74µg/kg and in Niger seed cake from 110.93 to 438.86µg/kg. Aflatoxin B1 levels in wheat bran, wheat middling, and soybean were below 5µg/kg. 100% of dairy feeds, 67% of poultry layer, 67% of broiler feeds, and 24% of ingredients contained aflatoxin in levels higher than the maximum tolerable limit set by the US Food and Drug Administration and Ethiopian Standard Agency. This shows the need for strong regulatory monitoring and better feed management practices to prevent consumers of animal-source foods from significant health impacts associated with aflatoxins.

Effects of foliar application of Zn combined with organic matters on Cd accumulation and its chemical forms in rice.

Rice consumption is a key Cd exposure pathway, which poses a health risk to humans. Reducing cadmium (Cd) concentrations in rice remains challenging. In this study, a pot experiment was conducted to examine the effects of foliar spray of Zn combined with organic matters (including Zn-lysine (Zn-Lys), Zn-fulvic acid (Zn-FA), Zn-amino acid (Zn-AA), and Zn combined with glutathione (Zn + GSH)) on Cd accumulation in rice grains. Compared with the control group, all treatment groups exhibited reduced Cd concentration in rice grains, while improving plant growth, and reducing Cd transport from other tissues to the grains. Zn-FA was found to be the most effective fertilizer, which considerably reduced Cd concentrations in grains from 0.77 ± 0.068 to 0.14 ± 0.021mg/kg and yielded reductions of up to 81%, which is within the Chinese food maximum tolerable limit of 0.2mg/kg. Furthermore, the analysis of the chemical forms of Cd of rice tissues indicated that the treatment groups had increased proportions of integrated with pectates and protein in the stems. Except for the group treated with Zn-Lys spray, the percentages of undissolved Cd phosphate in the leaves were increased in all treatment groups, which reduced Cd toxicity to rice plants. The foliar application of Zn combined with organic matters may be a promising strategy to decrease Cd concentration in rice grains cultivated in severely Cd-contaminated agricultural soil, particularly in the karst area in southwest China with limited available cultivable agricultural land.

Evaluation of aflatoxin M1 and nutritional content in Kosovo’s market cheese samples

The ubiquitous presence and potent carcinogenic effects of aflatoxins, a group of mycotoxins, pose a significant threat to global food safety, especially within the dairy sector. This research aimed to evaluate the prevalence and distribution of Aflatoxin M1 in diverse cheese varieties within Kosovo’s markets in 2022 and discern potential correlations with cheese types, processing conditions, and nutritional parameters to enhance understanding and ensure the safety of dairy products. In the latter half of 2022, a total of 93 different types of manufactured cheese samples from 15 different countries were analysed for Aflatoxin M1 toxin content using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. The results of the research indicate that several countries have exceeded the concentration of 0.05 ug/kg for Aflatoxin M1, set as the maximum tolerable limit for milk and milk products in many countries. Notable, cheese samples from Albania exhibited substantially (p=0.000) higher levels of Aflatoxin M1 compared to other nations. The results showed that the Aflatoxin M1 concentration did not exhibit statistically significant variations based on the regulated total fat content (p=0.902), carbohydrate content (p=0.741), protein concentration (p=0.298), or salt content (p=0.122) within the cheese. The results demonstrated that Aflatoxin M1 levels were not significantly (p=0.926) affected by cheese consistency. While different starter cultures were associated with varying Aflatoxin M1 concentrations, these differences were not statistically significant (p=0.472). Similarly, ageing time did not exert a significant (p=0.691) impact on AFM1 levels, as concentrations remained relatively consistent across different ageing periods. These findings provide valuable insights into the variations in Aflatoxin M1 levels in cheese samples among different countries. They highlight the importance of regulatory measures and continuous monitoring to ensure food safety and adherence to maximum allowable limits

Biophysical factors and agronomic practices associated with Fusarium ear rot and fumonisin contamination of maize in multiple agroecosystems in Ethiopia

AbstractIn Ethiopia, Fusarium ear rot (FER) reduces yield, quality, and safety of maize and negatively impacts the economics of maize growers. However, there is almost no published information on geographic distribution, severity, or causal agents of FER in Ethiopia or levels of preharvest fumonisin contamination, biophysical factors, and agronomic practices associated with FER. Therefore, we surveyed 480 agricultural fields located in 10 Ethiopian zones to assess the incidence and severity of FER as well as agricultural practices and biophysical factors associated with each field. We also determined the concentration of fumonisin in samples taken from the fields. Results revealed that FER was prevalent with varied disease intensity and yield loss levels among the assessed zones. The highest percent severity index (PSI) was recorded in Mirab Wellega (33.2%), with a correspondingly maximum estimated mean grain yield loss of 13.6%, while the minimum disease severity 11.3% and yield loss 5.4% were recorded from the Ilubabor zone. Fumonisins (FB1, FB2, FB3, and FB4) were detected in 98% of the samples, and the levels ranged from 5 to 7517 μg kg−1 (mean, 540 μg kg−1 and median 82.4 μg kg−1). The mean fumonisin contamination of 1524.4, 1316.8, 744.5, and 742.6 μg kg−1 was recorded for Mirab Welega, Misraq Wellega, Assosa, and Hawassa zones, respectively. In total, about 11.3% of the maize samples exceeded the maximum tolerable total fumonisin limit set by the European Union in maize flour (>1000 μg kg−1) and are not suitable for human consumption. Disease severity highly significantly (p < 0.0001) correlated with biophysical factors such as insect infestation (r = 0.60, p < 0.0001) and weed infestation (r = 0.64, p < 0.0001) and agronomic practices such as nitrogen phosphorus sulfur fertilizer application rate (r = −0.39, p < 0.0001) and insecticide spray frequency (r = −0.55, p < 0.0001). Other agronomic practices such as earlier or later sowing date and inter‐cropping systems significantly reduced (p < 0.001) FER incidence, PSI, and the associated grain yield loss. There was significant (p < 0.0001) variation among maize cultivars currently under production in reaction against FER disease intensity. Moreover, the result of the present study attests a strong positive association (p < 0.001) between disease intensity and maize fumonisin concentrations. Generally, the study revealed a wider distribution of FER and fumonisin contamination of maize in the southwest major maize‐growing belts of Ethiopia. Thus, appropriate integrated pre‐harvest ear rot management strategies including the use of resistant cultivars and suitable agronomic practices are recommended for the management of FER and the associated mycotoxins in Ethiopia.

Aflatoxin M1 Concentrations, Adulterants, Microbial Loads, and Physicochemical Properties of Raw Milk Collected From Nekemte City, Ethiopia.

Milk is an essential part of the human diet and is a nutrient-rich food that improves nutrition and food security. The aim of this study was to determine the presence and concentration of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), adulterants, microbial loads, and physicochemical properties of raw cow's milk (CM) in Nekemte City, Ethiopia. A total of 12 samples of fresh CM were purposefully collected from four kebeles in the city (Bake Jama, Burka Jato, Cheleleki, and Bakanisa Kese) based on the potential of each milk production and distributor site. The AFM1 concentration was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a Sigma-Aldrich standard (St. Louis, MO, USA). The concentrations of AFM1 in Bake Jama, Burka Jato, Cheleleki, and Bakanisa Kese were found to be 0.01-0.03 g/L, 0.31-0.35 g/L, 0.19-0.21 g/L, and 0.04-0.07 g/L, respectively. The concentrations of AFM1 in the present study varied significantly (p < 0.05) and ranged from 0.01 g/L to 0.35 g/L. These results show that of the 12 samples tested, all were positive for AFM1 and contaminated to varying degrees. The results of this study also revealed that the concentration of AFM1 in 7 (58%) of the 12 milk samples was above the European Union's (EU) maximum tolerance limit (0.05 g/L). The present study also revealed that of the investigated adulterants, only the addition of water had positive effects on three milk samples, while the remaining adulterants were not detected in any of the milk samples. The total bacterial count (TBC) and total coliform count (TCC) were significantly (p < 0.05) different and ranged from 5.53 to 6.82 log10cfumL-1 and from 4.21 to 4.74 log10cfumL-1, respectively. The physicochemical properties of the milk samples in the present study were significantly (p < 0.05) different and ranged from 2.8% to 5.75% fat, 7.03% to 9.75% solid-not-fat (SNF), 2.35% to 3.61% protein, 3.33% to 5.15% lactose, 11.54% to 13.69% total solid, 0.16% to 0.18% titratable acid, 26.7 to 32.1°C, 6.35 to 6.55 pH, and 1.027 to 1.030 specific gravity. The physicochemical parameters of the raw milk in the study area met the required quality standards. Hence, further studies are required to determine the extent of the problem and the factors associated with high levels of AFM1 in raw milk in the study areas, including the detection of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in animal feed.

Quality Control Analysis of Dry Syrup Products in the Filling and Cramping Process using the DMAIC Method in Pharmaceutical Companies

The main factor that companies, especially pharmaceutical companies, must consider is producing quality products to compete. During the production process of Dry Syrup for pharmaceutical companies, several quality defects were found, such as Alcap loss, alcap torn, alcap scratched, alcap broken 1 ring, alcap broken2 rings, bottles without alcap, alcap dented, and underweight with the acquisition of a defect percentage exceeding the maximum company tolerance limit of 5% in the last six months, from October 2022to March 2023. This research is focused on the problem of Alcap Loss and Underweight defect types because they are thedominant defects among all defect types. The DMAIC method is used to solve and reduce product quality defect problems. The proposed improvements given are making a standardized range for setting screw knives with points on how to set screw knives and adding filling weight inspection intervals with filling weight monitoring sheets. The results of the application of improvements using the DMAIC method and the application of proposed improvements reduce product defects by 40% and increase the sigma value from 3.40 to a value of 3.84.

The presence of toxic heavy metals in tuna fishes from Laccadive sea and concomitant health risk.

Concentrations of heavy metals in Yellowfin and Skipjack tuna fishes from the Laccadive sea were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) to evaluate the human health hazards via their consumption. The samples were collected from different atolls of Maldives to ensure a good representation of sample distribution. The metal concentration in tuna fish is found to be below the maximum tolerable limit set by different international organisations. The target hazard quotient values for individual metals were well below the limiting value of 1, indicating an insignificant health risk via the dietary intake of fish. The maximum targeted cancer risk value was 10 -4, indicating low carcinogenic risk from the consumption of tuna fish from the Maldives. Hence, the consumption of tuna from the Laccadive Sea is safe for human health.

Occurrence of Aflatoxin M1 in yogurt samples found in markets in Kosovo during spring 2023

Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), a toxic byproduct of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) produced by Aspergillus fungi, is a carcinogenic mycotoxin that can contaminate various agricultural commodities. It can be transferred from AFB1-contaminated feed to milk and dairy products, including yogurt, posing a potential health risk to consumers. In spring 2023, a total of 74 yogurt samples were collected from the largest food suppliers in Kosovo for analysis, including samples produced in Kosovo and seven other countries: Albania, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Greece, Italy, and Germany. A rapid and sensitive analytical method, Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), was used for the analysis. The results of the study highlight discernible differences in the maximum tolerable levels of AFM1 between the countries. More specifically, yogurt samples from Slovenia and Germany had lower levels than those from other countries. Additionally, the median levels of AFM1 in samples from Slovenia and Germany were significantly lower. The mean concentrations of AFM1 in yogurt samples from Kosovo and other countries were 0.071 μg/kg and 0.080 μg/kg, respectively. Out of all samples, 66 (89%) exceeded the maximum tolerable limit of 0.05 μg/kg. Among the exporting countries, Albania had the highest median AFM1 level of 0.085 μg/kg and the highest maximum level of 0.195 μg/kg. Slovenia had the lowest median AFM1 level, while Germany had the lowest maximum AFM1 level. All samples from Albania, Greece, and Bosnia and Herzegovina exceeded the maximum tolerable limit. High prevalence was also observed in samples from Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Slovenia. Considering the average daily consumption of about 250 grams of yogurt, and the total median value of Aflatoxin M1 concentration (0.071 μg/kg), the estimated daily intake was calculated to be 0.017 μg. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring and enforcing regulatory limits to ensure yogurt safety and to protect public health. Efforts should be focused on mitigating AFM1 contamination and implementing measures to minimise its presence in dairy products, especially in regions where levels exceed the established limits.

Occurrence of zearalenone in maize and millet grains and their derived porridges marketed in Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire)

Zearalenone is an endocrine-disrupting mycotoxin commonly found in cereals. The objective of this work was to evaluate zearalenone levels in maize and millet grains, and their porridges to measure the impact of the preparation processes of these porridges on the occurrence of zearalenone. The sampling was realized according to the regulation (EC) No 401/2006 of the European commission. Zearalenone concentration in commodities was determined using HPLC/UV. Zearalenone concentrations were compared with the Maximum Tolerable Limits (MTLs) of zearalenone established by European Union (EC) No1881/2006. The average zearalenone levels in the grains were 82.83 µg/Kg (maize) and 141.88 µg/Kg (millet). These levels were below the MTL in the case of maize, and above the MTL concerning millet. Average zearalenone levels in porridges were 11.70 µg/Kg &lt; MTLs (maize) and 36.16 µg/Kg &gt; Infant Maximum Tolerable Limit (IMTL) of millet. Zearalenone concentrations in millet grains were higher than in maize grains. Zearalenone levels in maize and millet-based porridges were low compared with their respective basic commodities. The processing techniques used for porridges, removed 85.88-93.67% of zearalenone from maize, and 74.51-76.66% of zearalenone from millet. Despite this significant reduction, the average zearalenone content in millet-based porridge was above the IMTL (20 µg/Kg). &#x0D;

Optimization of land management measures for soil erosion risk using GIS in agricultural landscape of western Hararghe highlands, Ethiopia

Soil loss through water is one of the major environmental problems leading to land degradation worldwide. Though soil erosion is an inevitable natural phenomenon, it is possible to reverse and minimize the rate at a local level. This requires spatially unambiguous evidence on rate of soil loss so as to implement site specific land management decisions. The aim of this study was to estimate the mean annual soil loss and optimize land management measures in the Midhagdu watershed of western Hararghe highlands, Ethiopia. The study used five soil loss factors as input variables to estimate the soil loss. A thematic layer map was generated for each factor with spatial resolution of 30 m using Geographical Information System (GIS), and combined them with revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) model to estimate soil loss and identify erosion risky area in the watershed. According to the results, the distribution of annual soil loss varied between 0 and 179 t ha−1 yr−1, with a mean annual loss rate of 44.24 t ha−1 yr−1. The total annual soil loss in the entire watershed was 240,250 tons. Of this, 93.48% (224,593 tons) of the loss occurred in 49% (2,674 ha) of the catchment area,which was above the maximum tolerable soil loss limits. Most of the soil erosion affected areas are spatially situated in the upper and hillsides of the watershed. This is due to factors attributed to the steepness of the slope, dominance of Leptosols with shallow soil depth, coupled with absence of supporting practice in these parts of the watershed. Thus, slope length and slope steepness (LS) factor was the primary RUSLE parameters that controlled the soil loss in the studied watershed followed by soil erodibility (K) and support practice (P) factor. Hence, this study optimized land management options for future intervention based on the inherent limitation of the biophysical environment, socioeconomic and cultural conditions of the watershed community.

A dosimetric comparison of systemic peptide receptor radionuclide therapy and intra-arterial peptide receptor radionuclide therapy in patients with liver dominant gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours.

Intra-arterial radionuclide therapy (IART) treatment allows direct delivery of 177 Lu-DOTATATE to the overexpressed somatostatin-positive neuroendocrine liver metastases, which led to higher tumour concentration compared with systemic radionuclide therapy (SRT). The aim was to evaluate and compare the absorbed doses of both IART and SRT to organs and hepatic metastatic sites. A total of 48 patients received SRT and IART. In SRT, activity was administered intravenously, whereas in IART, activity was administered directly into hepatic arteries. The sequential whole-body images were acquired at 2, 4, 24, 72 and 160 h. The reconstructed whole-body planar and single-photon emission computed tomography-computed tomography images were processed using the Dosimetry Toolkit for the estimation of normalized cumulated activity in the organs and tumour lesions. The absorbed dose was computed using OLINDA EXM 2.0 software. The median absorbed dose (mGy/MBq) of kidneys and spleen in IART was compared with SRT and found to be decreased by 30.7% ( P = 0.03) and 37.5% ( P = 0.08), whereas it was found to be increased by 40% ( P = 0.26) and 8.1% ( P = 0.28) in the liver and lungs. The median dose (mGy/MBq) of tumours determined in IART was found to be increased by 62.2% ( P = 0.04). IART with 177 Lu-DOTATATE significantly increases tumour dose while reducing overall systemic toxicity in comparison to SRT treatment. After considering the maximum tolerance limit of kidneys in peptide receptor radionuclide therapy, the number of treatment cycles and injected activity can be optimized further with IART for better response and survival.