Physical Contamination Research Articles

Evaluation of salt intended for human consumption for the presence of physical contaminants: microplastics an emerging contaminant in the food area

Introduction: The presence of physical contaminants in food goes against the guarantee of the supply of safe products for consumption. Currently, there is an environmental concern with this type of contamination, especially with a class of plastic particles less than 5 mm, called microplastics. The impacts on human organisms are still under discussion, but there is already a relationship between the ingestion and inhalation of these particles and a possible health risk, since, in addition to being derived from macroplatic degradation processes with varied chemical compositions, they can still carry other contaminants. Objective: To value the presence of physical contaminants, such as microplastics in salt intended for human consumption. Method: A quantity of 8 salt samples was acquired in supermarkets in the city of Rio de Janeiro in 2019 and analyzed after dilution in water, according to the coefficient of salt dilution (36g/100mL), heated in plate at 100°C and filtered in filter 0.22μm. Detection was performed with the aid of stereoscope microscope and confirmation was performed under a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Results and Discussion: In 5 samples, the presence of physical contaminants was observed, which due to visual characteristics suggest to be microplastics. The possible presence of microplastics in salt samples is related to contamination of the oceans by microplastics. With this, it is observed the importance of monitoring the quality of human consumption, since it is a by-product of the oceans. Conclusion: Studies in Brazil regarding microplastic contamination is very focused on marine matrices, but it is necessary to think about the study and development of analytical methodologies for detection and identification of these contaminants in food, especially in products of marine origin.

Moral, environmental, and physical contamination. Africana religions and public health before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Moral, environmental, and physical contamination. Africana religions and public health before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Comparative Studies of Biodegradation of Wastes Using Cellulase from Garden Snails (Limicolaria flammea) and Giant African Snails (Archachatina marginata)

The generation of solid waste is a massive and ever-growing problem that affects the entire world, particularly developing countries. In Africa, waste recycling is not fully embraced and performed; as a result, these waste products are viewed as physical contaminants that can harm the ecosystem, generate pollution, and cause a lot of environmental risks. The use of synthetic compounds in the decomposition of wastes could harm the ecosystem and lead to global warming, thus biocatalysts are a preferred option. Cellulase, a hydrolytic enzyme, could digest cellulose, a main component of solid waste. Garden snail (Limicolaria flammea) and Giant Africa snail (Archachatina marginata) are organisms that feed on dead, decaying and actively growing plants due to their possession of cellulolytic enzyme. Cellulase from the gut of Archachatina marginata haemolymph and Limicolaria flammea had specific activities of 1.15 U/mg and 1.14 U/mg respectively. It also showed high level of degradation. Limicolaria flammea haemolymph showed high activity of 504.11% on soluble starch, 529.39% on kick tree and 993.77% on carton paper. This study suggests that cellulase from both Limicolaria flammea and Archachatina marginata has biodegrading potentials on waste materials. While their effects and the rate of degrading wastes differ, they could both be relevant in waste management especially on kitchen waste.

Effect of Plasma activated water (PAW) on physicochemical and functional properties of foods

Plasma activated water (PAW) is an advanced technology that has gained intensive attention being protecting the food products from physical, chemical, and biological contaminations. The generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) during process are the main reasons for preservation of food products. By applying PAW, the unprocessed and processed food products are kept safe from microbes during storage periods, however the quality is affected. The reaction between ROS/RNS with constituents of food materials leads to changes in texture, structure, physiochemical and nutritional properties. Although the various application of PAW in the food industry such as decontamination of microbes, thawing of food, curing of meat products, and combined effect with other technologies have been extensively evaluated, but a complete analysis of the effect of PAW on the quality of food is somehow lacking. In this context, the present review focuses on the impact of PAW application on chemical, nutritional, and textural changes in food. Further, the effect of processing parameters of PAW on the modification of food constituents and sensory attributes are described in detail. In addition, the physicochemical properties of PAW after being produced by several modes are also reviewed. Finally, this review also highlights several limitations of PAW treatment and suggests further research directions of the technology. •Plasma activated water (PAW) is considered as GRAS for food decontamination. • Generated reactive species from PAW could be the superior preservatives than CP. •Physicochemical properties and parameters of PAW effect on the food quality. •The reactive species interact with food constituents during or after treatment. •The nutritional, functional, structural and sensory changes are seen in food products.

Hazards In Poultry Feed Production: An Appraisal From The Halal Perspective

Animal feed is any processed, semi-processed of raw materials or compound which are fed to animals. Poultry feed are food for farm poultry, including chickens, ducks, geese and other domestic birds (Gallus domesticus), whether it is in mash, crumbles or pellets form. Feed supply is central to all animal production systems and any factor that affects the security of the feed supply is a significant constraint to production. In Malaysia, most of the poultry feed comprises of 95% of the sources that are imported and only 5% are obtained locally. In this situation, feed producers are responsible to communicate with crop producers and at the same time connected with primary food producers involved, such as poultry breeders. These phenomena are crucial in maintaining the halal integrity along the supply chain. To produce halal food materials, it is important to make sure that the feed fed to edible animals are Ḥalālan ṭoyyiban. This paper reviews the hazards presence in poultry feed and its production which include biohazards, chemical hazards and physical hazards. In so doing, it employs library research methodology by reviewing the relevant literatures and analysed using content analysis method. Further to that, it also appraises the presence of the respective hazards from the halal perspective. From the halal point of view, the sources of human food shall not only be halal, but shall also be safe for human consumption, non-poisonous and non-hazardous to human health. In the context of poultry feed, the usage of antibiotics, GMOs with hazardous issue or potential toxicity or allergenicity, toxin contamination and presence of physical contaminants in poultry feed, if not properly controlled and regulated seriously, adverse effects might take place in human and this is indeed not in line with the goal of the Shariah to safeguard the interests of human and the universe, to protect life and lineage, and to bring benefits and repelling harms. Nevertheless, considering that contaminants are present everywhere, and that total elimination is almost impossible, taking proactive actions to reduce their presence to the minimum level possible is in compliance with the spirit of Maqasid Shariah. This could be done by putting in place a comprehensive legislation for the control of several of these chemical compounds, pathogens and physical contaminants in poultry feed, or by implementing feed safety management system such as HACCP in feed plants. In addition, to protect the interest of the Muslim consumers particularly in Malaysia, it is also recommended that a Halal standard for Poultry Feed Production should be developed.

‘Wait! Don’t touch me!’: Police uniforms, family anxiety, and rituals of purification in the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT Emblematic power is entrenched in the uniform and bodily image of the police. The COVID-19 pandemic has afforded a new layer of understandings of ‘dirty work’ with police officers, and has shown how the police uniform is perceived to be an involuntary vehicle for physical contamination and symbolic taint. This article is based on interviews with 18 police officers from 11 UK police forces over the summer of 2020 and explores how the COVID-19 pandemic caused increased fear and anxiety about virus contraction, particularly when officers were not prioritised for testing and vaccinations at the time. The possibility of transmitting COVID-19 to family members motivated officers to treat their uniforms differently, and they undertook purification rituals to mitigate violations of the physical and symbolic space around the body. Fear and anxiety of ‘the unknown’ is a motivator for discussions about long-term effects of officer well-being, and the significance of learning to prepare for future pandemics.

Effects of vegetables and fruit with varying physical damage, fungal infection, and soil contamination on stability of aqueous ozone

The application of aqueous solutions of ozone for surface disinfection is an effective novel green technology with a potential for replacing the use of persistent chemicals in postharvest treatments. However, successful disinfection requires certain levels of ozone to be maintained throughout the process. The decay rates of aqueous ozone were found to vary with the presence of different fruit and vegetables commodities (apples, carrots, onions, celeriac, and pears). Pure aqueous ozone had a half-life of 3200 s, whereas the half-life of ozone was found to range with increasing cross-cut areas between 2177 and 291 s for apples, 573 and 345 s for carrots, 541 and 113 s for onions, 2800 and 253 s for pears, and 362 and 165 s for celeriac. With soil particles present, the ozone half-life dropped to 59 s for celeriac. Parallel measurements reported strong to moderate effect of soil particles (51–626 s, 10 g soil/L ozonated water), and naturally occurring fungi (850–2294 s, 0.25 g fungi mix/L ozonated water) on ozone half-life. In summary, presence of organic compounds, notably by damaged commodities, increase ozone decay and illustrate the need to correctly identify important ozone-depleting parameters, which is crucial for understanding the efficiency of ozone-based washing systems.

PHYSICAL WATER QUALITY CONTAMINATED BY SOIL-TRANSMITTED HELMINTHS IN SUMBERSARI DISTRICT, JEMBER REGENCY

Introduction: Soil-Transmitted Helminth (STH) or worm infection is an infection caused by intestinal nematode worm group that can be infectious through the soil medium. One straightforward transmission route is through contaminated water consumption as water is needed daily. This study aims to know the association between quality of physical water and STH contamination in the Sumbersari District, Jember Regency, water sources. Methods: This research is an analytical observational study with a cross-sectional design. Data was obtained from water physical quality inspection and STH contamination in the water laboratory. The 30 samples were taken purposively. Results and Discussion: The results of the data analysis of the association between water temperature and STH contamination showed a p-value of 0.014, the association between watercolor with STH contamination showed a value of 0.566, and the association between odor and TDS of water with STH contamination was not analysed. Statistics analysis results showed a significant association between the quality of water physics and STH contamination in the water sources in Sumbersari District, Jember Regency, with a score of 0.022. Conclusion: The physical quality of water has a positive correlation with STH contamination in water sources in Sumbersari District, Jember Regency.

PM 3/66 (3) Guidelines for the management of plant health risks of biowaste of plant origin

<scp>PM</scp> 3/66 (3) Guidelines for the management of plant health risks of biowaste of plant origin

Physical Contamination Detection in Food Industry Using Microwave and Machine Learning

The detection of contaminants in food products after packaging by a non-invasive technique is a serious need for companies operating in the food industry. In recent years, many technologies have been investigated and developed to overcome the intrinsic drawbacks of the currently employed techniques, such as X-rays and metal detector, and to offer more appropriate solutions with respect to techniques developed in the academic domain in terms of acquisition speed, cost, and the penetration depth (infrared, hyperspectral imaging). A new method based on MW sensing is proposed to increase the degree of production quality. In this paper, we are going to present a novel approach from measurements setup to a binary classification of food products as contaminated or uncontaminated. The work focuses on combining MW sensing technology and ML tools such as MLP and SVM in a complete workflow that can operate in real time in a food production line. A very good performance accuracy that reached 99.8% is achieved using the non-linear SVM algorithm, while the accuracy of the performance of the MLP classifier reached 99.3%.

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Hydrodistilled Essentials Oils from Solanecio manii

The leaves of Solanecio manii were collected from sampled plants in Kandara Sub-County Muranga County in Kenya. The aim of collection of the leaves was to carry out the extraction and analysis of essential oils from S. manii. The leaves were transported to the pharmacognosy laboratory at the Mount Kenya University. The leaves were washed with running tap water and rinsed with distilled water to remove physical and chemical contaminants. They were air dried on the laboratory benches for seven days to lose 90% of moisture content. The essential oils (Eos) were extracted from 200.000 g of dry leaves by hydrodistillation using the Clavenger apparatus for 8 hours. The rate of essential oil production from the leaves was computed and found to be 0.01%. GC-MS instrument was utilized to analyse the qualitative and quantitative composition of essential oils. The compounds that were found present in the total ion chromatogram were, 3-Carene (40%), Limonene (35.48%), 1-undecanol (8.0%), β-pinene (6.4%), Menthol (1.6%), β-Cymene (1.1%) Longifolene (0.78%) and α-terpenolene (0.5%).

Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene for the characterization of the bacterial community of the Lambro river (Italy)

Characterization of the microbial community of a river can provide various indications, such as its general state of health or the presence of contamination. Furthermore, the study of Bacteroidetes, which have a high degree of host specificity, can provide information on the species involved in any fecal contamination. The analysis of the 16S rRNA was used to characterize the bacterial community of the Lambro river (Italy) through. The results, which were obtained by analyzing water from 15 sampling points, show a reduction in the complexity of the bacterial community as the river enters a densely populated region. The cause could be a source of chemical or physical contamination that carries out a positive selection toward some bacterial species and negative toward others. In addition, a notable increase in the percentage of Bacteroidetes was reported, especially when the river enters regions characterized by high agricultural and livestock activity, such as cattle and pig farming. However, in the samples taken from this area, no Bacteroidetes ascribable to these two species or to the other species considered (i.e., human, dog, and cat) were found. Surprisingly, suspected bacterial contamination of swine origin was identified in a sparsely populated region characterized by small family farms. Finally, the efficient treatment of urban wastewater was confirmed as no markers of fecal pollution of human origin were identified.

Beer Safety: New Challenges and Future Trends within Craft and Large-Scale Production.

The presence of physical, chemical, or microbiological contaminants in beer represents a broad and worthy problem with potential implications for human health. The expansion of beer types makes it more and more appreciated for the sensorial properties and health benefits of fermentation and functional ingredients, leading to significant consumed quantities. Contaminant sources are the raw materials, risks that may occur in the production processes (poor sanitation, incorrect pasteurisation), the factory environment (air pollution), or inadequate (ethanol) consumption. We evaluated the presence of these contaminants in different beer types. This review covers publications that discuss the presence of bacteria (Lactobacillus, Pediococcus), yeasts (Saccharomyces, Candida), moulds (Fusarium, Aspergillus), mycotoxins, heavy metals, biogenic amines, and micro- and nano-plastic in beer products, ending with a discussion regarding the identified gaps in current risk reduction or elimination strategies.

GMP AUDIT CHECKLIST – A VALUABLE MANAGEMENT TOOL IN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY

Internal audit is an effective independent activity within a pharmaceutical industry quality management system. It ensures a thorough analyses and evaluation of the company activities and helps prevent, predict and detect mistakes and weaknesses in order to minimize losses. Internal audits help the organization achieve its goals and ensures all the involved parties that a program complies with regulatory and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) requirements. A successful audit, is carried out by quality auditor or audit team members, chosen carefully and properly trained. The auditor should gain as much information in advance before the auditing process begins that should help him to design tools useful in achieving the desired results. There are several sections recommended to be included in the GMP audit checklist: Quality management, Personnel, Facility and Equipment System, Documentation, Production System, Packaging and Labelling System, Storage System, and Laboratory Control System. A quality management system (QMS) is a formalized collection of processes, procedures, and documented policies, therefore the auditor looks to find out if the system complies with GMP requirements. As for the personnel, GMP audit checklist cover all the necessary procedures to ensure that the organization’s hiring and supervising practices are in compliance to GMP requirements, such as competences, trainings, dressing, and hygiene of the employees. Documentation ensures traceability of all development, manufacturing and testing activities, so the auditor needs to verify major types of documents that should be kept and recorded. The checklist includes questions addressing review of the layout, construction, size, location of the facility and main areas such as production area, storage, and laboratory, as well as the installation, operation, instructions, maintenance and cleaning of the equipment used in the manufacture. The production and process audit checklist include organization’s various stages of manufacturing such as weighing or measuring of raw materials, appropriate storage conditions for intermediates, In-Process sampling and controls, contamination control, process validation. Checklist points for internal audit of Packaging and Labelling System include elements ensuring the security and quality of packaging and as well elements that relate to labelling such as documentation, storage of starting materials and finished products, packaging and labelling operations. Internal auditing of storage system should prevent occurrence of mix-ups, damage, physical, chemical or microbial contamination. As for the Laboratory Control System, the GMP checklist questions aim to ensure that pharmaceutical products meet safety, efficacy, purity, and stability standards. The checklist is a good and critical tool to assist in conducting an in-depth and consistent audit and will serve as guideline for evaluation of compliance to standards and documentation, as well as for the effectiveness of the audited process.

Analysis of risks and safety indicators of raw materials and products of the sugar industry of Kazakhstan

The objects of research are the process of sugar beet processing, sugar beet, sugar and molasses. The problem of determining critical control points in sugar beet processing and safety indicators of raw materials and products of the sugar industry was solved. The results were obtained based on the risk analysis and the system of control points for sugar beet processing, five critical control points were identified according to the criteria of physical, chemical and biological contamination. It was also found that in terms of safety indicators, raw materials – sugar beet, and finished products meet the requirements of regulatory documents for microbiological indicators and heavy metal content. The safety indicators of sugar beet, white sugar, molasses and beet pulp were studied. Microbiological indicators: CGB (coliforms), pathogens and S.aureus were not found in sugar beet samples. Microbiological indicators of QMAFAnM and yeast of white sugar, molasses and pulp 1–5*102, 6–7*102, 5–8*102 and 2–3*101, 1–3*101, 1*101 CFU/cm3, respectively, are within acceptable limits. The content of toxic elements did not exceed the permissible limits. For Kazakhstan sugar factories, no studies on hazard analysis and critical control points in the sugar industry have been conducted before, so the results of the study will fill this gap. The scope and conditions for the practical use of the results obtained are the possibilities of raising the quality of finished products and improving the safety of raw materials and finished products, increasing the shelf life of by-products (molasses, beet pulp) of sugar beet production. These opportunities are based on the hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) in sugar beet processing

Biobased and compostable trilayer thermoplastic films based on poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and thermoplastic starch (TPS)

Food preservation is crucial in safeguarding the global food supply and security. Current regulations do not encourage the use of chemical food preservatives. Therefore, creating a physical barrier in the form of packaging remains a necessary measure to prevent food contact with biological and physical contaminants. This work presents a novel biodegradable thin trilayer assembly of two sandwiching layers of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), and a core layer composed of thermoplastic starch (TPS), maleated TPS, or their blends with PHBV (80/20). Scanning electron microscope (SEM), and optical microscopy images showed the samples' consistent film formation. The tensile test revealed that the sample with a core layer of a blend of maleated TPS and PHBV was the strongest, with a modulus of 178 MPa. The water vapor transmission rates were as low as 20.2 g/(m2·d). The oxygen permeation rate was below the detection limit of the test. Most importantly, the samples pass the biodegradation (28 °C) disintegration test in less than six weeks. The study confirmed that a trilayer structure with two outer layers of PHBV, and a middle layer of TPS-PHBV blend provides excellent barrier properties in conjuncture with its biodegradability making it an appealing, sustainable food packaging material option.

A geography of contaminated sites, mental health and wellbeing: The body, home, environment and state at Australian PFAS sites

Health geographers have long been interested in the connection between place and mental health, proposing that settings influence mental health and vice versa. Research on environmental contamination has tended to focus on the former part of this relationship, examining how the mental health and wellbeing of residents living nearby are affected by the contamination. There has been little investigation of the latter component: how mental health and wellbeing may shape place. This article seeks to explore how the mental health and wellbeing of residents living on or near environmental contamination may be both affected by and reproduced in place. It considers this in a case study of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination in New South Wales, Australia, by drawing on interviews with residents. Focus is placed on examining how residents report psychological distress associated with the contamination and how this distress may permeate beyond the contaminated site to become enmeshed in other places at different scales, such as the body, home, local environment, and state. Ultimately, it is proposed that these places reproduce distress on their own and require just as much attention in addressing adverse psychological effects as the physical contamination itself.

Multi-Antenna System for In-Line Food Imaging at Microwave Frequencies

This work presents the design and numerical assessment of a novel microwave imaging (MWI) system, capable of providing a full 3-D image of food/beverage products content in order to disclose the possible presence of physical contaminants, such as plastic fragments. The system here presented exploits the dielectric contrast between the food content and possible intrusions at microwave frequencies; it is based on an antenna array architecture inspecting the items in motion along a conveyor belt without interrupting the production process. The inversion problem is solved by means of linearization, assuming the viability of the Born approximation thanks to the localized intrusions, and regularization, based on the singular value decomposition of the discretized scattering operator. Furthermore, an algorithm, to balance the illumination of the considered scenario due to the nonuniform radiation of the employed antennas, is presented to enhance imaging. The system is first assessed considering an ideal case and then extended to a more realistic approach, for two different kinds of food products, with completely different dielectric properties and considering the performance of existing instrumentation for the purpose. The obtained results lay the foundations for the realization of an actual prototype.

Determination of Proximate Composition of Nigella sativa L. Seeds and its Effective Role in Improving Lipid Profile Among Hyperlipidaemic Women

Hyperlipidaemia is characterized by abnormally elevated levels of body’s plasma cholesterol and triacylglycerol. Objective: To find out the proximate composition of Nigella sativa L. and its hypolipidemic effect on blood lipid profile among hyperlipidaemic women. Methods: To determine the proximate composition of Nigella sativa seed the kjeldhah method, soxhlet extraction using petroleum ether, and AOAC procedure were used. For the identification of hypolipidemic impact, a total of 64 women with mild to moderate hyperlipidaemia, aged between 25-35 years were selected for the 8 weeks of study. The sample was selected from the University of Lahore Teaching Hospital, Lahore. After removing physical contaminants like dirt, dust, and other foreign grains black seeds were air dried. After drying, seeds were grounded into fine powder by using commercial blender. Each capsule was prepared with 500mg powder of N. sativa, and was transferred in air tight jars. After screening the participants of experimental group, they were advised to use 2 capsules of N. sativa supplement before breakfast and two capsules in the afternoon prior to their meal for 8 weeks. Participants were also advised to follow the given 7-day diet plan for 8 weeks. The anthropometric measurements, biochemical evaluation (lipid profile), and dietary intake data were collected. Results: The mean age group of Hyperlipidaemic patients enrolled in study was 32.5±0.34 years. There was a significant reduction in Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL), total cholesterol level, and triglyceride levels with p-value less than 0.05. High density lipoprotein levels were also improved from 49.5±8.38mg/dl to 51.81±10.21mg/dl. Conclusion: The study concluded that Nigella sativa L. seed powder supplementation showed a significant improvement in lipid profile of hyperlipidaemia patients. The study found an increase in high density lipoprotein among patients.

Disposable diaper waste accumulation at the human-livestock-wildlife interface: A one health approach

Improper management of disposable diaper waste is becoming a priority global health issue because it has resulted in environmental accumulation of fecal pathogens and non-biodegradable material. Concerns include drinking water safety, as well as chemical and physical contaminants that may harm human, animal (domestic and wildlife), and environmental health. In rural areas, especially those in low- and middle-income countries where municipal waste management infrastructure may be lacking, this issue is particularly challenging. Using a One Health approach, this study used spatial statistics to describe the location and proximity of disposable diaper waste sites to livestock grazing areas, human dwellings, rivers, and conservation areas in agro-pastoralist communities in South Africa. A total of 627 unique diaper waste sites were identified and plotted between May 2019 and March 2020. The mean distance of waste sites to rivers was 2,196 m (SD=1,799) and 5,523 m (SD=2,642) to protected areas. Most diaper waste sites were located along the perimeter of villages and dwellings, where livestock grazing areas are common. This description of waste sites is an important step in strategizing efficient and effective waste management programs and policies that prioritize those areas with greatest potential impact on human, animal, and environmental health for remediation.