Search Results
Abstract
Seven trace elements were determined in milk formulas, powder milk and infant food. Instrumental neutron activation analysis was used for the analysis of Fe, Zn, Co, Cr and Rb, while As and Cu content was determined using radiochemical neutron activation analysis. Differences were found in the trace element content of foods of the same type. Milk formulas are comparable with human milk according to the results obtained for the elements analyzed. The samples of powder cow's milk presented similar concentrations of the elements studied. Liver with vegetables was found to have the highest Cu content. A meal prepared at home, made of beef and fresh vegetables showed a higher trace element content than its similar commercial one. An estimation of the daily intake of the elements analyzed was made and compared with minimum recommended daily ingestion.
Phthalates are ubiquitous environmental contaminants that, due to their lipophilicity, migrate more readily into beverages with higher ethanol content. The aim of this work was to study the occurrence of phthalates in samples during the plum spirit production and in the final product, plum spirit manufactured by registered producers from five European countries, using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A decreasing trend of mean values was observed for diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-iso-butyl phthalate (DiBP), and di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) as the distillation process went on. Levels of benzyl-butyl phthalate (BBP) and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) increased in the distillation phase compared to concentrations in the preceding phases. In commercial plum spirits, DEHP and DiBP were detected in the highest concentrations. Results also indicated that a moderate daily consumption of plum spirit does not pose a health risk regarding the Tolerable Daily Intake of BBP, DEHP, and DBP
An investigation on the quality characteristics of wheat bread enriched with seeds of high-oleic sunflower is reported which included important parameters that affect its nutritional quality (chemical composition, fatty acid composition: saturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, linoleic and linolenic acid, tocopherol content: α-, β-, γ-, δ-content of essential microelement selenium) and its sensory quality. The study also includes the assessment of a persistent pollutant, benzo[a]pyrene. The objective of the study was to determine and compare the concentrations of nutrients and contaminants of the control and enriched wheat bread in order to assess the benefits and potential risks of regular consumption of these products. It was found that bread enriched with seeds of high-oleic sunflower would significantly improve the daily intake of fat, fibre, selenium, α-tocopherol and linolenic acid. Regular consumption of a daily portion of such bread (300 g) would not incur significantly increased health risk from contaminant.
Artificial sweeteners were introduced in therapy as sugar substitutes for diabetic patients. Nowadays these substances are widely used for sugar substitution in low calorie drinks and sweets. Most commonly used products to date are saccharine, cyclamate, aspartame, and acesulfam; maximum accepted daily intakes are stated for each one.A simple reverse phase (RP18) HPLC-UV method with direct detection (196 nm) was developed by us in order to measure the concentrations of the three sweeteners. No sample preparation is required, other than dilution. Limits of detection are 12 mg l−1, 0.5 mg l−1 and lower than 0.25 mg l−1 for cyclamate, aspartame and saccharine, respectively. Concentrations ranged between 113.14–280.07 mg l−1 in the case of cyclamate, 17.96–50.94 mg l-1 for saccharine, and 9.94–296.82 mg l−1 for aspartame.
Abstract
The content of the following trace elements, Ag, Co, Cr, Cs, Fe, Hg, Rb, Sb, Se and Zn has been evaluated in the diets, excretion (urines and feces), blood and hair samples taken from different groups of subjects. Each population group is composed by five or more individuals selected in order to be representative of the adult population living in a well defined community. Some communities, with different socio-economical living habits, and displaced in different regions of Italy, have been considered in order to detect the variability, if any, of the trace element distribution among the Italian population. The data obtained seem to show a reasonable uniformity of the average trace element daily intakes in different regions of Italy. Beside the individual variability, very significant differences among the groups studied have not been found, as the trace element contents in excreta, blood and hair samples are concerned. All data are compared with similar data referred to population living in other countries.
Abstract
Extensive use of pan, by one-tenth of world"s population, entails the evaluation of trace element contents in its ingredients. Radiochemical neutron activation analysis (RNAA) was developed and successfully employed to determine the concentration of 36 trace elements (essential, toxic and nonessential) in its four basic ingredients, leaf of betel pepper, betel nut, catechu and lime. The radiochemical separation methodology has significantly improved the detection limits of most of these elements due to suppression of Compton background. This study provides the base-line values of certain toxic and essential elements in these ingredients. The daily intake of essential and toxic elements through pan was estimated and compared with the recommended values. The cumulative intake of Mn is four times higher than the recommended value and that of toxic elements is well below the tolerance limits.
Abstract
Nineteen natural herbs and two prescriptions prepared from mixed herbs were analyzed via epithermal neutron activation analysis (ENAA) to evaluate their bromine and iodine concentration. Traditional medical doctors prescribed the samples presented in this work to most Taiwanese children for strengthening their immune systems. Empirical results indicated a wide diversity of bromine in the samples. Yet, the iodine concentration was only around one to tenth or twentieth of the bromine. The maximum daily intake (MDI) for various medical herbs was also widely diversified from one to tenfold on the basis of various criteria. The minimum detectable concentration (MDC) of bromine and iodine found was 0.42±0.14 ppm and 0.067±0.016 ppm, respectively. Compared to that from conventional thermal neutron activation analysis (NAA) for a similar evaluation, the extremely low MDC obtained here was attributed to the large amount of thermal neutron absorption during sample irradiation.
Abstract
Twenty different brands of Chinese tea were analyzed for multiple trace elements, including some essential and toxic elements, by neutron activation analysis (NAA). A comparison among tea brands from China, India, US and other countries was made for the ranges and averages of concentrations for Na, K, Mn, Cu, and Br. It has been observed that the trace element contents in tea leaves are largely dependent upon the soil and the environment where the tea grows. Chinese tea is rich in Mn and Cu comparing with those of other counties surveyed, but is indigent in Na. The transference ratio for each element determined (i.e., the fraction of an element in tea leave transferred into solution when tea is leached by percolation) is also reported. Adult daily intakes of some essential and toxic elements from tea drinking were also estimated.
Summary
Dietary intakes of eighteen elements and 40K were estimated by Japanese subjects using a market basket study. High concentrations of most nuclides were found in 4 categories among 18 categories (nuts and seeds, bean products, seaweeds, and fishes and shellfishes). The main contributors were rice, bean products, and fishes and shellfishes. Daily intakes were estimated (in mg) as follows: sodium 3.91 . 103; potassium: 2.49 . 103; phosphorus: 1.09 . 103; calcium: 551; magnesium: 273; iron: 9.82; zinc: 9.41; manganese: 3.54; strontium: 2.52; rubidium: 2.34; copper: 1.61; barium: 0.543; chromium: 0.283; nickel: 0.172; lithium: 0.060; cadmium: 0.022; cesium: 0.0091; cobalt: 0.0095; and 40K: 89 Bq.
Summary
Extensive use of coffee, by one-third of world's population, entails the evaluation of trace element contents in it. Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) was successfully employed to determine the concentration of 20 trace elements (essential, toxic and nonessential) in four samples of coffee beans of various origins and two instant coffee brands most commonly consumed in Pakistan. This study provides the base-line values of certain toxic and essential elements in coffee. The daily intake of essential and toxic elements through coffee was estimated and compared with the recommended values. The cumulative intake of Mn is four times higher than the recommended value and that of toxic elements is well below the tolerance limits.
