Occurrence of phthalate esters and preliminary data on microplastics in fish from the Tyrrhenian sea (Italy) and impact on human health.

Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are chemical pollutants widely distributed in the marine environment. They can accumulate in biota, posing a risk to the marine ecosystem and humans. The aim of this study was to measure the content of PAEs in the gills and muscles of three fish species (Mugil cephalus, Diplodus annularis, and Mullus barbatus) caught along the coast of Campania (Italy), as well as to ascertain the dietary exposure to PAEs through the consumption of fish.

Effects of Covid-19 pandemic lockdown and environmental pollution assessment in Campania region (Italy) through the analysis of heavy metals in honeybees.

The Covid-19 outbreak had a critical impact on a massive amount of human activities as well as the global health system. On the other hand, the lockdown and related suspension of working activities reduced pollution emissions. The use of biomonitoring is an efficient and quite recent tool to assess environmental pollution through the analysis of a proper bioindicator, such as bees.

Heavy Metals in the Muscle and Hepatopancreas of Red Swamp Crayfish () in Campania (Italy).

The aim of this study was to carry out a quali-quantitative analysis of the presence of non-essential and essential trace elements in freshwater crayfish () edible tissues to establish the healthiness of this product and to evaluate the pollution status of the sampling sites included in the present study. is one of the most common species of freshwater crustaceans in Italy, regularly consumed by local people. Moreover, the crayfish, due to its trophic position and diet, can be considered as an excellent bioindicator of the health status of the ecosystem.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), arsenic, chromium and lead in warty crab (Eriphia verrucosa): occurrence and risk assessment.

This study assesses the PAH and heavy metal levels in muscle of warty crabs (Eriphia verrucosa), from the northern coast of the Campania region improving the data on toxic contaminants in this crustacean. The results showed a minimal PAH contamination; the mean concentrations were as follows: 0.2, 1.

Chemistry of Tropical Eucheumatoids: Potential for Food and Feed Applications.

The use of seaweeds as additives in animal nutrition may be a valid option to traditional feed as they represent a rich source of minerals, carbohydrates and antioxidants. The aim of this study was to analyze the chemical composition and in vitro antioxidant capacity of two tropical eucheumatoids, and , in Malaysian wild offshore waters. The chemical analysis was performed via inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy for evaluating the concentration of toxic (Cd, Pb, Hg, As) and essential elements (Mn, Fe, Cu, Ni, Zn, Se); NMR spectroscopy was used for carrageenans investigation.

Ochratoxin A Levels in Tissues of Wild Boars () from Northern Italy.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin produced by and , capable of contaminating several foodstuffs. OTA damages primarily the kidneys, and is suspected to be a carcinogenic substance, thus maximum levels for OTA in foodstuffs have been established in the EU. Italian Ministry of Health suggested a maximum level of 1 μg/kg OTA in pork meat and derived products.

Spartium junceum L. poisoning in small ruminants.

An outbreak of neurological disorders in a flock of 20 sheep coming from a rural farm in Civitella Roveto, Italy, occurred in winter 2015. All the animals showed tonic-clonic convulsions followed by muscle paralysis associated with dilated pupils, tremor, tachycardia, tachypnea and diarrhea. The presence of bundles of dry broom of Spartium junceum L.

Red orange and lemon extract prevents the renal toxicity induced by ochratoxin A in rats.

In this work, we investigated the effects of red orange and lemon extract (RLE) on ochratoxin A (OTA)-induced nephrotoxicity. In particular, we analyzed the change in renal function and oxidative stress in Sprague-Dawley rats treated with OTA (0.5 mg/kg body weight, b.

Metal Concentration in Muscle and Digestive Gland of Common Octopus () from Two Coastal Site in Southern Tyrrhenian Sea (Italy).

constitute an important part of most suitable marine resources for human consumption, however, they can represent a source in chemical contaminants intake such as heavy metals. In this scenario, the aim of the study was the evaluation of the concentration of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg) in the muscle and digestive gland of octopus caught from two different locations along Campania coast (Castellammare di Stabia and Napoli) and the estimation of their weekly human intake derived from the ingestion of octopus. Analysing 38 samples showed a higher concentration of Pb in the muscle of octopus in Castellammare di Stabia than in Napoli.

Intestinal Morphometry, Enzymatic and Microbial Activity in Laying Hens Fed Different Levels of a Larvae Meal and Toxic Elements Content of the Insect Meal and Diets.

To evaluate the effects of feeding a (HI) larvae meal on the different intestinal traits of hens, and to determine the toxic elements' concentration in the insect meal and diets, 162 hens were randomly allotted to three groups. The control received a corn-soybean meal-based diet (SBM); the HI25 and HI50 groups received two diets in which the 25% and 50% of the dietary protein were replaced by the HI protein, respectively. The duodenal and jejunal villi height and villi/crypt were higher ( < 0.

Evaluation of Aflatoxin M1 Effects on the Metabolomic and Cytokinomic Profiling of a Hepatoblastoma Cell Line.

Hepatoblastoma incidence has been associated with different environmental factors even if no data are reported about a correlation between aflatoxin exposure and hepatoblastoma initiation. Considering that hepatoblastoma develops in infants and children and aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), the aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) hydroxylated metabolite, can be present in mothers' milk and in marketed milk products, in this study we decided to test the effects of AFM1 on a hepatoblastoma cell line (HepG2). Firstly, we evaluated the effects of AFM1 on the cell viability, apoptosis, cell cycle, and metabolomic and cytokinomic profile of HepG2 cells after treatment.

Anthelminthic Efficacy of (Vahl) R.Br (Acanthaceae) Extracts on Gastrointestinal Nematodes of Sheep.

The anthelminthic efficacy of the crude extracts of (Vahl) R.Br (Acanthaceae) against gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) in sheep was investigated using the in vitro egg hatch inhibition assay. Faecal samples were collected from sheep with naturally occurring infection of GIN ( spp.

Aflatoxin B1 and M1: Biological Properties and Their Involvement in Cancer Development.

Aflatoxins are fungal metabolites found in feeds and foods. When the ruminants eat feedstuffs containing Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), this toxin is metabolized and Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is excreted in milk. International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified AFB1 and AFM1 as human carcinogens belonging to Group 1 and Group 2B, respectively, with the formation of DNA adducts.

Accumulation of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Mussels: A Proteomic Study.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are environmental pollutants of industrial origin that can contaminate food, mainly food of animal origin. Although production of PCBs has been banned in many countries since the 1980s, they are still present in the environment and are considered dangerous pollutants for human health. In fact, they can bioaccumulate in living organisms such as marine organisms because of their chemical and physical properties.

Shelf Life of Anchovy Products (): Evaluation of Sensory, Microbiological and Chemical Properties.

Fishery products have always been an important food in Italy. In the past, increased consumption was mainly due to the good quality of the products, easiness of use and their beneficial effects on health. Recently, owing to the national financial crisis, there has been a decline in the consumption of fish.

Increasing the reliability of production schedules in a pharmaceutical packaging department.

This paper studies quantitative methods for evaluating the potential benefits of introducing new advanced tracking technologies in the pharmaceutical industry with special reference to radio frequency identification (RFID). RFID technology is an effective way for increasing the quality of the data that are used to generate production schedules, but there is a lack of scientific research to quantify the return on investment that can be achieved in practice. In this work, we distinguish two major sources of data unreliability: one is the inherent stochasticity of operations, which cannot be reduced by RFID, and the other one is the data estimation error, which can be significantly reduced by RFID.