Smoking-induced increasing of oxidative stress in Spanish adults: A urinary biomonitoring study.

Oxidative stress (OS) arises from an imbalance between excessive oxidant radicals and insufficient antioxidant defences, leading to damage to lipids, proteins or DNA. OS levels in humans are influenced by health, nutrition, and environmental exposures. A key biomarker of endogenous oxidative DNA damage is 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG).

Acrylamide content in popcorn from Spanish market: Risk assessment.

Snacks, including popcorn, are increasingly consumed in Spain and are susceptible to acrylamide (AA) formation. AA, classified as a probable human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), is produced via the Maillard reaction between reducing sugars and amino acids, particularly glucose, and asparagine, when foods are heated above 120 °C. This study aims to analyze the AA content in 91 popcorn samples, categorized by flavor (salted, butter, caramel, flavored, colored, unflavored) and cooking method (ready-to-eat, popcorn maker, microwave), and assess dietary AA exposure in the Spanish population.

Development of a greener and sustainable method to determine acrylamide in corn products by LC-MS/MS: Evaluation of levels in corn-based products.

Acrylamide (AA) is produced through the reaction between sugars and amino acids present in starchy foods cooked at high temperature. It is classified as probably carcinogenic to humans. In 2019, the European Commission reported a list of foods for monitoring the presence of AA, which includes cereal snacks.

Rapid immunochemical methods for the analysis of proquinazid in strawberry QuEChERS extracts.

Proquinazid is a new-generation fungicide authorized in the EU for combating powdery mildew infections in high-value crops. Due to the perishable nature of fruits, alternative analytical methods are necessary to protect consumer's health from pesticide residues. Currently, immunoassays are a well-established approach for rapidly monitoring chemical contaminants.

Development and validation of an analytical method for determination of citrinin in red rice and red yeast rice-based food supplements by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

Citrinin is a hepato-nephrotoxic mycotoxin produced by fungal species. The Monascus purpureus fungus plays a crucial role in the fermentation of red rice to produce red yeast rice-based food supplements, which represent the primary source of human exposure to citrinin. In this study, a simple and sensitive analytical method was successfully developed and validated for the citrinin determination in these products.

Determination of synthetic hallucinogens in oral fluids by microextraction by packed sorbent and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

A fast and simple procedure based on microextraction by packed sorbent (MEPS) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) has been developed for the simultaneous quantification of 28 synthetic hallucinogens in oral fluids, including lysergic acid diethylamide and substances from NBOMe, NBOH, NBF, 2C, and substituted amphetamine categories. Extraction conditions such as type of sorbent, sample pH, number of charge/discharge cycles, and elution volume were studied. Hallucinogenic compounds were extracted from oral fluid samples using C18 MEPS, loading with 100 μL sample (adjusted to pH 7) in 3 cycles, washing with 100 μL deionized water, and eluting with 50 μL methanol in 1 cycle, giving quantitative recoveries and no significant matrix effects.

Two constructed wetlands within a Mediterranean natural park immersed in an agrolandscape reduce most heavy metal water concentrations and dampen the majority of pesticide presence.

The water concentrations of 12 heavy and other metals/metalloids were analyzed seasonally along two horizontal-flow constructed wetlands (CWs) (Tancat Mília-TM and Tancat l'Illa-TLI) located within the Mediterranean Albufera de València Natural Park during 2020-2021. A wide-scope screening of pesticides present in waters was also performed. The two CWs were created to improve water quality and increase biodiversity.

Skin Permeation of Hazardous Compounds of Tobacco Smoke in Presence of Antipollution Cosmetics.

Negative health effects of active and passive smokers have been widely described, but the effect of tobacco smoke on the skin has been less explored. In this study, an analytical methodology has been developed to evaluate the dermal permeation of hazardous compounds present in tobacco smoke, using an exposition chamber to simulate finite and infinite smoking conditions, vertical Franz diffusion cells, and Strat-M membranes as human skin simulants. Moreover, the antipollution effect of three cosmetics has been evaluated, showing a significant efficacy to reduce dermal permeation of hazardous tobacco-smoke compounds such as of nicotine and aromatic hydrocarbons.

Review of the state of the art of acrylamide human biomonitoring.

Human biomonitoring (HBM) is a very useful tool for assessing human exposure to acrylamide (AA). In the framework of the Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU) AA was included in its second list of priority substances due to the potential threat to human health. HBM data on AA are scarce, but the use of specific and sensitive biomarkers represents a reliable indicator of exposure.

Analysis of drugs including illicit and new psychoactive substances in oral fluids by gas chromatography-drift tube ion mobility spectrometry.

In this study, a gas chromatograph (GC) has been coupled to a drift tube ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) in order to develop an analytical procedure for the determination of psychoactive substances in oral fluids. Working parameters, including the GC-IMS interface ones, were adjusted in order to obtain sensitive and robust signals. A volume of 500 μL of oral fluid was extracted with 250 μL chloroform and, after centrifugation, were injected into the GC-IMS system.

Metabolism of third generation synthetic cannabinoids using zebrafish larvae.

Synthetic cannabinoids are the second largest group of new psychoactive substances reported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in the last decade and case reports bring attention to its high potency effects and its severe toxicity, including fatalities. Moreover, synthetic cannabinoids are usually entirely metabolized and metabolic pathways for many new generation synthetic cannabinoids are still unknown. In this study, the metabolism of five third generation synthetic cannabinoids was evaluated using zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae as 24-h in vivo model studied within 5 days after fertilization.

Dual mixed-mode poly (vinylpyridine-co-methacrylic acid-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate)-based sorbent for acidic and basic drug extraction from oral fluid samples.

In this study, a dual mixed-mode polymer sorbent was prepared via one-step thermally initiated polymerization of 4-vinylpyridine (VP), methacrylic acid (MAA) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) for the solid-phase extraction (SPE) of basic and acidic drugs. The use of VP and MAA as ionizable functional monomers allowed the tailoring of ion-exchange and hydrophobic features of the polymer. The obtained polymer was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy.

Skin Penetration of Hazardous Air Pollutants in Presence of Antipollution Cosmetics.

Different a n tipollution products have recently irrupted the market to answer current health concerns related to air contamination. Thus, the development of methodologies for the appropriate evaluation of the efficacy of these products is needed. In this study, an appropriate analytical methodology has been developed and validated for the evaluation of the effectiveness of antipollution cosmetic products against the dermal absorption of different hazardous air pollutants (HAPs).

Sample preparation strategies for the determination of psychoactive substances in biological fluids.

This review focuses on the existing analytical procedures for the determination of new psychoactive substances (NPS) in biological fluids by chromatographic methods. Direct analysis of samples is scarcely employed and most proposed methodologies include a sample pre-treatment in order to remove matrix interferents and, in some cases, pre-concentrate extracts. Current extraction methods for NPS determination in plasma/serum, urine, and oral fluids have been widely discussed, such as liquid-liquid, solid-phase, and micro extraction approaches, highlighting the advantages and drawbacks of the proposed extraction methodologies.

Determination of Third-Generation Synthetic Cannabinoids in Oral Fluids.

A procedure has been developed for the determination of third-generation synthetic cannabinoids in oral fluid samples by using a semi-automated microextraction by packed sorbent (MEPS) procedure and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) determination. Five synthetic cannabinoids were employed as model compounds 5F-ADB, MMB-CHMICA, THJ-2201, CUMYL-4CN-BINACA and MDMB-CHMCZCA. The most adequate operative conditions for MEPS were evaluated giving quantitative recoveries, from 89 to 124%, in synthetic and field saliva samples spiked with 125 and 250 μg/L of the studied cannabinoids, with the exception of MDMB-CHMCZCA in field saliva samples that provided slightly lower recoveries from 62 to 66%.

Unexpected identification and characterization of a cathinone precursor in the new psychoactive substance market: 3',4'-methylenedioxy-2,2-dibromobutyrophenone.

3',4'-methylenedioxy-2,2-dibromobutyrophenone has been identified and fully characterized in a sample obtained from an anonymous consumer acquired as ketamine through the Internet market. The substance has been deeply characterized by using standard and high performance analytical techniques such as: attenuated total reflectance-infrared spectroscopy, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, high-resolution mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, and nuclear magnetic resonance, including H, C, distortionless enhancement by polarization transfer, two dimensional homonuclear H-H correlation spectroscopy, and H-C heteronuclear single-quantum correlation spectra. 3',4'-methylenedioxy-2,2-dibromobutyrophenone is a precursor or intermediate in the synthesis of several synthetic cathinone derivatives, such as pentylone and methylenedioxy pyrovalerone.

Direct and fast determination of polychlorinated biphenyls in contaminated soils and sediments by thermal desorption-gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

A direct procedure based on thermal desorption-gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS-MS) was developed for the fast extraction of seven polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from sediments and soils. PCBs were directly extracted, from 20 to 75 mg of sample, without any chemical pre-treatment or use of organic solvents, after the addition of 10 µL internal standard (PCB 195) in acetone. Sample treatment was totally automated.

Determination of the new psychoactive substance dichloropane in saliva by microextraction by packed sorbent - Ion mobility spectrometry.

A simple procedure based on microextraction by packed sorbent (MEPS) has been proposed for the extraction of dichloropane in oral fluids and its determination by ion mobility spectrometry (IMS). Extraction conditions such as type of sorbent (octyl and octadecyl silica), sample pH, number of sample loadings, and elution volume were evaluated to obtain the most appropriate values. Dichloropane was extracted from saliva samples using C8 MEPS, loading with 100 μL sample (adjusted to pH 7) in 4 cycles, washing with 100 μL deionized water, and eluting with 50 μL 2-propanol in 10 cycles.

Amphetamine-type stimulants analysis in oral fluid based on molecularly imprinting extraction.

A methamphetamine-based molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) has been prepared by bulk polymerization to recognize new psychoactive substances (NPS) of the amphetamine, cathinones and 2C families in oral fluid samples, being the first precedent of a synthetized MIP for the extraction and preconcentration 32 NPS including amphetamine type substances and synthetic cathinones from oral fluids. Pre-polymerization complex and resulting materials were appropriately characterized by infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms. Appropriateness of the material for the specific recognition of the target analytes was also evaluated through computational calculations and experimentally assessed by solid phase extraction (SPE).

Fast extraction of cannabinoids in marijuana samples by using hard-cap espresso machines.

A simple, quick and low cost procedure was developed for the extraction of Δ-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol, and cannabinol from marijuana samples, based on the use of a hard-cap espresso extraction with 2-propanol. After extraction, cannabinoids were directly determined after appropriate dilution by gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry, reaching a limit of detection from 0.03 to 0.

Rationally designed haptens for highly sensitive monoclonal antibody-based immunoanalysis of fenhexamid.

Immunochemical methods have been consolidated during the last few years as complementary analytical strategies for chemical contaminant and residue determination. However, generation of suitable immunoreagents for small organic molecules demands adequate hapten design. In this study, fenhexamid was considered as a model compound and novel haptens were designed and synthesized in order to evaluate the influence of the linker tethering site on antibody binding properties and immunoassay parameters.

Development of immunosorbents for the analysis of forchlorfenuron in fruit juices by ion mobility spectrometry.

The advantages of using smart materials as immunosorbents in the analysis of complex matrices by ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) have been highlighted in this study. A novel analytical method has been proposed for the sensitive, selective, and fast determination of residues of the plant growth regulator forchlorfenuron in fruit juices. Three different monoclonal antibodies (s3#22, p2#21, and p6#41) were employed for the production of immunosorbents, based on Sepharose gel beads, which were characterized in terms of loading capacity, solvent resistance, and repeatability for its use in solid-phase extraction (SPE).

Highly sensitive monoclonal antibody-based immunoassays for boscalid analysis in strawberries.

Boscalid is an agrochemical recently developed for crop protection and the most significant member of the succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor group of fungicides. In this study, a collection of high-affinity monoclonal antibodies was generated to boscalid. By using a series of haptens with a linker at alternative tethering sites of the boscalid framework, specific antibodies were isolated as well as antibodies that also recognized the main boscalid metabolite.

Assessment of air passive sampling uptakes for volatile organic compounds using VERAM devices.

A calibration chamber has been designed and employed for the simple and easy determination of uptake sampling rate (R) of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from air using passive samplers. A flow of clean air was continuously spiked, at a constant VOC concentration, by the microinjection of a standard solution by means of a T-type tube. The developed system allowed the complete evaporation at room temperature of the standard solution in acetone and the air concentration of VOCs was easily controlled by the regulation of the clean air flow, the standard solution concentration and its flow.

Magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers for the selective determination of cocaine by ion mobility spectrometry.

Magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (MMIPs) were prepared for cocaine recognition by bulk polymerization in the presence of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). Two reagents (polyethylene glycol (PEG) and 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (V)) were used for MNPs modification. MMIPs were characterized and compared in terms of loading capacity, reusability, accuracy and precision for the extraction of cocaine from saliva samples.