Microbial Risk Assessement of the Contamination Level of Bovine Carcasses Slaughtered in an Abattoir in Maramureş County

At the urging of competent national authorities, a limited risk assessment on Salmonella in chicken meat preparations in Belgium was undertaken following a retail-to-table approach. The input distribution of Salmonella was based on surveillance data in Belgium. To analyze the relative impact of reducing the risk of salmonellosis associated with a decrease in the Salmonella contamination level, different distributions based on the actual situation but limiting the number of portions containing Salmonella at 1 CFU per 1, 10, and 25 g of meat were used in the quantitative microbial risk assessment model. The quantitative microbial risk assessment model also was run several times with a theoretical fixed input of Salmonella assuming all portions possessed the same fixed contamination level set at 1,000, 100, 10, and 1 CFU/g of meat and 1 CFU per 10, 25, 100, and 1,000 g of meat. With regard to the initial contamination level, the results indicate, both by the narrowing of the current distribution and by the fixed input, that especially the higher levels of contamination (>1 CFU/g) contribute to the increased risk for salmonellosis.

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Studies and Application of Auger Monitoring System for Quality Control and Assurance of Al Bondpads

ISTFA 2016: Conference Proceedings from the 42nd International Symposium for Testing and Failure Analysis ◽

10.31399/asm.cp.istfa2016p0287 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Hua Younan

Keyword(s):

Quality Control ◽

Sample Preparation ◽

Monitoring System ◽

Failure Mechanisms ◽

Wafer Fabrication ◽

Contamination Level ◽

Auger Analysis ◽

Low Level ◽

Monitoring Frequency ◽

Control Procedures

Abstract In wafer fabrication (Fab), Fluorine (F) based gases are used for Al bondpad opening process. Thus, even on a regular Al bondpad, there exists a low level of F contamination. However, the F level has to be controlled at a lower level. If the F level is higher than the control/spec limits, it could cause F-induced corrosion and Al-F defects, resulting in pad discoloration and NSOP problems. In our previous studies [1-5], the theories, characteristics, chemical and physical failure mechanisms and the root causes of the F-induced corrosion and Al-F defects on Al bondpads have been studied. In this paper, we further study F-induced corrosion and propose to establish an Auger monitoring system so as to monitor the F contamination level on Al bondpads in wafer fabrication. Auger monitoring frequency, sample preparation, wafer life, Auger analysis points, control/spec limits and OOC/OOS quality control procedures are also discussed.

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Influence of Anthropogenic Pressures on Groundwater Quality from a Rural Area

Revista de Chimie ◽

10.37358/rc.17.8.5756 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 68 (8) ◽

pp. 1744-1748

Author(s):

Catalina Stoica ◽

Gabriela Geanina Vasile ◽

Alina Banciu ◽

Daniela Niculescu ◽

Irina Lucaciu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Anthropogenic Activities ◽

Groundwater Resources ◽

Bacterial Load ◽

Animal Husbandry ◽

Anthropogenic Factors ◽

Contamination Level ◽

Anthropogenic Pressures ◽

Limit Values ◽

Physico Chemical

During the past few decades, the anthropogenic activities induced worldwide changes in the ecological systems, including the aquatic systems. This work analysed the contamination level of groundwater resources from a rural agglomeration (Central-Western part of Prahova County) by biological and physico-chemical approaches. The study was performed during the autumn of 2016 on several sampling sites (four drilling wells, depth higher than 100 m supplying three villages; two wells lower than 10 m depth and one spring). The water quality was evaluated by comparison with the limit values of the drinking water quality legislation (Law no.458/2002) and the Order 621/2014 (applicable to all groundwater bodies of Romania). The results showed that phenols and metals (iron and manganese) exceeded the threshold values in all sampling sites. Moreover, the anthropogenic factors including agriculture, use of fertilizers, manures, animal husbandry led to an increase of the bacterial load, particularly at wells sites.

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Evaluation of Microbial Risk Assessment Techniques and Applications

Water Intelligence Online ◽

10.2166/9781780404141 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 3 (0) ◽

pp. 9781780404141-9781780404141

Author(s):

J. A. Soller ◽

A. W. Olivieri ◽

J. N. S. Eisenberg ◽

R. Sakajii ◽

R. Danielson

Keyword(s):

Risk Assessment ◽

Microbial Risk Assessment ◽

Microbial Risk ◽

Assessment Techniques

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Risk assessment of Campylobacter species in shellfish: identifying the unknown

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1997.0705 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 35 (11-12) ◽

pp. 29-34 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

P. Teunis ◽

A. Havelaar ◽

J. Vliegenthart ◽

G. Roessink

Keyword(s):

Risk Assessment ◽

Quantitative Risk Assessment ◽

Contamination Level ◽

Risk Of Infection ◽

Worst Case ◽

Considerable Uncertainty ◽

Risk Estimates ◽

Consumption Data ◽

Campylobacter Infection ◽

Campylobacter Spp

Shellfish are frequently contaminated by Campylobacter spp, presumably originating from faeces from gulls feeding in the growing or relaying waters. The possible health effects of eating contaminated shellfish were estimated by quantitative risk assessment. A paucity of data was encountered necessitating many assumptions to complete the risk estimate. The level of Campylobacter spp in shellfish meat was calculated on the basis of a five-tube, single dilution MPN and was strongly season-dependent. The contamination level of mussels (<1/g) appeared to be higher than in oysters. The usual steaming process of mussels was found to completely inactivate Campylobacter spp so that risks are restricted to raw/undercooked shellfish. Consumption data were estimated on the basis of the usual size of a portion of raw shellfish and the weight of meat/individual animal. Using these data, season-dependent dose-distributions could be estimated. The dominant species in Dutch shellfish is C. lari but little is known on its infectivity for man. As a worst case assumption, it was assumed that the infectivity was similar to C. jejuni. A published dose-response model for Campylobacter-infection of volunteers is available but with considerable uncertainty in the low dose region. Using Monte Carlo simulation, risk estimates were constructed. The consumption of a single portion of raw shellfish resulted in a risk of infection of 5–20% for mussels (depending on season; 95% CI 0.01–60%). Repeated (e.g. monthly) exposures throughout a year resulted in an infection risk of 60% (95% CI 7–99%). Risks for oysters were slightly lower than for mussels. It can be concluded that, under the assumptions made, the risk of infection with Campylobacter spp by eating of raw shellfish is substantial. Quantitative risk estimates are highly demanding for the availability and quality of experimental data, and many research needs were identified.

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Routes for salmonella contamination of poultry meat: epidemiological study from hatchery to slaughterhouse

Epidemiology and Infection ◽

10.1017/s0950268802007380 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 129 (2) ◽

pp. 253-265 ◽

Cited By ~ 111

Author(s):

M. HEYNDRICKX ◽

D. VANDEKERCHOVE ◽

L. HERMAN ◽

I. ROLLIER ◽

K. GRIJSPEERDT ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Horizontal Transmission ◽

Poultry Meat ◽

Contamination Level ◽

Solid Agar ◽

Determining Factors ◽

Production Stages ◽

Animal Material ◽

Semi Solid ◽

Therapeutic Doses ◽

Broiler House

Data were collected on the prevalence of salmonella at different stages during the life cycle of 18 broiler flocks on different farms as well as during slaughter in different poultry slaughterhouses. For the isolation of salmonella, the highest sensitivity (93.9%) was obtained by enrichment in the semi-solid agar Diasalm. The ‘overshoe method’ utilizing several pairs of overshoes provided the highest sensitivity for determining the salmonella status of the broilers during rearing. A clear decrease of the relative importance of the first production stages was demonstrated for the salmonella contamination of the end product, whereas horizontal transmission of salmonella to broilers during rearing and to broiler carcasses in the slaughterhouse was shown to be the main determinative factor. Ten of the 18 flocks received a salmonella positive status with the highest shedding occurring during the first 2 weeks of rearing. The shedding of the animals was significantly negatively influenced by the use of subtherapeutic or therapeutic doses of antibiotics. The intake of portable material in the broiler house was identified as the most important risk factor for horizontal transmission. Significant associations were found between the contamination level of a flock and hygiene of the broiler house, feed and water in the broiler house and both animal and non-animal material sampled in the environment. No correlation was found between contamination during the rearing period and contamination found after slaughtering. The presence of faecal material in the transport crates and predominantly the identity of the slaughterhouse seemed to be the determining factors for carcass quality. Improved hygiene management during transport of broilers and in some slaughterhouses could significantly reduce the risk of salmonella contamination of poultry meat.

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Clostridia in Insect Processed Animal Proteins—Is an Epidemiological Problem Possible?

Agriculture ◽

10.3390/agriculture11030270 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 270

Author(s):

Tomasz Grenda ◽

Krzysztof Kwiatek ◽

Magdalena Goldsztejn ◽

Magdalena Sapała ◽

Nina Kozieł ◽

...

Keyword(s):

16S Rdna ◽

Animal Feed ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Contamination Level ◽

Type D ◽

Botulinum Type ◽

Livestock Animal ◽

Contamination Levels ◽

Rdna Analysis ◽

Clostridium Spp

The aim of this study was the evaluation of the insect processed animal protein (IPAP) contamination level by Clostridium spp. Particularly, we screened for the occurrence of pathogenic species of Clostridia. The samples of IPAP were derived from yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) and black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) available in the Polish market. The IPAPs were added to experimental feeds for poultry. The differences between the contamination levels of the control (without the addition of IPAP) and experimental (with the addition of IPAP) groups were monitored. The samples were also examined by culture and PCR-based methods to detect 16S rDNA and genes determining botulinum toxin (BoNT) production. Statistical significance was noticed among the feed with the IPAP addition, as well as an increase of contamination by Clostridium spp. In one sample of IPAP, the occurrence of ntnh and bont/D genes determining the production of BoNT/D was noticed. However, a positive result was noticed only at the step of the liquid culture; the Clostridium botulinum type D strain was not isolated. Phenotypically, and according to the 16S rDNA analysis, genetically similar strains to C. botulinum species were isolated. Considering the microbiological safety of IPAP and expanding possibility of its use in livestock animal feed, it seems to be reasonable to provide complex risk assessment on the potential transfer of Clostridia into feed compounds, to assure the safety and sustainable development of insect PAP industry.

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Synonymous single nucleotide polymorphism in arsenic (+3) methyltransferase of the Western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) and its gene expression among field populations

Ecotoxicology ◽

10.1007/s10646-021-02376-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Daesik Park ◽

Catherine R. Propper ◽

Guangning Wang ◽

Matthew C. Salanga

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Sequence Variation ◽

Allelic Variation ◽

Arsenic Concentration ◽

Gambusia Affinis ◽

Contamination Level ◽

Water Medium ◽

Single Nucleotide ◽

Wide Range ◽

High Arsenic

AbstractNaturally occurring arsenic is toxic at extremely low concentrations, yet some species persist even in high arsenic environments. We wanted to test if these species show evidence of evolution associated with arsenic exposure. To do this, we compared allelic variation across 872 coding nucleotides of arsenic (+3) methyltransferase (as3mt) and whole fish as3mt gene expression from three field populations of Gambusia affinis, from water sources containing low (1.9 ppb), medium-low (3.3 ppb), and high (15.7 ppb) levels of arsenic. The high arsenic site exceeds the US EPA’s Maximum Contamination Level for drinking water. Medium-low and high populations exhibited homozygosity, and no sequence variation across all animals sampled. Eleven of 24 fish examined (45.8%) in the low arsenic population harbored synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in exons 4 and/or 10. SNP presence in the low arsenic population was not associated with differences in as3mt transcript levels compared to fish from the medium-low site, where SNPs were noted; however, as3mt expression in fish from the high arsenic concentration site was significantly lower than the other two sites. Low sequence variation in fish populations from sites with medium-low and high arsenic concentrations suggests greater selective pressure on this allele, while higher variation in the low population suggests a relaxed selection. Our results suggest gene regulation associated with arsenic detoxification may play a more crucial role in influencing responses to arsenic than polymorphic gene sequence. Understanding microevolutionary processes to various contaminants require the evaluation of multiple populations across a wide range of pollution exposures.

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Enteric virus presence in green vegetables and associated irrigation waters in a rural area from Argentina. A quantitative microbial risk assessment

LWT ◽

10.1016/j.lwt.2021.111201 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 144 ◽

pp. 111201 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Prez Verónica Emilse ◽

Victoria Matías ◽

Martínez Laura Cecilia ◽

Giordano Miguel Oscar ◽

Masachessi Gisela ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Assessment ◽

Rural Area ◽

Enteric Virus ◽

Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment ◽

Microbial Risk Assessment ◽

Microbial Risk ◽

Irrigation Waters

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Eco-Friendly Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Nanofiber-Based Air Filter for Effectively Capturing Particulate Matter

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app11093831 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (9) ◽

pp. 3831

Author(s):

Han-Jung Kim ◽

Dong-In Choi ◽

Sang-Keun Sung ◽

Su-Han Lee ◽

Sang-Jin Kim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Particulate Matter ◽

Quality Factor ◽

Vinyl Alcohol ◽

Nonwoven Fabric ◽

Poly Vinyl Alcohol ◽

Contamination Level ◽

Plastic Pollution ◽

Air Filters ◽

Air Filter ◽

Filter Surface

Due to the increasing use of polypropylene-based nonwoven dust masks and air filters, environmental problems that occur due to the plastic pollution resulting from the disposal of these materials have also increased. Hence, an eco-friendly air filter based on PVA nanofibers (NFs) was fabricated by electrospinning on a nonwoven fabric, and its performance was evaluated as a filter capable of blocking or capturing particulate matter. The quality factor of the optimized PVA NF-based air filter was found to be 0.010606 Pa−1, which is lower than that of a HEPA filter (0.015394 Pa−1), but higher than that of a cabin air filter (0.010517 Pa−1) and a dust mask (0.009102 Pa−1). The contamination level of the PVA NF-based filter was analyzed by optical and structural analyses of the filter surface. Finally, the filter was soaked in water to selectively remove the contaminated PVA NF layer, and the remaining nonwoven fabric was able to be reused to make the filter.

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