scholarly journals Heavy Metals Contamination in Shellfish: Benefit-Risk Evaluation in Central Italy

Foods ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 1720
Author(s):  
Francesca Barchiesi ◽  
Raffaella Branciari ◽  
Mario Latini ◽  
Rossana Roila ◽  
Giuseppe Lediani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Evaluation ◽  
Sea Urchins ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Daily Intake ◽  
Italian Population ◽  
Bivalve Mollusks ◽  
Human Diet ◽  
Consumption Benefit ◽  
Italian Coasts ◽  
Cadmium Lead

Seafood is a source of nutrients in human diet but also of environmental contaminants and its consumption could pose a risk to consumers’ health. A survey regarding the exposure to cadmium, lead and mercury through the consumption of bivalve mollusks, gastropods and sea urchins collected on Italian coasts was carried out among central Italian population over a period of three years. A limited number of samples exceeds the threshold set by legislation (6 samples) and the average level of contamination was low in all the species considered. The contribution Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) was higher for cadmium (9.17%) than lead (1.44%) and mercury (0.20%). The benefit-risk evaluation suggests that the bivalve mollusks and sea urchins consumption (Benefit Risk Quotient < 1) could be increased without health detrimental effects.

Management of Sludge Use on Land

1978 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 476-480 ◽  
Author(s):  
CHARLES F. JELINEK ◽  
GEORGE L. BRAUDE
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Protection Agency ◽  
Daily Intake ◽  
Industrial Chemicals ◽  
Lead And Cadmium ◽  
Federal Water Pollution Control ◽  
Food And Feed ◽  
Special Concern ◽  
Cadmium Lead ◽  
Daily Intakes ◽  
Persistent Pesticides

Passage of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act in 1972 has caused a huge increase in the amount of sewage sludge for disposal. The Food and Drug Administration has worked with the Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies to recommend proper management of the application of sludges to food and feed crops to ensure the safety and wholesomeness of the food supply. FDA's concerns about contamination of food by pathogenic microorganisms, heavy metals, persistent pesticides and industrial chemicals such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are described. The reasons for special concern about direct application of sludge onto growing food and feed crops are discussed. The estimated daily intake of lead and cadmium, as compared to the proposed tolerable daily intakes, is presented, together with FDA's program to develop sufficient data on the natural background levels of these metals in raw agricultural products. Limitations recommended to prevent hazardous cadmium, lead, PCB and pathogen contaminations of food and feeds by sludge are presented.

Cadmium, lead and mercury in muscle tissue of gilthead seabream and seabass: Risk evaluation for consumers

2019 ◽  
Vol 124 ◽  
pp. 439-449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisavet A. Renieri ◽  
Irina V. Safenkova ◽  
Athanasios Κ. Alegakis ◽  
Elvira S. Slutskaya ◽  
Venetia Kokaraki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Tissue ◽  
Risk Evaluation ◽  
Gilthead Seabream ◽  
Cadmium Lead

scholarly journals Combining Selenium Biofortification with Vermicompost Growing Media in Lamb’s Lettuce (Valerianella locusta L. Laterr)

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1072
Author(s):  
Lucija Galić ◽  
Marija Špoljarević ◽  
Alicja Auriga ◽  
Boris Ravnjak ◽  
Tomislav Vinković ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Waste ◽  
Animal Feed ◽  
Daily Intake ◽  
Leafy Vegetables ◽  
Sodium Selenate ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Human Diet ◽  
Growing Media ◽  
Plant Foods ◽  
Growing Medium

Leafy vegetables are a daily part of the human diet all over the world. At the same time, a worldwide problem of Se malnutrition is present in human populations, mostly due to low soil Se contents. As plants represent the main source of this element in the human diet, with Se being an essential trace element for humans and animals, plant foods containing Se can be used as an efficient means of increasing the Se in the human diet, as well as in animal feed (biofortification). At the same time, the production of growing media relies on limited peat reserves. The use of earthworms facilitates the production of composted organic masses mostly consisting of organic waste, called vermicompost. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of three different growing media (commercial peat media, vermicompost, and a 1:1 mixture) on Se biofortification’s efficacy and yield in lamb’s lettuce. The Se biofortification was performed with sodium selenate (Na2SeO4). It was shown that biofortification increased the Se contents such that a mass of only 48.9 g of fresh leaves contained enough Se for the recommended daily intake in human nutrition (55 µg Se/day), which represents a significant potential for solving Se malnutrition. Furthermore, the use of a 1:1 vermicompost–commercial substrate mixture showed a similar performance to the peat growing medium, contributing to the preservation of peat reserves.

Variations in the Survival of Adult Cancer Patients in Italy

1997 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
pp. 497-504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gemma Gatta ◽  
Eva Buiatti ◽  
Ettore Conti ◽  
Vincenzo De Lisi ◽  
Fabio Falcini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Geographical Area ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Relative Survival ◽  
Cancer Registries ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Italian Population ◽  
Age Class ◽  
General Survival ◽  
General Improvement

Aims As part of the ITACARE project, the present study analyzed and compared population-based data on the survival of adult cancer patients in Italy, according to sex, age, period of diagnosis and geographical area. Methods Nine Italian population-based cancer registries provided data on all their cancer patients (total 90,431 cases) followed for at least 5 years and diagnosed during the period 1978–1989. About 10% of the Italian population is covered by these registries. The data was analyzed by means of a multivariate model. Results The major findings were that there was a general improvement in 5-year relative survival over the study period (from 33% to 39%) and that there were significant differences in survival between different areas of the country, particularly for cancer sites which respond well to treatment. In general, the area covered by the Ragusa (Sicily) registry was characterized by significantly worse survival than other registry populations. Other important findings were that for all malignant cancer sites 5-year relative survival decreased with age from 50% for the youngest age class (15–44 years) to 27% for the oldest age class (75+ years) and that women have a better prognosis for most cancer sites (overall 5-year relative survival in women 48% vs 32% in men). Conclusions The significant regional differences in survival may reflect unequal provision of care, particularly between northern-central Italy and the south. The reasons for the general survival improvement with time are not completely understood, whereas the marked overall sex difference is related to the fact that the commonest cancer in women (breast cancer) is eminently more treatable than the commonest malignancy in men (lung cancer). The unfavorable trend with increasing age may be due to increasing difficulty in applying complete therapy protocols as general health declines, sometimes in relation to an advanced cancer stage at diagnosis.

scholarly journals Vitamin D Status in a Rural Italian Population

Reports ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Ornella Morsilli ◽  
Raffaella Guerriero ◽  
Luigi Palmieri ◽  
Cinzia Lo Noce ◽  
Tanja Zeller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Hypovitaminosis D ◽  
Solar Irradiation ◽  
Italian Population ◽  
Vitamin D Status ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Younger Women ◽  
Hydroxyvitamin D

Vitamin D is known as an antirachitic factor, although it also plays a critical role in several nonskeletal diseases. In our study, we evaluated vitamin D status and sex, age and seasonal association in a general population cohort living in central Italy. Data from 1174 men and 2274 women aged 20–81 were analyzed, and stored serum samples were assayed for 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D). Vitamin D was low in both sexes with values significantly lower in women than in men; furthermore, its deficiency was highly correlated with age. The younger men had just sufficient 25(OH)D levels (32.3 ng/mL ± 13.2), which decreased with increasing age. The younger women showed insufficient 25(OH)D levels (24.8 ng/mL ± 11.9) that, as with men, further decreased with increasing age. This study demonstrated that hypovitaminosis D may be a very frequent condition also in a rural central Italian area with remarkable solar irradiation throughout the year. Our data clearly indicated an evident seasonal trend: at the end of the winter, serum 25(OH)D levels of the examined cohort were below the official sufficient value for both adult sexes. Sufficient levels were just reached in summer for men and only at the end of summer for young women.

scholarly journals Human Health Risk Evaluation of Organophosphate Insecticide Residues in Post-Harvest Cowpea in Gwagwalada, Abuja, Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (28) ◽  
Author(s):  
Motunrayo G. Akande ◽  
Fatimah S. Sanni ◽  
Ndidi G. Enefe
Keyword(s):  
Health Risks ◽  
Risk Evaluation ◽  
Hazard Quotient ◽  
Human Health Risk ◽  
Daily Intake ◽  
Hazard Index ◽  
Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Organophosphate Insecticide ◽  
Insecticide Residues ◽  
Cowpea Varieties

Background Cowpea is a leguminous crop commonly grown and eaten in Nigeria. Organophosphate insecticides are frequently used to control insect populations in cowpea crops. Objectives The present study was conducted to investigate the concentrations of organophosphate insecticide residues in cowpea varieties in Gwagwalada, Nigeria, and assess health risks to consumers. Methods Samples of brown and white cowpea varieties were collected from Gwagwalada market, Abuja, Nigeria. Concentrations of organophosphate insecticide residues in the cowpea samples were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with selective ion monitoring. Risk evaluation was carried out by the determination of estimated daily intake, hazard quotient and chronic hazard index. Results The organophosphates detected in the cowpea varieties were malathion, parathion, ethion and carbophenothion. The concentrations of insecticides in the cowpea types were higher than the maximum residue limits recommended by the European Union (EU) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). The hazard quotient values were less than 100% for malathion, parathion and ethion in the cowpea varieties for adults and children. The hazard quotient of carbophenothion for adults was below 100% for the cowpea types, while the hazard quotient surpassed 100% for children. The chronic hazard indexes for children were 364% and 276% for the brown and white cowpea types, respectively. Conclusions The results obtained in the present study indicate that consumers, particularly children, may be exposed to health risks through the consumption of cowpea types. Consequently, monitoring and regulation of organophosphate insecticide usage in Nigeria should be intensified.

scholarly journals Risk Characterization and Benefit–Risk Assessment of Brominated Flame Retardant in Commercially Exploited Freshwater Fishes and Crayfish of Lake Trasimeno, Italy

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (16) ◽  
pp. 8763
Author(s):  
Rossana Roila ◽  
Raffaella Branciari ◽  
David Ranucci ◽  
Arianna Stramenga ◽  
Tamara Tavoloni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Flame Retardants ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Dietary Exposure ◽  
Freshwater Fishes ◽  
Italian Population ◽  
Risk Characterization ◽  
Fish Products ◽  
Benefit Risk Assessment ◽  
Umbria Region

Among brominated flame retardants (BFRs), polybrominateddiphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) were the most widely used in past decades. BFRs not being chemically bonded to polymers means they can easily leach from the products into the environment and bioaccumulate. Humans are exposed to flame retardants mainly through food consumption, especially fish and fish products. In the present study, the occurrence of PBDEs and HBCDs in freshwater fishes and crayfish from Lake Trasimeno (Umbria region, central Italy) was assessed according to monitoring plans recommended by European competent authorities. The dietary exposure of the central Italian population to such molecules was calculated, and the risk characterization and the benefit–risk evaluation were also assessed. A total of 90 samples were analyzed by means of gas and liquid chromatography associated with triple quadrupole mass spectroscopy. A total of 51% of samples were found positive for at least one of the congeners; the most frequently found molecule was BDE-47. The data on dietary exposure ranged from 0.138 to 1.113 pg/kg body weight/day for ∑PBDE and from 0.805 to 0.868 pg/kg body weight/day for ∑HBCD. The data show no health risks for the central Italian population consuming freshwater fish products from Lake Trasimeno in relation to exposure to PBDE and HBCD.

The Availability of Histologic Grading among 5,923 Italian Cancer Patients and Its Relationship with Survival: A Population-Based Study

2000 ◽  
Vol 86 (2) ◽  
pp. 130-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emanuele Crocetti ◽  
Alessandro Barchielli ◽  
Andrea Amorosi ◽  
Francesco Bartoloni Saint Omer ◽  
Massimo Biancalani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Central Italy ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Relative Survival ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Italian Population ◽  
Population Based Study ◽  
Histologic Grading ◽  
Corpus Uteri ◽  
Disease Extension ◽  
Well Differentiated

Aim The specific goal of the study was to evaluate the availability of the histologic grading of cancer and its effect on survival in an Italian population-based cancer series. Methods Data were drawn from the Tuscany Cancer Registry, active in central Italy since 1985. Among the cases incident during the period 1985 to 1989, bladder, prostate, colon, corpus uteri, rectum and stomach cancers, for which the proportion of graded cases exceeded 50%, were analyzed. Overall, 5,923 cancer cases were included. Ten-year relative survival rates by grade were computed. Results Overall, data on histologic grading was available only for 38% of cases. The sites most frequently graded were urinary bladder (80%), prostate (73%), colon (71%), corpus uteri (69%), rectum (65%) and stomach (56%). For all the cancer sites analyzed, the 10-year relative survival rates increased as the histologic grading improved. The grade distribution resulted related also to the disease extension, more limited the extension higher the proportion of well differentiated cases. Conclusions Due to the evidenced importance of histologic grading as a valuable prognostic factor, it should be requested by clinicians and reported by pathologists more frequently than has been done in the area.

SO089THE EVOLUTION OF THE RENAL FUNCTION IN A COHORT OF ITALIAN PATIENTS WITH ADPKD: AN ANALYSIS BY THE JOINT MODEL

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Galliani ◽  
Elio Vitaliano ◽  
Silvana Chicca ◽  
Antonio Paone ◽  
Luca Di Lullo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Renal Function ◽  
Cox Model ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Mixed Linear Model ◽  
Joint Model ◽  
Italian Population ◽  
Time To Event ◽  
Longitudinal Model ◽  
History Of

Abstract Background and Aims The natural history of ADPKD has been defined in numerous studies in various countries and in various genetic and environmental contexts but the problem has not yet been studied in sufficiently large studies in the Italian population. We have studied the evolution of ADPKD in a cohort of 445 incident patients enrolled in a time span between 2012 and 2016 in 28 nephrological centers in 3 regions of central Italy. The main demographic and clinical characteristics of this cohort are reported below. [GRAPHICS] Method The analysis was carried out on a sample of 296 patients with at least 2 creatinine measurements prior to ESKD and with eGFR at onset ≥45 ml/min/1.73m2. The median follow-up was 15 years (range 1-42 years). The analysis of the data was carried out with the Joint model, an approach that allows the simultaneous modeling of longitudinal (repeated over time) and time to event ESKD or GFR&lt;45 ml/min/1.73m2 data. This approach produces two sub-models: a longitudinal model (mixed linear model, sub-model A in the table) and a time to event model (Cox model, survival sub-model B in the Table). The two models are mutually associated through an analytical structure that quantifies the relationship between the variables of interest. [GRAPHICS] [GRAPHICS] Results The average eGFR decline in the entire population was -2.13 ml/min/1.73m2/year. In males the decline in GFR was significantly higher than in females (M: -2.63 ml/min/1.73m2; in F -1.74 ml/min/1.73m2/year, p &lt;0.005) while it was not significant differences are observed for the different age groups considered separately in the two sexes (p = 0.158 in the M; p = 0.625 in the F). In the longitudinal model the age at diagnosis &gt;30 years and the presence of hypertension were significantly associated with an accelerated decline in GFR and patients older than 50 years exhibited a reduction by 35 ml/min/1.73m2 greater than those younger than 30 years. In the survival model the GFR trend and sex were associated with the risk of renal survival. For each incremental baseline unit of GFR the risk for ESKD decreased by 16% (HR: 0.84) and in females the risk was about one third compared to males (HR: 0.31). Conclusion This study, the first to apply the joint model in the analysis of the evolution of renal function in ADPKD and the first in a sizeable cohort in Italy, provides important information on the progression of polycystic kidney disease in an incident series of Italian patients with ADPKD.

Flooding risk evaluation over the Agro Pontino area in central Italy by using a timeseries of satellite Copernicus data

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilaria Moriero ◽  
Giovanni Anconitano ◽  
Mario Giannini ◽  
Angela Celauro ◽  
Maria Antonietta Marsella ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Evaluation ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Flooding Risk
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