Honey as a bioindicator of environmental organochlorine insecticides contamination

Honey is a suitable matrix for the evaluation of environmental contaminants including organochlorine insecticides. The present study was conducted to evaluate residues of fifteen organochlorine insecticides in honey samples of unifloral and multifloral origins from Dir, Pakistan. Honey samples (5 g each) were extracted with GC grade organic solvents and then subjected to Rotary Evaporator till dryness. The extracts were then mixed with n-Hexane (5 ml) and purified through Column Chromatography. Purified extracts (1μl each) were processed through Gas Chromatograph coupled with Electron Capture Detector (GC-ECD) for identification and quantification of the insecticides. Of the 15 insecticides tested, 46.7% were detected while 53.3% were not detected in the honey samples. Heptachlor was the most prevalent insecticide with a mean level of 0.0018 mg/kg detected in 80% of the samples followed by β-HCH with a mean level of 0.0016 mg/kg detected in 71.4% of the honey samples. Honey samples from Acacia modesta Wall. were 100% positive for Heptachlor with a mean level of 0.0048 mg/kg followed by β-HCH with a mean level of 0.003 mg/kg and frequency of 83.3%. Minimum levels of the tested insecticides were detected in the unifloral honey from Ziziphus jujuba Mill. Methoxychlor, Endosulfan, Endrin and metabolites of DDT were not detected in the studied honey samples. Some of the tested insecticides are banned in Pakistan but are still detected in honey samples indicating their use in the study area. The detected levels of all insecticides were below the Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) and safe for consumers. However, the levels detected can cause mortality in insect fauna. The use of banned insecticides is one of the main factors responsible for the declining populations of important insect pollinators including honeybees.

Development of ball surface acoustic wave gas chromatograph for environmental monitoring in spacecraft and its application on the ground

For on-site analysis of surface materials on the moon, planets, and small bodies and for the monitoring of air quality in crewed spacecraft, we have developed a portable gas chromatograph (GC) equipped with a ball surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor. In this study, we fabricated a 10 cm cube GC that implements the forward flush method using two metal micro-electro-mechanical-system (MEMS) columns coated with different stationary phases in microchannels fabricated by wet etching and diffusion bonding of stainless-steel plates. Using this GC, we succeeded in analyzing 10 kinds of gas within 10 min. In addition, for the application of the ball SAW GC on the ground, we also developed a palm-sized GC with a single metal capillary column and used it in the analysis of the headspace gas of sake. We showed that the ratio of peak areas differed among odorants depending on the brand and brewing process of sake.

Organic Residues Analysis of Oil Bottle of Goryeo Dynasty Excavated from the Soejeoul Site, Geumneung-dong, Chungju

Organic residues are substances derived from diverse natural sources. Recent scientific analysis of organic residues has yielded important information in restoring the lifestyles of ancient peoples. In this study, the organic material contained within the celadon oil bottle of the Goryeo dynasty, excavated from the Soejoul site in Geumneung-dong, Chungju, was analyzed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS). The results showed that the organic materials in the bottle were plant-derived oils. In particular, polyunsaturated fatty acids and phytosterols were detected using GC-MS analysis. Sesamin components were also identified. Sesamin, which is a characteristic component of sesame seeds, is a lignan and an antioxidant. As the organic residues in the oil bottle were derived from sesame seeds, it is presumed that sesame oil was stored in the bottle.

Bicyklo[4.4.0]dekan. Metoda oznaczania w powietrzu na stanowiskach pracy

Bicyclo[4.4.0]decane (BCD), also known as decalin, is a colorless liquid with the scent of camphor, menthol and naphthalene. This substance can be fatal if swallowed or entered a respiratory tract. It can cause severe skin burns and eye damage, and is toxic if inhaled. The aim of this study was to develop a method for determining BCD in workplace air, which will allow the determination of its concentrations at the level of 5 mg/m3 . The method was based on adsorption of BCD vapors on activated carbon, desorption with acetone solution in carbon disulfide and chromatographic analysis of the obtained solution. The study was performed with a gas chromatograph (GC) with a flame ionization detector (FID) equipped with a DB-VRX capillary column (60 m × 0.25 mm, 1.4 µm). The method was validated in accordance with the requirements of Standard No. EN 482. The method allows the determination BCD in workplace air in the concentration range 5–200 mg/m3 . The method for determining BCD has been recorded in the form of an analytical procedure (see Appendix). This article discusses the problems of occupational safety and health, which are covered by health sciences and environmental engineering.

Akrylonitryl. Metoda oznaczania w powietrzu na stanowiskach pracy Anna Jeżewska, Agnieszka Woźnica

Acrylonitrile (AN) is highly flammable, colorless liquid with an unpleasant odor. Acrylonitrile is used in industry to produce polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and its copolymers. Acrylonitrile can cause cancer. The aim of this study was to develop a method for determining acrylonitrile in workplace air which will allow determination of its concentrations at the level of 0.1 mg/m3 . The method was based on adsorption of acrylonitrile vapors on activated carbon, desorption with acetone solution in carbon disulfide and chromatographic analysis of the obtained solution. The study was performed using a gas chromatograph (GC) with a flame ionization detector (FID) equipped with a DB-VRX capillary column (60 m × 0.25 mm, 1.4 µm). The method was validated in accordance with the requirements of Standard No. EN 482. The method allows the determination of acrylonitrile in workplace air at the concentration range from 0.1 to 2 mg/m3. The method for determining acrylonitrile has been recorded in the form of an analytical procedure (see Appendix). This article discusses the problems of occupational safety and health, which are covered by health sciences and environmental engineering.

Investigation of Volatile Compounds in Combination with Multivariate Analysis for the Characterization of Monofloral Honeys

Lately there has been a growing demand for monofloral honeys with distinctive properties. Considering the limitations of pollen analysis, the volatile profile of honey has been proposed as a helpful supplementary tool for the confirmation of monoflorality; however, research remains regarding the volatile markers that may characterize the monofloral honey types. Therefore, in this study, we tried to expand the research by investigating the aroma profiles of five monofloral honey types (fir, pine, erica, thyme, cotton) and discriminate them through chemometric approach. A purge and trap–gas chromatograph–mass spectrometer system was used for the extraction, separation, and identification of volatile and semi-volatile compounds. Thyme honey had the richest quantitatively aroma profile, with 97 volatile compounds, whereas fir and cotton honeys had 65 and 60 volatile compounds, respectively. From a total of 124 compounds, the 38 were detected in all the studied honey types. Thyme honey was distinguished by the presence (or percentage participation) of benzeneacetaldehyde, benzealdehyde, and benzyl nitrile; erica honey of isophorone and furfural; cotton honey of 1-butanol, 2-methyl, 1-pentanol, and 4-methyl-; and honeydew honeys of α-pinene, octane, and nonanal. The discriminant analysis confirmed that the percentage participation of volatile compounds may lead to the discrimination of the studied monofloral honey types.

Development and calibration of an integrative passive sampler for monitoring VCM in drinking water networks

This paper evaluates the applicability of a new sampling device for monitoring vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) in drinking water networks. This system consists of an adsorbing cartridge filled with a strong adsorbent enclosed between two sheets of polyethylene-polyamide membrane. The passive sampler (PS) combines preconcentration on the cartridge with easy extraction by thermal desorption into a gas chromatograph (GC), coupled with a tandem mass spectrometer (MS/MS). In order to estimate the suitability of the device for this application, samplers were calibrated in a hydraulic pilot under controlled parameters. The influences of temperature, flow velocity and variation of concentration of exposure were then examined. Linear uptake was observed during a VCM exposure of 12 days and the effect of temperature on the sampling rate was evaluated. This sampling device responds to an aquatic environmental contamination and Public Health issue, both by the organic volatile contaminant monitored in this environment, and by the sampling approach, still little used in drinking water networks. It offers a complementary monitoring to the current technique, providing a more representative assessment of the temporal contamination.

Analysis of organochlorine DDT residue along with its metabolites in dry fishes from some selected markets of Dhaka city

A study was investigated to estimate the current status of health hazardous organochlorine insecticide DDT and its metabolites DDE and DDD in different species of dry fish. To achieve the goal of this experiment, ten different sun-dried fish samples were collected from different markets of Dhaka city. The concentration of DDT, DDE and DDD was determined using the capillary column coupled to Gas Chromatograph with Electron Captured Detector (GC-ECD). Most of the dry fishes, seven out of ten samples, were found to be contaminated with DDT along with its metabolites DDE and DDD ranging from 0.029-1.22 mg/kg which is a serious concern because of the nature of long persistency and bioaccumulation of DDT in the environment. The highest concentration of DDT (1.22 mg/kg) was observed in Pampus chinensis dry fish whereas low concentration was detected in Otolithoides pama (0.029 mg/kg). Asian Australas. J. Food Saf. Secur. 2021, 5 (2), 79-84