Investigation of milk quality after removal of AFM1 using lactic acid bacteria and beta-glucan

Contamination of milk with aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is related to the feed for milking cows, which is contaminated with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). Feed AFB1 converts to AFM1 by dehydrogenation. In this study, we used Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from raw milk and its products and commercial or laboratory-made beta-glucan isolated from yeast and oats to establish how these mycotoxin binders affect the quality of sterilised, long-life, 2.8% fat milk contaminated with 0.05 mg/L of AFM1. We took the content of fats, carbohydrates, sugars (lactose), and proteins, and the calculated energy values for quality parameters. The mean energy value of the milk treated with AFM1 binders ranged between 85.7% and 101.5% of the control, untreated milk, whereas the fat content ranged between 65.3% and 100.7%. The protein content ranged between 64.4% and 101.1%, carbohydrates between 83.1% and 103%, and lactose between 76.3% and 100.8%. The results indicated a good possibility of binding of AFM1 with Lactobacilus plantarum bacteria, and 0.01% of β-glucan from oats was 0.005% of β-glucan isolated from yeast from Saccharomyces cerevisiae 20. These findings suggest that milk treated with these binders can be processed further and that its treatment significantly reduces the risk of exposure through diet and the related economic damage

Investigation of milk quality after removal of AFM1 using lactic acid bacteria and beta-glucan

Contamination of milk with aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is related to the feed for milking cows, which is contaminated with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). Feed AFB1 converts to AFM1 by dehydrogenation. In this study, we used Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from raw milk and its products and commercial or laboratory-made beta-glucan isolated from yeast and oats to establish how these mycotoxin binders affect the quality of sterilised, long-life, 2.8% fat milk contaminated with 0.05 mg/L of AFM1. We took the content of fats, carbohydrates, sugars (lactose), and proteins, and the calculated energy values for quality parameters. The mean energy value of the milk treated with AFM1 binders ranged between 85.7% and 101.5% of the control, untreated milk, whereas the fat content ranged between 65.3% and 100.7%. The protein content ranged between 64.4% and 101.1%, carbohydrates between 83.1% and 103%, and lactose between 76.3% and 100.8%. The results indicated a good possibility of binding of AFM1 with Lactobacilus plantarum bacteria, and 0.01% of β-glucan from oats was 0.005% of β-glucan isolated from yeast from Saccharomyces cerevisiae 20. These findings suggest that milk treated with these binders can be processed further and that its treatment significantly reduces the risk of exposure through diet and the related economic damage

Presence of citrinin in grains and its possible health effects

Background: Citrinin is a mycotoxin produced by several species of the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium and Monascus and it occurs mainly in stored grain. Citrinin is generally formed after harvest and occurs mainly in stored grains, it also occurs in other plant products. Often, the co-occurrence with other mycotoxins is observed, especially ochratoxin A, which is usually associated with endemic nephropathy. At the European Union level, systematic monitoring of Citrinin in grains began with the aim of determining its highest permissible amount in food. Thus, far the systematic monitoring of the above mentioned mycotoxin in Croatia is yet to begin.Materials and Methods: The main goal of this study was to determine the presence of Citrinin in grains sampled in the area of Međimurje, Osijek-Baranja, Vukovar-Srijem and Brod-Posavina County. For the purpose of identification and quantification of citrinin, high performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC) with fluorescence was used (Calibration curve k ≥ 0.999; Intra assay CV = 2.1%; Inter assay CV = 4.3%; LOQ < 1 μg/kg).Results: From the area of Međimurje County, 10 samples of corn and 10 samples of wheat were analyzed. None of the samples contained Citrinin (<1 μg/kg). From the area of Osijek-Baranja and Vukovar-Srijem County, 15 samples from each County were analyzed. The mean value for the samples of Osijek-Baranja County was 19.63 μg/kg (median=15.8 μg/kg), while for Vukovar-Srijem County the mean value of citrinin was 14,6 μg/kg (median=1.23 μg/kg). From 5 analyzed samples from Brod-Posavina County, one of the samples contained citrinin in the amount of 23.8 μg/kg, while the registered amounts in the other samples were <1 μg/kg.Conclusion: The results show that grains from several Counties contain certain amounts of Citrinin possibly indicating a significant intake of citrinin in humans. It must be stated that grains and grain-based products are the basis of everyday diet of all age groups, especially small children, where higher intake of citrinin can occur. Consequently, we emphasize the need for systematic analysis of larger amount of samples, from both large grains and small grains, especially in the area of Brod-Posavina County, in order to obtain more realistic notion of citrinin contamination of grains and to asses the health risk in humans.Keywords: Citrinin, cereals, Balkan nephropathy, risk assessmen

SELENIUM AND HEAVY METAL LEVELS IN VEGETABLES AND TISSUES OF THREE NON-MIGRATORY BIRDS EXPOSED TO SOIL, WATER, AND AQUATIC SEDIMENT CONTAMINATED WITH SELENIFEROUS RAŠA COAL

Rudarenjem i spaljivanjem ugljena u okoliš se ispuštaju onečišćivala koja se tamo zadrže desetljećima. Rad donosi podatke o koncentraciji Se i teških metala (As, Cd, Cu, Cr, Hg, Pb, Sr, U, V i Zn) u salati, krumpiru i tkivima (jetra, bubreg, srce i mišići) ptica stanarica (golub, šojka, i crna liska) iz područja Raškoga zaljeva (sjeverni Jadran, Hrvatska). Njihova izloženost povišenim razinama Se i teških metala u povrtnome tlu, površinskoj vodi i riječnome sedimentu onečišćenima visokosumpornim raškim ugljenom, obogaćenom sa S, Se, V i U, vrlo je vjerojatna. Rezultati upućuju na zagađenost vode selenom (do 78 μg/L ukupni Se u nefiltriranome uzorku), što je znatno iznad hrvatskoga regulacijskog praga od 10 μg/L ukupnoga Se. Dotična voda potječe s mjesta bivše jedinice za sortiranje i pranje ugljena, a pridneni sediment sadržava do 10,8 mg/kg ukupnoga Se, što je također iznad sigurne razine od 0,60 mg/kg ukupnoga Se. Štoviše, u većini uzoraka vode, kao i u analiziranim uzorcima povrća, tla i riječnoga sedimenta, povišene su vrijednosti Mo, U, V i Sr, uobičajeno povišenih u takvim ugljenima. Iako su Cu, Zn, Pb i V blago povišeni u uzorcima jetre ptica, ponajprije u crnoj liski u odnosu na ostale dvije ptice, pronađeno je da su vrijednosti Se odgovarajuće za njihov normalan rast. Činjenica da Se može biti opasan za okoliš i otrovan za život, čak i u malim količinama, dodatno potiče na daljnja znanstvena istraživanja ovoga problema.Coal mining and coal combustion release environmental contaminants which stay at emission sites for many decades. The paper reports total Se and heavy metals (As, Cd, Cu, Cr, Hg, Pb, Sr, U, V, and Zn) in lettuce, potato, and tissues (liver, kidney, heart, and muscle) of three non-migratory bird species (pigeon, jay, and black coot) from a Raša Bay area (North Adriatic, Croatia). They have presumably been exposed to elevated Se and metal levels in garden soil, surface water, and aquatic sediment contaminated with superhigh-organic-sulphur (SHOS) Raša coal, highly enriched in S, Se, V, and U. Results point at selenium contamination of stream water (up to 78 µg/L total Se in a non-filtered sample), which is well above the Croatian regulatory threshold of 10 µg/L total Se. The stream drains a site of the former coal-separation unit, and an associated bottom sediment contains up to 10.8 mg/kg total Se, which is also above the safe level of 0.60 mg/kg total Se. Moreover, values of Mo, U, V, and Sr, elements commonly elevated in SHOS coal varieties, were also increased in majority of water samples as well as in analysed vegetables, soil, and aquatic sediments. Although Cu, Zn, Pb, and V were slightly increased in liver samples of birds, more in black coot than the other two birds, selenium values were found to be adequate for their normal growth. The fact that Se can be environmentally hazardous and toxic to life, even in small doses, warrants further research on this topic

Uklanjanje aflatoksina M1 iz mlijeka s autohtonim bakterijama mliječne kiseline centrifugiranjem i filtriranjem

In order to minimise human exposure to aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) the levels of this highly carcinogenic mycotoxin in milk, heat-treated milk, and other dairy products have been limited to <0.05 μg kg-1. However, its removal from dairy products presents a challenge for dairy producers, as commercial additives change organoleptic properties, and filtration alone yields poor results. The aim of this study was to find a strain of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from milk or dairy products that most effectively binds AFM1 and to see whether heat treatment of the selected LAB affects the binding efficiency. We also wanted to investigate whether centrifugation can improve filtering of the obtained AFM1-LAB complexes from milk. To do that, we isolated and identified 10 native LAB species/strains, incubated their viable or heat-treated cells (108 CFU mL-1) in milk spiked with 0.5 μg L-1 of AFM1 at 4 °C for 0, 2, 4, and 24 h, and quantified the amount of unbound AFM1 with HPLC. AFM1 binding efficiency ranged from 21 to 92 % for viable cells and from 26 to 94 % for the heattreated ones. Since both viable and heat-treated Lactobacillus plantarum KM showed the best results, we used it for the next step in AFM1 removal from milk. Heat treatment in combination with filtration and centrifugation yielded removal as high as 96 %.Kako bi se smanjila izloženost ljudi aflatoksinu M1 (AFM1), razina toga visokokancerogenoga mikotoksina u mlijeku, termički obrađenome mlijeku i drugim mliječnim prerađevinama ograničena je na <0,05 μg kg-1. Međutim, njegovo uklanjanje iz mliječnih prerađevina pravi je izazov za proizvođače mlijeka, jer komercijalni aditivi mijenjaju njegova organoleptička svojstva, a sama filtracija daje slabe rezultate. Cilj ovoga rada bio je pronaći soj bakterije mliječne kiseline (BMK) iz mlijeka ili mliječnih prerađevina koji najučinkovitije veže AFM1 te vidjeti utječe li termičko tretiranje izabrane BMK na učinkovitost vezanja. Također, željeli smo istražiti može li centrifugiranje poboljšati filtriranje dobivenog AFM1-BMK kompleksa iz mlijeka. Kako bismo to učinili, izolirali smo i identificirali 10 autohtonih vrsta/sojeva BMK, inkubirali žive ili termički tretirane stanice (108 CFU mL-1) u mlijeku s 0,5 μg L-1 AFM1 na 4 °C tijekom 0, 2, 4 i 24 sata te kvantificirali nevezani AFM1 koristeći se HPLC-om. Učinkovitost vezanja AFM1 živim stanicama kretala se od 21 do 92 % te od 26 do 94 % termički tretiranim stanicama. Budući da su i žive i termički tretirane stanice Lactobacillus plantarum KM pokazale najbolje rezultate, navedeni se soj koristio u sljedećem koraku uklanjanja AFM1 iz mlijeka. Tretman toplinom u kombinaciji s filtracijom i centrifugiranjem rezultirao je uklanjanjem do 96 % AFM1 iz mlijeka

Uklanjanje kompleksa β-glukan-AFM1 iz mlijeka

Mikotoksini su sekundarni metaboliti toksikotvornih plijesni te su česti kontaminanti raznih prehrambenih proizvoda. Pojava aflatoksina M1 (AFM1) u mlijeku, prijetnja je zdravlju potrošača, posebice maloj djeci te dovodi do ekonomskih gubitaka zbog zbrinjavanja kontaminiranog mlijeka. Metode uklanjanja i/ili redukcije mikotoksina koje se koriste u prehrambenoj industriji troše velike količine energije i kemijskih sredstava, stoga biološke metode sve više dobivaju na značaju zbog svoje netoksičnosti i ekološkog aspekta. Cilj ovog rada je bio odrediti količinu nevezanog AFM1 nakon uklanjanja kompleksa β-glukan-AFM1 pomoću Centricon 70 Plus, MWCO 100 kDa filtera. U radu je upotrijebljen komercijalni β-glukan dobiven iz zobi i β-glukan izoliran iz biomase kvasca. Rezultati istraživanja ukazuju da je nakon uklanjanja kompleksa β-glukan-AFM1 u uzorku mlijeka zaostalo 35% AFM1 u slučaju kada je β-glukan dobiven iz zobi, odnosno 36,4% AFM1 kada je β-glukan izoliran iz kvasca

Geochemistry of Croatian superhigh-organic- sulphur Raša coal, imported low-S coal, and bottom ash: their Se and trace metal fingerprints in seawater, clover, foliage, and mushroom specimens

The Labin city area has represented the major Croatian coal mining, metal industry, and coal- fired electricity centre for more than two centuries. The domestic superhigh-organic- sulphur (SHOS) Raša coal is a unique variety compared to other coal types worldwide, based on its highest organic sulphur values, up to 11%. It was utilized in the Plomin coal-fired power plant during the period 1970-2000, and was replaced by an imported low-S coal afterwards. This paper presents the levels of S, Se, V, U, Hg, Sr, Cd, Cr, Pb, Cu, and Zn in the two coal types, their bottom ash, seawater, and plant (clover, mushroom, and foliage) specimens collected from the Labin city area, while the sulphate was measured in surface stream water. Their levels were compared with relevant legislative as well as the published data from different world localities. Data analysis was interpreted in the context of past and recent coal combustion activities

Cereals and milled products as a good source of magnesium in everyday diet

Žitarice predstavljaju najrasprostranjeniju i najvažniju kulturu za prehranu ljudi. Važne su i kao sirovina u prehrambenoj industriji te čine osnovu piramide prehrane. Mlinski proizvodi također predstavljaju osnovne prehrambene proizvode. Glavni su mlinski proizvodi prekrupa, krupica i brašno. Magnezij je mineral koji je iznimno važan element u ljudskom organizmu. Zauzima četvrto mjesto po zastupljenosti kationa u organizmu te je drugi najčešći u stanicama. Ima važnu ulogu za katalitičku aktivnost više od 300 enzima u enzimatskim sustavima. Najvažniji je za pravilan rad srca te kao regulator fosfora i kalcija u kostima. Cilj je ovog rada utvrditi količinu magnezija u odabranim žitaricama i mlinskim proizvodima te prikazati zdravstvenu dobrobit magnezija. Tijekom analize sastava žitarica i mlinskih proizvoda analizirano je sveukupno 28 uzoraka. Od toga je bilo pet uzoraka kukuruza u zrnu, sedam uzoraka pšenice, 11 uzoraka pšeničnog brašna, brašno od integralne heljde bez glutena, zobena kaša, prosena kaša, kaša zobi, ječma i pira te kaša riže, kukuruza i heljde. Analiza je provedena na Nastavnom zavodu za javno zdravstvo „Dr. Andrija Štampar”. Magnezij je nakon digestije s nitratnom kiselinom i vodikovim peroksidom u mikrovalnoj pećnici određen induktivno spregnutom plazmom s masenom spektrometrijom (ICP-MS). Količine magnezija u žitaricama iznosile su od 81,92 mg / 100 g do 145,21 mg / 100 g za pšenicu te od 111,68 mg / 100 g do 145,21 mg / 100 g za kukuruz. Prosječna vrijednost magnezija iznosila je 105,81 mg / 100 g za uzorke pšenice te 133,72 mg / 100 g za uzorke kukuruza u zrnu. Količina magnezija utvrđena u pšeničnom brašnu kretala se u rasponu od 23,17 mg / 100 g do 60,41 mg / 100 g, dok je srednja vrijednost magnezija iznosila 34,56 mg / 100 g. Količina magnezija u brašnu od integralne heljde bez glutena iznosila je 226,32 mg / 100 g. Utvrđena količina magnezija u zobenoj kaši, prosenoj kaši, kaši zobi, ječma i pira te kaši riže, kukuruza i heljde kretala se u rasponu od 76,77 mg / 100 g do 153,61 mg / 100 g. Srednja vrijednost magnezija za uzorke kaše iznosila je 122,98 mg / 100 g.Cereals represent the most prevailing and important culture for human consumption. They are also important as a raw material in the food industry and form the basis of the food pyramid. Milled products also represent basic food products. The main milled products are groats, semolina and flour. Magnesium is a mineral that is an extremely important element in the human body. It ranks fourth in the representation of cations in the body and is the second most common in cells. It plays an important role for the catalytic activity of more than 300 enzymes in the enzymatic systems. It is most important for proper heart function and as a regulator of phosphorus and calcium in the bones. The aim of this paper is to determine the amount of magnesium in selected cereals and milled products and to present the health benefits of magnesium. A total of twenty eight samples were analysed during the analysis of the composition of cereals and milled products. Of these, there were 5 samples of corn beans, 7 wheat samples, 11 samples of wheat flour, gluten-free whole buckwheat flour, oatmeal, millet porridge, porridge oats, barley and spelt, and rice, corn and buckwheat mash. The analysis was carried out at the Andrija Stampar Teaching Institute of Public Health. After microwave digestion with nitrate acid and hydrogen peroxide, magnesium was determined by inductively coupled plasma with mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The amounts of magnesium in cereals ranged from 81.92 mg/100 g to 145.21 mg/100 g for wheat, and from 111.68 mg/100 g to 145.21 mg/100 g for corn. The average magnesium value was 105.81 mg/100 g for wheat samples and 133.72 mg/100 g for grain corn samples. The amount of magnesium found in wheat flour ranged from 23.17 mg/100 g to 60.41 mg/100 g, while the mean magnesium value was 34.56 mg/100 g. The amount of magnesium in the flour from gluten-free wholegrain buckwheat was 226.32 mg/100 g. The determined amount of magnesium in oatmeal, millet porridge, porridge oats, barley and spelt and porridges of rice, corn and buckwheat ranged from 76.77 mg/100 g to 153.61 mg/100 g. The mean magnesium value for porridge samples was 122.98 mg/100 g

Provjera autentičnosti ekstrakta lista biljke Ginkgo biloba L. i proizvoda koji ga sadrže na hrvatskom tržištu putem analize količine i omjera ginkoflavonoglikozida (kvercetin, kempferol i izoramnetin) i terpenskih trilaktona u svrhu otkrivanja krivotvorenih pripravaka opasnih za zdravlje korisnika

Ginkgo biloba L. is the eldest plant growing on the Earth; preparations made of its leaves and seeds represent an integral part of the Chinese medicine for over a millennium. The plant species was first discovered by Linnaeus in 1771, its name thereby originating from the Latin words bis (two) and lobus (lobe), which duly illustrate the specific shape of its leaf. Contemporary Ginkgo biloba L. plant based pharmaceuticals mostly comprise extracts recovered from leaves harvested during fall, when the concentration of active components reaches its peak. Recent investigations have managed to establish the chemical composition of the plant leaf, together with the mechanisms underlying its beneficial effects on rheological profile of the blood and acceleration of its flow. High price of these preparations and their vast popularity have soon become an incentive for counterfeiting Ginkgo biloba L. extracts and the release of bogus drugs comprising cheaper extracts coming from other plants. Namely, modern Ginkgo biloba L.-based medicinal products and food supplements comprise extracts recovered from the plant leaf that get to be standardized according to its key pharmacological active components, most often flavone glycosides (represented in the share of 22%-27%) and terpene trilactones (represented in the share of 6%-7%). The flavonoids that predominate such preparations and are most relevant from the pharmacological standpoint are quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin, their total amount and mutual ratios, thereby being an unquestionable indicator of the extract authenticity. Therefore, most of the analyses aiming at verifying the authenticity of a given Ginkgo biloba L.-based product boil down to the analysis of these parameters. Counterfeiting involves partial or full replacement of the Ginkgo biloba L. extract (GBE) with a cheaper plant extract of a similar composition, the latter occasionally being enriched with an additional amount of flavonoids, most often quercetin, not originating from the Ginkgo biloba L. plant. The aim of this study was to verify the authenticity and quality of Ginkgo biloba L.-based products circulating on the Croatian market. To that effect, 10 samples of products produced by various manufacturers were analyzed in a certified laboratory. The parameters based on which the authenticity of the preparations was assessed were the shares of aglycones of typical ginkgo flavone glycosides, that is to say, quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin, and mutual ratios of the established quantities of quercetin to kaempferol as the key clues to unmasking Ginkgo extracts counterfeiting. The amount of ginkgo flavone glycosides was established using high performance liquid chromatography. The analysis proved 80% of the samples analyzed to be conformant to the label statements as regards the total amount of flavone glycosides and their mutual ratios. In 20% of the samples, the ratio of quercetin to kaempferol deviated from normal values; on top of that, the presence of the phytoestrogen genistein, one of the components typically comprised by the Sophora japonica L. plant, was also proven, documenting counterfeiting of the GBE and its replacement by the Sophora japonica L. extracts in the samples under consideration. Due to the untrue label statements descriptive of these products, the information on the presence of pharmacologically active genistein was neglected to be mentioned despite its unfavorable health impact that can be expected in some consumer groups. The results of this study indicated the frequency of counterfeiting the Ginkgo biloba L.-based products found on the Croatian market to be deemed substantial. Therefore, a more rigorous and more thorough control of these products and sanctioning of irresponsible manufacturers and distributers is proposed, so as to contribute to a higher market representation of high-quality products, as well as to avoid health risks and downsize the rate of their counterfeiting.Ginkgo biloba L. najstarija je biljka na zemlji, a pripravci od njegovih listova i sjemenaka dio su kineske medicine već više tisuća godina. Vrstu je 1771. godine otkrio Linnaeus, a ime je dobila od latinskih riječi bis, tj. dva i lobus zbog specifičnog oblika lista. Današnji farmaceutski oblici biljke Ginkgo biloba L. sadrže uglavnom ekstrakte iz listova ubranih ujesen kada je najveća koncentracija aktivnih komponenata. Suvremenim istraživanjima određen je kemijski sastav njegovog lista, a utvrđeni su i mehanizmi njegovog pozitivnog djelovanja na reološka svojstva krvi i ubrzanje njezinog protoka. Visoka cijena i velika popularnost ubrzo su postali poticaj za krivotvorenje ekstrakta biljke Ginkgo biloba L. jeftinijim ekstraktima drugih biljaka. Naime, suvremeni medicinski proizvodi i dodaci prehrani na osnovi biljke Ginkgo biloba L. sadrže ekstrakte njegovog lista koji se standardiziraju prema njegovim ključnim farmakološki aktivnim sastavnicama; najčešće je to 22%-27% flavonoid glikozida i 6%-7% terpenskih trilaktona. Kvercetin, kempferol i izoramnetin su dominantni i farmakološki najvažniji flavonoidi, a njihova ukupna količina i međusobni omjeri nedvojben su pokazatelj autentičnosti ekstrakta. Stoga se i većina analiza za utvrđivanje ispravnosti proizvoda koji sadrže biljku Ginkgo biloba L. temelji na analizi ovih parametara. Krivotvorenja podrazumijevaju djelomičnu ili potpunu zamjenu ektrakta Ginkgo biloba L. nekim jeftinijim biljnim ekstraktom sličnog sastava uz eventualno obogaćivanje dodatnom količinom flavonoida, najčešće kvercetina, koji ne potječu od biljke Ginkgo biloba L. Svrha ovoga rada bila je provjeriti autentičnost i kakvoću pripravaka Ginkgo biloba L. na hrvatskom tržištu. Analizirano je ukupno 10 uzoraka različitih proizvođača. Kao pokazatelji njihove ispravnosti određivani su udjeli aglikona karakterističnih ginkoflavonoglikozida: kvercetin, kempferol i izoramnetin te omjeri nađenih količina kvercetina i kempferola kao ključni pokazatelji krivotvorenja ginkgo-ekstrakta. Količina ginkoflavonoglikozida određena je metodom tekućinske kromatografije visoke djelotvornosti. Analizom je utvrđeno da 80% uzoraka odgovara navodima deklaracije u pogledu ukupne količine flavonoglikozida kao i u pogledu njihovog međusobnog omjera. U 20% uzoraka omjer kvercetina i kempferola odstupao je od uobičajenih vrijednosti, a dokazano je i prisustvo fitoestrogena genisteina, jedne od karakterističnih sastavnica biljke Sophora japonica L., čijim ekstraktom je krivotvoren ginkgo-ekstrakt u analiziranim uzorcima. Zbog neistinite deklaracije na proizvodima koji su sadržavali ove ekstrakte izostalo je i obvezno upozorenje o prisutnosti farmakološki aktivnog genisteina koji može izazvati neželjene zdravstvene posljedice kod pojedinih skupina potrošača. Rezultati ovoga rada ukazuju na značajnu pojavnost krivotvorenja proizvoda biljke Ginkgo biloba L. na hrvatskom tržištu te se zbog toga predlaže njihova temeljitija kontrola kao i sankcioniranje neodgovornih proizvođača i trgovaca, čime bi se doprinijelo većem udjelu kvalitetnijih proizvoda i izbjegli zdravstveni rizici te smanjila pojavnost prijevare

Selenium, Sulphur, Trace Metal, and BTEX Levels in Soil, Water, and Lettuce from the Croatian Raša Bay Contaminated by Superhigh-Organic- Sulphur Coal

This paper elaborates soil, water, and lettuce contamination status with respect to selenium, sulphur, trace metals, and BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes) in a coal- based area (Raša Bay, Adriatic Sea, Croatia). A local coal-fired power plant polluted soil with S, Se, Cd, and PAHs due to the combustion of domestic superhigh-organic-sulphur coal. The locality is dotted with waste from coal mining/separation, coal combustion, former metal factories, untreated municipal and coal mine effluents, along with various harbour activities, which contribute to environmental contamination. The methodology involved ICP-MS and GC-MS for the measurement of trace elements and BTEX, respectively, while soil sulphur was determined with Eschka’s mixture. The max values of the analysed trace elements in soil (mg/kg) are reported: Hg 1.14, Cd 3.29, V 624, Se 10.3, Pb 872, Cr 1860, Zn 6580, Cu 1850, and U 25.2. According to ecological indices, these values fall into the category of an extremely high level of soil pollution. Elevated total Se values in surface water are ascribed to leaching of seleniferous coal, ash, and coal- polluted soil. Levels of BTEX in water samples were very low (0–0.83 g/L). The data provide basic information on the inorganic and organic contamination status of the Raša Bay area