MICROPLASTICS: Focus on Food and Health

Every year worldwide, more than 300 million tons of plastics are produced, half of which is designed for single use, and each year, at least 8 million tons end up in our oceans. These plastics break down with the intervention of microbes into carbon dioxide, methane and water, but this process is temperature dependent and readily occurs in the marine environment. Furthermore, the polymers most commonly used (e.g. PE, PP, PVC) are not readily biodegradable; they are subjected to weathering and fragmenting into micro- and nano-plastics and remain in the environment for hundreds of years. These small particles of plastic can be ingested by zooplankton, invertebrates and small fish, entering this way in the food-chain.JRC.F.7-Knowledge for Health and Consumer Safet

Certification of the Amount-of-Substance Fraction of HbA1c versus the Sum of all Hb Isoforms forming the glycated or non-glycated N-terminal Hexapeptide of the -Chain on Haemoglobin isolated from whole Blood, IRMM/IFCC-466

This report describes the preparation, homogeneity, stability and certification studies of HbA1c (IRMM/IFCC-466) from human blood. HbA1c is defined as the beta-N-(1-deoxyfructos-1-yl) haemoglobin. the amount-of-substance fraction of HbA1c in IRMM/IFCC-466 is 934 mmol/mol ± 22 mmol/mol (expressed as mmol HbA1c per mol HbA1c plus HbA0). The intended use of this certified reference material is the calibration of the IFCC reference measurement procedure and other analogous methods based on the quantification of the N-terminal hexapeptide including the stable glycation.JRC.D.2-Reference material

Advanced materials foresight: research and innovation indicators related to advanced and smart nanomaterials

Background: Advanced materials are most likely to bring future economic, environmental and social benefits. At the same time, they may pose challenges regarding their safety and sustainability along the entire lifecycle. This needs to be timely addressed by the stakeholders (industry, research, policy, funding and regulatory bodies). As part of a larger foresight project, this study aimed to identify areas of scientific research and technological development related to advanced materials, in particular advanced nanomaterials and the sub-group of smart nanomaterials. The study identified and collected data to build relevant research and innovation indicators and analyse trends, impact and other implications. Methods: This study consisted of an iterative process including a documentation phase followed by the identification, description and development of a set of core research and innovation indicators regarding scientific publications, EU projects and patents. The data was extracted mainly from SCOPUS, CORDIS and PATSTAT databases using a predefined search string that included representative keywords. The trends, distributions and other aspects reflected in the final version of the indicators were analysed, e.g. the number of items in a period of time, geographical distribution, organisations involved, categories of journals, funding programmes, costs and technology areas. Results: Generally, for smart nanomaterials the data used represent around 3.5% of the advanced nanomaterials data, while for each field analysed, they represent 4.4% for publications, 13% for projects and 1.1% for patents. The study shows current trends for advanced nanomaterials at a top-level information that can be further extended with sub-indicators. Generally, the results indicated a significant growth in research into advanced nanomaterials, including smart nanomaterials, in the last decade, leading to an increased availability of information. Conclusion: These indicators identify trends regarding scientific and technological achievements and represent an important element when examining possible impacts on society and policy implications associated to these areas

Advanced materials foresight: research and innovation indicators related to advanced and smart nanomaterials [version 2; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]

Background: Advanced materials are most likely to bring future economic, environmental and social benefits. At the same time, they may pose challenges regarding their safety and sustainability along the entire lifecycle. This needs to be timely addressed by the stakeholders (industry, research, policy, funding and regulatory bodies). As part of a larger foresight project, this study aimed to identify areas of scientific research and technological development related to advanced materials, in particular advanced nanomaterials and the sub-group of smart nanomaterials. The study identified and collected data to build relevant research and innovation indicators and analyse trends, impact and other implications. Methods: This study consisted of an iterative process including a documentation phase followed by the identification, description and development of a set of core research and innovation indicators regarding scientific publications, EU projects and patents. The data was extracted mainly from SCOPUS, CORDIS and PATSTAT databases using a predefined search string that included representative keywords. The trends, distributions and other aspects reflected in the final version of the indicators were analysed, e.g. the number of items in a period of time, geographical distribution, organisations involved, categories of journals, funding programmes, costs and technology areas. Results: Generally, for smart nanomaterials the data used represent around 3.5% of the advanced nanomaterials data, while for each field analysed, they represent 4.4% for publications, 13% for projects and 1.1% for patents. The study shows current trends for advanced nanomaterials at a top-level information that can be further extended with sub-indicators. Generally, the results indicated a significant growth in research into advanced nanomaterials, including smart nanomaterials, in the last decade, leading to an increased availability of information. Conclusion: These indicators identify trends regarding scientific and technological achievements and represent an important element when examining possible impacts on society and policy implications associated to these areas

The certification of mass concentration of Beta-2-microglobulin in human serum: ERM-DA470k/IFCC

This report describes the additional certification of the mass concentration of Beta-2-microglobulin (B2M) in ERM-DA470k/IFCC, a human serum material. The material was certified following ISO Guide 34:2009. The material was released in 2008 and was certified for the mass concentration of 12 proteins in human serum. A full description of the processing steps can be found in the original report. Between unit-homogeneity was quantified and stability during dispatch and storage were assessed in accordance with ISO Guide 35:2006. Within-unit homogeneity was estimated to determine the minimum sample intake. The material was characterised by an intercomparison among laboratories of demonstrated competence and adhering to ISO/IEC 17025. Uncertainties of the certified values were calculated in compliance with the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM) and include uncertainties related to possible inhomogeneity, to instability and to characterisation. The material is intended for the calibration of immunoassay-based in-vitro diagnostic devices or control products for the proteins certified. As for any calibrator it should be verified that it is commutable. The material is produced in a similar manner as ERM-DA470, the use of which has led to a significant reduction in the between-method and between-laboratory variation for the proteins certified (B2M was not certified in this material) [ , ]. It was verified during the value assignment procedure that there were no significant matrix effects, and that different methods produced consistent results. However, when the material is used as a calibrator, the commutability should be verified for the particular assay concerned. The Certified Reference Material (CRM) is available in the lyophilised form of a 1.0 mL portion of serum with additives (4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid (HEPES), sodium azide, benzamidine hydrochloride, sodium chloride and aprotinin). The material is kept under nitrogen gas in threaded glass bottles with rubber stoppers and polypropylene screw caps. The water mass fraction of the sample is (4.3 ± 0.6) mg/g. The lyophilised powder has to be reconstituted with (1.00 ± 0.01) g of distilled water. The minimum amount of reconstituted sample to be used is 2 µL. The CRM was accepted as European Reference Material (ERM®) after peer evaluation by the partners of the European Reference Materials consortium.JRC.D.2-Standards for Innovation and sustainable Developmen

China: Challenges and Prospects from an Industrial and Innovation Powerhouse

China is rapidly becoming a major industrial competitor in high tech and growth sectors. Its economic success and related industrial policies have received a high degree of attention, especially in light of its capacity to challenge the leading position of advanced economies in several fields. China aims, through the 'Made in China 2025' strategy, to become a world leader in key industrial sectors. In these sectors, it strives to strengthen its domestic innovation capacity, to reduce its reliance on foreign technologies while moving up in global value chains. This report analyses China's approach to attain a dominant position in international markets through a combination of industrial, R&I, trade and foreign direct investment policies. It offers an assessment of China's current position compared to the EU and US innovation systems across a range of dimensions. It concludes that China has become a major industrial competitor in several rapidly expanding high tech sectors, which may well result in attaining China's goal of becoming an innovation leader in specific areas. As a response, the EU will need to boost its industrial and R&I performance and develop a trade policy that can ensure a level playing field for EU companies in China and for Chinese companies in the EU.JRC.B.7-Knowledge for Finance, Innovation and Growt

Fipronil in eggs: Factsheet – December 2017

News about the so-called 'FIPRONIL case' has received widespread media coverage, causing one of the most significant food scares in Europe since the 2013 'horse meat scandal' and leading to a judiciary enquiry and withdrawal of millions of eggs from supermarket shelves. The 'FIPRONIL case' is linked to the discovery of the insecticide in contaminated eggs and egg products in several EU Member States and outside Europe. FIPRONIL is authorised to be used as veterinary medicine to combat fleas, mites and ticks in dogs and cats but forbidden for use in animals that are intended for the food chain, such as chickens. The European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Vytenis Andriukaitis, communicated that 26 of the 28 EU Member States reported the presence of FIPRONIL in eggs and egg products, with more than 45 countries affected worldwide, including the United States, Russia, Israel and Canada. To avoid contaminated food products entering into the food chain, food safety authorities of EU Member States ensure that eggs, egg products or chicken meat from affected farms are neither placed on the EU market nor exported to non EU-countries. In order to enssure adequate control, the Joint Research Centre (JRC) was requested to offer support in assessing the competence of the official laboratories in quantifying FIPRONIL as specified in the EU legislation.JRC.F.7-Knowledge for Health and Consumer Safet

'FAKE RICE' on African and Asian Markets. Rumour of Evidence?: Factsheet – December 2017

In June 2017, local journals and social media warned about the presence of plastic rice on the markets of Ghana, Nigeria and India. Similar rumours have been circulating in the press in Asia since 2016. This rice is made by mixing sweet potatoes and a polymer. But other versions also mention plastic pellets being mixed with normal rice. This type of falsifications may cause gastritis and other stomach related diseases. However, official controls could not confirm the presence of plastic rice.JRC.F.7-Knowledge for Health and Consumer Safet

Certification of the Amount-of-Substance Fraction of HbA0 versus the Sum of all Hb Isoforms forming the glycated or non-glycated Hexapeptide of the -chain in haemoglobin isolated from whole Blood, IRMM/IFCC-467

This report describes the preparation, homogeneity, stability and certification studies of HbA0 (IRMM/IFCC-467) from human blood. HbA0 is defined as the non-glycated haemoglobin. The amount-of-substance fraction of HbA0 in IRMM/IFCC-467 is > 976 mmol/mol (expressed as mmol HbA0 per mol HbA1c plus HbA0). HbA1c is defined as the beta-N-(1-deoxyfructos-1-yl) haemoglobin. The indended use of this certified reference material is the calibration of the IFCC reference measurement procedure and other analogous methods based on the quantification of the N-terminal hexapeptide including the stable glycation.JRC.D.2-Reference material

Quantification of Protein Calibrants by Amino Acid Analysis Using Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry

This work demonstrates that amino acid analysis based on isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) can be applied to quantify proteins having different complexities and natures. Five proteins and one decapeptide were selected for the study: C-reactive protein (CRP), beta-2-microglobulin (B2 M), cystatine C (CysC), human serum albumin (HSA), Ara h1, and angiotensin I. The quantification was based on the determination of four amino acids, proline (Pro), isoleucine (Ile), valine (Val), and phenylalanine (Phe) within a working range between 5 and 100 pmol/injection of each amino acid, after 60 min digestion with HCl at 150 degrees C. The amino acids were selected taking into account their abundance in the protein sequence and to include the more difficult to break peptide bonds. Quantification of the protein amounts calculated from each amino acid is consistent, indicating that the method is working reliably. This consistency points to a complete hydrolysis of the proteins. The trueness of the method was proven when dry mass determination after dialysis was applied to HSA and CRP and the results were compared to those from amino acid analysis. Traceability to SI was assured by extensive characterisation of the amino acid calibrants by nuclear magnetic resonance, neutron activation analysis, and Karl Fischer titration.JRC.D.2-Reference material