Aspetti metodologici innovativi nella determinazione quali-quantitativa di contaminanti ambientali in prodotti della pesca

The legislation on environmental contaminants in food is constantly evolving. Some of these contaminants have already been the subject of official control of the food chain, others, such as polychlorinated biphenyls, are newly added, while others, such as organometallic compounds, are not yet covered. Present work is based on the development of innovative techniques aimed at the implementation of routine analytical methods for the control of substances recently and probable future inclusion in the Official monitoring plans, such as non dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (NDL-PCB) and compounds of arsenic in highly contaminated products such as fishery products. Regarding the NDL-PCB, this work aims to focus on validation study of an analytical screening method, aimed to detection of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in fish intended for human consumption, as required by Commission Decision 657/2002/EC. Regarding arsenic, the Committee of Experts of the FAO/WHO defined a tolerable intake only for inorganic arsenic, although it is known the toxicity of some organoarsenic compounds; here we present the validation study of a new method for a rapid and reliable speciation of these compounds in mussels. This work has allowed us to achieve several goals. Firstly, it has been provided an example, so far not present in the scientific literature, of application of the European requirements for accreditation of the multiresidual screening method for NDL-PCBs determination, whose validity has been proved obtaining the recognition by the Italian accreditation body "Accredia". Moreover, guidance to the regulation has been also provided by the inclusion of substances characterized by overt toxicity and evident presence in foods of animal origin, which are not covered by national and European legislation, such as the various forms of arsenic; moreover, the analytical solutions to laboratories for Official control were provided

Effects of an adapted physical activity program on motor and non-motor functions and quality of life in patients with Parkinson's disease

BACKGROUND: Several studies have clearly shown that strategies of health promotion, such as fitness and general exercise programs, may improve quality of life (QoL), motor and non-motor functions in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. However, little is known about the effects of specific Adapted Physical Activity (APA) programs on PD patients. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of an APA program on motor and non-motor symptoms, functional performances and QoL in PD patients. METHODS: Nine consecutive PD patients (5 men, 4 women, 64.4 +/- 6.8 years) able to ambulate independently (Hoehn and Yahr: from stage 1 to 3) and not demented, were enrolled. Patients performed an APA program, 3 sessions/week, for 9 weeks. Exercises focused on balance, walking, strength and functional activities. Functional effects were assessed by Six Minute Walking Test (6MWT), Five Time Sit to Stand Test (FTSST), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Sit and Reach Test (SRT), and Timed Up and Go test (TUG). Motor impairment and disability were assessed using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale - part III (UPDRS-III) and the Hoehn and Yahr Scale, respectively. Non-motor symptoms were evaluated by PD Fatigue Scale (PFS), Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) and PD Quality of life scale, 8 items (PDQ-8). RESULTS: A significant decrease in resting HR (67.55 +/- 10.85 vs. 70.22 +/- 12.34 bpm, p < 0.05) and a significant increase in walked distance (p < 0.0005) were observed. A significant impairment of the muscles strength was noted (FTSST, p < 0.05). BBS showed a significant increase in balance abilities (p < 0.0005) and safety with mobility (TUG, p < 0.005) was enhanced. Finally, a significant improvement in motor and non-motor symptoms was detected: UPDRS-III (p < 0.00005), PFS (p < 0.005), BDI-II (p < 0.05) and PDQ-8 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A tailored exercise program in PD patients could be effective as an adjunct to conventional therapy on improving daily activities, motor and non-motor symptoms, with better QoL

Non-dioxin-like PCB and PBDE deposition on Zea mays L. leaves: modelled contamination in milk from dairy animals fed on silage

Maize (Zea mays L.) can intercept airborne pollutants before their deposition on soil. Selected non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (\u3a36NDL-PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (\u3a38PBDEs) with feed and food safety relevance were measured on maize leaves harvested for silage in dairy animals from 28 fields in Italy. Analyses were carried out by gas chromatography coupled to high- and low-resolution mass spectrometry. Contamination ranged from 0.65 to 5.3 ng g 121 with 12% moisture for \u3a36NDL-PCBs, and from 2.7 to 6.2 for \u3a38 PBDEs. Modelled contamination in cow\u2019s milk was estimated to fall within the range 0.27\u201316 ng g 121 for PCBs, 0.17\u20131.9 for PBDE number 47, and 0.22\u20132.1 for PBDE number 99 on a lipid basis. The results indicate that maize silage alone may raise \u3a36NDL-PCB contamination in dairy milk up to the 95th percentile in the European Union. Results are discussed in terms of air quality standards able to support food safety

Polychlorobiphenyl levels in the serum of cats from residential flats in Italy: Role of the indoor environment

The domestic cat (Felis catus) was used as a sentinel of exposure to polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) in indoor urban environments y. Sera from 120 cats were pooled to form 30 different groups selected by age ( 2 64 8\ua0years; > 8\ua0years), sex, municipality (Bologna and Turin) and environment (indoor vs. outdoor). Test portions of 1\ua0mL were analyzed by means of gas chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS) for six selected indicators non-dioxin-like PCBs ( 116 PCBs: congeners #28, #52, #101, #132, #153 and #180) and the results were computed in the upper-bound mode. The internal dose of PCBs attributable to the cats' alimentary lipid intake ranged from 32.4 to 1,446\ua0ng/g (P50 165; mean 258). The Wilcoxon test revealed significantly lower PCB burden in \u201coutdoor\u201d groups than in \u201cindoor\u201d groups. Age correlated well with the heptachlorinated and most bio-accumulative congener, PCB #180, and slightly with hexachlorinated PCBs #138 and #153. Contamination attributable to house dust collected in 15 living-rooms ranged from 10.0 to 279\ua0ng/g dry weight (P50 97.4; mean 94.4). Exposure estimates indicated a 0.6\u201316\ua0ng/kg bw range of daily 116 PCB intake from a default value of 200\ua0mg/cat of dust ingestion. The intake of PCBs due to dust ingestion fell within the same order of magnitude as that computed from a 60\ua0g daily intake of commercial dry pet foods, while inhalation accounted for 0.21\u20138.2\ua0ng/kg bw/day, on setting the nominal 116 PCB contamination in outdoor and indoor air at 0.37 and 15\ua0ng/m3, respectively. Italian indoor cats could be exposed to higher levels of 116 PCBs than the Reference Dose (RfD) of 10\ua0ng/kg/bw/day; this supports the World Health Organization's statement that the quality of the indoor environment is a major determinant of health