Heavy Metals in Mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from the Ionian Sea, Italy

Concentrations of six heavy metals (Hg, Pb, Cd, Cr, Zn, and Sn) were determined in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) collected between June and September 1997 from 10 locations along a sound formed by two inlets (Mar Piccolo) near the Gulf of Taranto (Ionian Sea, Italy). The average concentrations of the heavy metals found in mussels samples were 0.15 mg/kg for Hg, 1.19 mg/kg for Pb, 0.64 mg/kg for Cd, 0.31 mg/kg for Cr, 5.15 mg/kg for Zn, and 0.54 mg/kg for Sn. The concentrations of heavy metals in mussels from the first inlet did not differ greatly from those observed in mussels from the second inlet. The concentrations of heavy metals in the mussels analyzed were below acceptable levels for human consumption

Total mercury levels in muscle tissue of swordfish (Xiphias gladius) and bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) from the Mediterranean Sea (Italy).

This study was carried out to determine the current levels of total mercury in the muscle tissue of swordfish (Xiphias gladius) and bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) caught in the Mediterranean Sea with the purpose of ascertaining whether the concentrations exceeded the maximum level fixed by the European Commission Decision. In addition, specimens of each species were divided into different ranges of weight to investigate the influence of size on mercury accumulation in order to provide data upon which commercial fishing strategies and marketing of swordfish and bluefin tuna may be based. Higher mean levels of total mercury were found in bluefin tuna (1.02 μg g -1 wet wt) than in swordfish (0.49 μg g -1 wet wt). In 4.3% of swordfish and in 44.3% of bluefin tuna analyzed, total mercury concentrations exceeded the maximum level fixed by the European Commission Decision (Hg = 1 μg g -1 wet wt). Besides, for bluefin tuna the total mercury level variability observed, due to size, suggests that there should be greater regulatory control by the authorities. Le dosage de mercure total dans le muscle de 2 especes pechees en Mediterranee (espadon et thon) a ete effectue dans le but de controler s'il excede les taux maximum recommandes par la commission europeenne.Les taux moyens sont plus eleves dans le thon (1.02μg/g) que dans l'espadon (0,49μg/g). Dans 4,3% des espadons et 44,3% des thons analyses, le taux de mercure depasse le taux maximal fixe par la commission europeenne (1μg/g)

Trace Metals in Pork Meat Products Marketed in Italy: Occurrence and Health Risk Characterization

This study provides valuable information on the levels of various trace metals (Pb, Cd, Hg, Zn, Cu, Cr) in meat products (baked ham, raw ham, mortadella, cured sausage, würstel, salami) from South Italy and calculates potential health risk toxicity associated with their consumption for the total population and for children. In the samples studied metal concentrations are within the permissible legal limits (Cd: 0.01–0.03 μg g−1 w.w., Hg: 0.01–0.02 μg g−1 w.w., Zn: 5.71–7.32 μg g−1 w.w., Cu: 1.08–1.21 μg g−1 w.w., Cr: 0.15–0.23 μg g−1 w.w.), except for Pb (Pb: 0.22–0.38 μg g−1 w.w.). The estimated intake values are within the provisional tolerable daily intake limits for toxic metals and recommended daily intake values for essential metals in both tested groups. The noncarcinogenic risk values of the individual metals indicate that there is no health risk, but their combined effects might constitute a potential risk for children. Furthermore, the cumulative cancer risk of all samples studied exceeds the recommended threshold risk limit (> 10−4) in both total population and children, indicating a risk of potential health problems for consumers especially for children, who are more vulnerable to toxic metal exposure

Cadmium in cephalopod molluscs: implications for public health.

Cadmium concentrations were measured in the flesh and hepatopancreas (digestive gland) of 1,392 specimens of different species of cephalopod molluscs (broadtail squid, spider octopus, curled octopus, horned octopus, elegant cuttlefish, and pink cuttlefish) to determine whether maximum levels fixed by the European Commission were exceeded. In all species, mean cadmium concentrations were higher in hepatopancreas than in flesh. Large differences among the different species were also observed. Pink cuttlefish and spider octopus had the highest concentrations for both flesh (spider octopus, 0.77 microg g(-1); pink cuttlefish, 0.87 microg g(-1)) and hepatopancreas (spider octopus, 9.65 microg g(-1); pink cuttlefish, 18.03 microg g(-1)), and the lowest concentrations were encountered in broadtail squid (flesh, 0.13 microg g(-1); hepatopancreas, 2.48 microg g(-1)). The other species had intermediate concentrations of 0.20 to 0.30 microg g(-1) in flesh and 5.46 to 8.01 microg g(-1) in hepatopancreas. Concentrations exceeding the limit proposed by the European Commission (1.00 microg g(-1)) were observed in 44.4 and 40.0% of flesh samples of spider octopus and pink cuttlefish, respectively. The estimated weekly intake, 0.09 to 0.66 microg/kg body weigh, was below the provisional tolerable weekly intake set by the World Health Organization

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, chlorinated pesticides (DDTs), hexachlorocyclohexane, and hexachlorobenzene residues in smoked seafood.

Smoked seafoods were screened for the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and other organochlorine compounds. Total PAH concentrations ranged from 46.5 ng/g (wet weight) for smoked swordfish to 124.0 ng/g (wet weight) for smoked herring. Among the carcinogenic PAHs, benzo(a)pyrene ranged from undetectable levels for several smoked fish to 0.7 ng/g for Scottish salmon, dibenzo(ah)anthracene was not present in any of the samples analyzed, and benzo(a)anthracene was found in all samples and at particularly high levels in salmon (23.2 ng/g). Benzo(a)pyrene concentrations were below the tolerance limit for all samples. PCB concentrations for the different samples ranged from 2 to 30 ng/g. Chlorinated pesticides (DDTs: p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDT, o,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDD, and o,p'-DDD) were detected at levels ranging from 0.2 ng/g (wet weight) in bluefin tuna to 17.5 ng/g (wet weight) in salmon. Hexachlorocyclohexane isomers (alphaHCH + betaHCH + gammaHCH) were present in higher amounts in eels (6.5 ng/g) than in the other smoked fish. For 40% of the samples, PCB concentrations exceeded the limit fixed by the European Union, while pesticide levels were below the maximum acceptable limit proposed by the Food and Agriculture Organization

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of a new active heat moisture exchanger.

INTRODUCTION: In order to improve the efficiency of heat moisture exchangers (HMEs), new hybrid humidifiers (active HMEs) that add water and heat to HMEs have been developed. In this study we evaluated the efficiency, both in vitro and in vivo, of a new active HME (the Performer; StarMed, Mirandola, Italy) as compared with that of existing HMEs (Hygroster and Hygrobac; Mallinckrodt, Mirandola, Italy). METHODS: We tested the efficiency by measuring the temperature and absolute humidity (AH) in vitro using a test lung ventilated at three levels of minute ventilation (5, 10 and 15 l/min) and at two tidal volumes (0.5 and 1 l), and in vivo in 42 patients with acute lung injury (arterial oxygen tension/fractional inspired oxygen ratio 283 +/- 72 mmHg). We also evaluated the efficiency in vivo after 12 hours. RESULTS: In vitro, passive Performer and Hygrobac had higher airway temperature and AH (29.2 +/- 0.7 degrees C and 29.2 +/- 0.5 degrees C, [P < 0.05]; AH: 28.9 +/- 1.6 mgH2O/l and 28.1 +/- 0.8 mgH2O/l, [P < 0.05]) than did Hygroster (airway temperature: 28.1 +/- 0.3 degrees C [P < 0.05]; AH: 27 +/- 1.2 mgH2O/l [P < 0.05]). Both devices suffered a loss of efficiency at the highest minute ventilation and tidal volume, and at the lowest minute ventilation. Active Performer had higher airway temperature and AH (31.9 +/- 0.3 degrees C and 34.3 +/- 0.6 mgH2O/l; [P < 0.05]) than did Hygrobac and Hygroster, and was not influenced by minute ventilation or tidal volume. In vivo, the efficiency of passive Performer was similar to that of Hygrobac but better than Hygroster, whereas Active Performer was better than both. The active Performer exhibited good efficiency when used for up to 12 hours in vivo. CONCLUSION: This study showed that active Performer may provide adequate conditioning of inspired gases, both as a passive and as an active device