In vivo validation of the unified BARGE method to assess the bioaccessibility of arsenic antimony, cadmium and lead in soils

The relative bioavailability of arsenic, antimony, cadmium, and lead for the ingestion pathway was measured in 16 soils contaminated by either smelting or mining activities using a juvenile swine model. The soils contained 18 to 25 000 mg kg–1 As, 18 to 60 000 mg kg–1 Sb, 20 to 184 mg kg–1 Cd, and 1460 to 40 214 mg kg–1 Pb. The bioavailability in the soils was measured in kidney, liver, bone, and urine relative to soluble salts of the four elements. The variety of soil types, the total concentrations of the elements, and the range of bioavailabilities found were considered to be suitable for calibrating the in vitro Unified BARGE bioaccessibility method. The bioaccessibility test has been developed by the BioAccessibility Research Group of Europe (BARGE) and is known as the Unified BARGE Method (UBM). The study looked at four end points from the in vivo measurements and two compartments in the in vitro study (“stomach” and “stomach and intestine”). Using benchmark criteria for assessing the “fitness for purpose” of the UBM bioaccessibility data to act as an analogue for bioavailability in risk assessment, the study shows that the UBM met criteria on repeatability (median relative standard deviation value 0.6) for As, Cd, and Pb. The data suggest a small bias in the UBM relative bioaccessibility of As and Pb compared to the relative bioavailability measurements of 3% and 5% respectively. Sb did not meet the criteria due to the small range of bioaccessibility values found in the samples

Safety and efficacy of a preparation of algae interspaced bentonite as a feed additive for all animal species

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP Panel) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of a preparation of algae interspaced bentonite when used as a flatoxin B1 binder for all animal species. The additive is composed of bentonite and algae belonging to Ulva spp. The additive is considered safe for weaned piglets, dairy cows and chickens for fattening at the maximum recommended dose of 125 mg/kg complete feed (a wide margin of safety is established in weaned piglets and dairy cows); this conclusion is extrapolated to all animal species. The additive is not genotoxic. As bentonite is essentially not absorbed from the gut lumen and algae from Ulva spp. are not expected to be of concern for human consumption, the FEEDAP Panel considers that the use of the additive in animal nutrition is safe for consumers. The additive is not an irritant to the skin or the eyes and it is considered to have low inhalation toxicity. However, the additive has a high dusting potential and contains a high proportion offine particles. A high level of inhalation exposure to an inert dust may be hazardous. In the absence of data, the Panel could not conclude on dermal sensitisation. As the components of the additive are of natural origin (soil and marine environment), it is not expected that the use of the additive in animal nutrition would adversely affect the environment. The FEEDAP Panel could not conclude on the efficacy of the additive for all animal species

Coverage of endangered species in environmental risk assessments at EFSA

The EFSA performs environmental risk assessment (ERA) for single potential stressors such as plantprotection products, genetically modified organisms and feed additives, and for invasive alien speciesthat are harmful to plant health. This ERA focusses primarily on the use or spread of such potentialstressors in an agricultural context, but also considers the impact on the wider environment. It isimportant to realise that the above potential stressors in most cases contribute a minor proportion ofthe total integrated pressure that ecosystems experience. The World Wildlife Fund listed the relativeattribution of threats contributing to the declines in animal populations as follows: 37% fromexploitation (fishing, hunting, etc.), 31% habitat degradation and change, 13% from habitat loss, 7%from climate change, and only 5% from invasive species, 4% from pollution and 2% from disease. Inthis scientific opinion, the Scientific Committee gathered scientific knowledge on the extent of coverageof endangered species in current ERA schemes that fall under the remit of EFSA. The legal basis andthe relevant ecological and biological features used to classify a species as endangered areinvestigated. The characteristics that determine vulnerability of endangered species are reviewed.Whether endangered species are more at risk from exposure to potential stressors than other non-target species is discussed, but specific protection goals for endangered species are not given. Due toa lack of effect and exposure data for the vast majority of endangered species, the reliability of usingdata from other species is a key issue for their ERA. This issue and other uncertainties are discussedwhen reviewing the coverage of endangered species in current ERA schemes. Potential tools, such aspopulation and landscape modelling and trait-based approaches, for extending the coverage ofendangered species in current ERA schemes, are explored and reported

Assessing the health status of managed honeybee colonies (HEALTHY-B): a toolbox to facilitate harmonised data collection

Tools are provided to assess the health status of managed honeybee colonies by facilitating further harmonisation of data collection and reporting, design of field surveys across the European Union (EU) and analysis of data on bee health. The toolbox is based on characteristics of a healthy managed honeybee colony: an adequate size, demographic structure and behaviour; an adequate production of bee products (both in relation to the annual life cycle of the colony and the geographical location); and provision of pollination services. The attributes ‘queen presence and performance’, ‘demography of the colony’, ‘in-hive products’ and ‘disease, infection and infestation’ could be directly measured in field conditions across the EU, whereas ‘behaviour and physiology’ is mainly assessed through experimental studies. Analysing the resource providing unit, in particular land cover/use, of a honeybee colony is very important when assessing its health status, but tools are currently lacking that could be used at apiary level in field surveys across the EU. Data on ‘beekeeping management practices’ and ‘environmental drivers’ can be collected via questionnaires and available databases, respectively. The capacity to provide pollination services is regarded as an indication of a healthy colony, but it is assessed only in relation to the provision of honey because technical limitations hamper the assessment of pollination as regulating service (e.g. to pollinate wild plants) in field surveys across the EU. Integrating multiple attributes of honeybee health, for instance, via a Health Status Index, is required to support a holistic assessment. Examples are provided on how the toolbox could be used by different stakeholders. Continued interaction between the Member State organisations, the EU Reference Laboratory and EFSA is required to further validate methods and facilitate the efficient use of precise and accurate bee health data that are collected by many initiatives throughout the EU

Mesure de la digestibilité des protéines par la méthode des différences porto-artérielles chez l’espèce porcine

This paper gives an overview of the current in vivo methods used to evaluate nutritional quality of proteins. It present in the first part methods used to assess digestibility of proteins, the interest and constraints of portal measurements and finally questions regarding digestive interactions between alimentary nitrogen and endogenous nitrogen are discussed. The second part of this paper is focused on the presentation of a study which was aimed to determine 15N porto-arterial kinetics after ingestion of 15N labelled milk, yogurt or heat treated yogurt. It indicates an original method which combines 15N isotope protein labelling and postprandial porto-arterial measurements in growing pigs. 15N portal absorption in the growing pig were performed after ingestion of uniformly (0.2509 APE) labelled 15N milk (M), yogurt (Y) and heat treated yogurt (HY). The highest porto-arterial differences of 15N were found in the period between 30 min and 90 min after ingestion. Main absorption of nitrogen from M and HY occurs during the 0-120 min time period (about 74% for M and 68% for HY). For Y, a larger displayed absorption period over the 0-240 min time period was observed. 15N absorption rate is close to 75% for each studied milk product, suggesting that M, Y and HY deliver nearly the same amounts of nitrogen to the organism. These results also indicate that major part of proteins are absorbed within the 240 min postprandial period

Transfert et métabolisme des hydrocarbures aromatiques polycycliques chez le ruminant laitier

Suite au dépôt des HAP dans l'environnement, le fourrage devient une voie d'exposition potentielle des ruminants. Un système d'élevage herbager engendrerait une exposition du troupeau aux HAP supérieure à celui de type maïs fourrage. L'étude du transfert fourrage-lait chez la vache laitière montre que seuls les composés <5 cycles sont détectés avec des coefficients de transferts apparents de 1 à 30%. L'ingestion de 14-CHAP par des chèvres a révélé un faible transfert vers le lait (phénanthrène 1,5%, pyrène 1,9% et benzo[a]pyrène 0,2%). Leurs caractéristiques et leurs aptitudes à la biotransformation apparaissent comme les facteurs clés de ces mécanismes de transfert. Le métabolisme du phénanthrène étudié en CG-SM influencerait le devenir du composé dans l'animal et les produits d'excrétion. Les OHphénanthrènes, le 1-0Hpyrène et le 2-0Hfluorène ont été identifiés dans le lait de chèvre suite à des apports en HAP suggérant une induction du métabolisme en fonction de la dose administrée.NANCY/VANDOEUVRE-INPL (545472102) / SudocSudocFranceF

Digestion des galacto-oligosaccharides et effets nutritionnels chez le poulet de chair

Le touneau de soja est aujourd'hui largement utilisé comme source de matière azotée dans la nutrition des animaux monogastriques. Toutefois sa digestibilité in vivo ne semble pas optimale chez les volailles et certaines IIXJlécules qualifiées d'indigestibles, comme les galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS), semblent limiter œtte énergie rnétabolisable chez les volailles. Le défaut d'assimilation des GOS par manque d'enzyme endogène adapté représenterait un faible mais non négligeable manque à gagner énergétique pour l'animal car, bien que fermentescibles au niveau caecal, leur contribution au bilan énergétique demeure difficile à estimer. De plus il est avancé que la seule présence de ces molécules dans un aliment soit suffisante à diminuer sa valeur énergétique. La littérature actuelle reste ambigu~ quant à l'influence de ces IIXJlécules car, bien que largement considérés comme facteurs antinutritionnels, les conséquences de leur présenœ dans un aliment sur sa digestibilité n'ont pu être clairement corrélées à une diminution des performances d'élevage. Une première expérience in vivo avec deux niveaux de GOS représentatifs des aliments retrouvés en élevage avicole n'a pu mettre en évidence le caractère anti-nutritionnel proposé par la littérature. Un deuxième type d'expérience basé sur la substitution d'un aliment de base par addition de GOS (l'approche de différenœ) a été réalisée pour évaluer la valeur énergétique in vivo des GOS ainsi que leurs effets nutritionnels sur la fermentation caecale, le temps de transit intestinal et la digestibilité de l'alinx:nt lorsque de grandes quantités sont ingérées. Parallèlement une approche in vitro a été réalisée afro d'estimer le profil ferrnentaire caecal en fonction de la quantité de GOS. Les résultats ont montré que lesGOS présentent une cœfficient d'utilisation pré.çaecale non nulle bien que les caeca soie~t le lieu principal de dégradation. Toutefois l'implication des GOS dans le bilan énergétique global semble être neutre et ce malgré le fait que ,l'ingestion d'une quantité élevée de GOS accélère le transit intestinal et diminue la digestibUité de la matière sèche. Le profil de fe~ntation caecal a semblé être influencé de façon dose dépendante et l'ingestion journalière d'une quantité"" modérée de GOS stimule la production' d'acides gras à courte chl\Îne (AGCC) alors que l'ingestion d'une quantité élevée diminue la concentration d'AGCC et augmente celle de lactate. Les résultats obtenus au cours de cette thèsè ont montré que le principal effet anti-nutritionnel des GOS est de diluer la matière sèche utilisable par l'animal pour sa croissanœ. Il serait intéressant de trouver des solutions valorisant ce manque à gagner énergétique.Today soyabean meal is largely used in the nutrition of monogastric animaIs. However, its digestibUity seerns not to be optimal for broUer chickens. Soya contains various molecules considered as indigestible, like galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS), which L. might be at least partly responsible for the limited value of metabolisable energy in chickens. The fact that GOS carmot be hydrolyzed by the endogenous enzymes of the host represents a loss of energy. Although the GOS can be fernK:nted in the caeca, their contribution to the energetic balance value is unclear. ln addition it is assumed that the presence of GOS in a feed has a negative impact on its energetic value. ln the literature the effects of GOS on the nutritive value of a feed are still unclear because, even if GOS are considered as anti-nutritional factors, their presence in a feed is not correlated with a clear reduction of animal performance. A first experiment with concentration of GOS close to that of feed used in the poultry industry could not demonstrate anti-nutritional properties of these mol~cules. A second type of experinx:nt based on the substitution of basal feed by GOS (replacement method) was performedto ev,aluate the energetic value of the GOS in vivo and deterrnine their effects on caecal fernx:ntation, intestinal transit time and IIXJre generally on the digestibility of the feed. ln addition an in vitro experinx:nt was carried out to study the influence on the fe~ntation profile in relation to the quantities of GOS added. The results of the experiments showed that there is substantial pre.çaecal disappearance of GOS from the gut, although the principal site of degradation is the caeca. The contribution of GOS to the energetic value of the feed seerns to be neutral despite an acceleration of the intestinal transit and a reduction of the dry matter digestibUity which were observed when high quantities of GOS were ingested. The fermentation pathway in the caeca was influenced dose-dependently: a daily intake of "medium quantities" of GOS stirnulated the production of short chain fatty acids (AGCC) while the intake of 'high quantities" of GOS decreased the production of AGCC and sti.rnulated the production of lactate. The results obtained during the thesis showed that the major anti-nutritional consequence of the presenœ of GOS in the feed is a dilution of the digestible dry matter used by the animal for its growth.NANCY/VANDOEUVRE-INPL (545472102) / SudocSudocFranceF