Parameters of Ensiled Maize With Biological and Chemical Additives

The amount of maize grown in Poland has increased rapidly. Nowadays it takes about 600,000 ha, 40% of which is used as silage. Changing climate in Poland, with dry summer followed by wet autumn with ground frost causes extensive moulds contamination and high presence of the fusarium toxins in the maize during the harvest. The norms accepted in the EU concerning the acceptable level of deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenol (ZON) in feedstuffs for cattle require detailed examination of this problem as it decides on the health quality and production results. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of ensiling forage maize with microbiological additive and chemical preservative on the DON and ZON amount. The effects of the secondary fermentation after the silos were open (stability evaluation) were also examined

Parameters of Ensiled Maize With Biological and Chemical Additives

The amount of maize grown in Poland has increased rapidly. Nowadays it takes about 600,000 ha, 40% of which is used as silage. Changing climate in Poland, with dry summer followed by wet autumn with ground frost causes extensive moulds contamination and high presence of the fusarium toxins in the maize during the harvest. The norms accepted in the EU concerning the acceptable level of deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenol (ZON) in feedstuffs for cattle require detailed examination of this problem as it decides on the health quality and production results. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of ensiling forage maize with microbiological additive and chemical preservative on the DON and ZON amount. The effects of the secondary fermentation after the silos were open (stability evaluation) were also examined

Risk assessment of exposure to multiple mycotoxins in the Icelandic population

Background: The proliferation of mycotoxin-producing fungi in agricultural settings poses a challenge to human health and nutrition around the world. Mycotoxins contaminate food sources and their negative health outcomes include carcinogenic, nephrotoxic, and teratogenic effects. Potential risks are still poorly characterized and few studies assess exposure at an individual level. Thus, the goal of this study was to assess and characterize exposure risk to multiple mycotoxins in the Icelandic population. Methods: Urine samples and data on urinary mycotoxin biomarkers (deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, and ochratoxin A) from a pool of 171 individuals living in Iceland between 2020 and 2021 were used to estimate external doses through reverse dosimetry. For risk characterization, Hazard Quotient (HQ) and Margin of Exposure (MoE) approaches were applied for deoxynivalenol zearalenone, and ochratoxin A, respectively. Results: The Icelandic population was revealed to be exposed to multiple mycotoxins. Mean levels of deoxynivalenol and ochratoxin A were comparable to what have been reported in other European studies, while levels of zearalenone were considerably lower. Nevertheless, risk assessment revealed safe levels of exposure to deoxynivalenol and zearalenone (HQ < 1) but MoE based on a neoplastic endpoint to ochratoxin A indicated a possible health concern for all participants (MoE < 10000). Conclusions: Although there are some uncertainties associated with a human biomonitoring approach, the results of this study confirm that mycotoxins are a growing threat to public health in the European continent. Since countries with different latitudes already present comparable levels of exposure, this is especially concerning in a climate change scenario. Further studies both on exposure assessment and specific effects on human health are required to accurately assess risk and introduce preventive measures.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Some problems of radiation sterilization and modify biodegradable materials

W artykule przedstawiono metody modyfikacji chemicznych i fizycznych materiałów biodegradowalnych mające na celu ich sterylizacje. Zaprezentowano podstawowe metody fizyczne, mechaniczne oraz chemiczne sterylizacji materiałów inżynierskich. Przedstawiono również metody modyfikowania radiacyjnego materiałów polimerowych oraz wybrane aspekty badań własnych, dotyczące modyfikowania materiałów biodegradowalnych w celu ich sterylizacji.The methods of modify the chemical and physical properties of biodegradable materials to ensure that they sterilizations is reported. The basic methods of physical, mechanical and chemical sterilization used for sterilization of engineering materials is presented. Also provides methods to modify the radiation of polymeric materials and own selected aspects of research, to modify biodegradable materials for their sterilization

Drinking Green Tea: Despite the Risks Due to Mycotoxins, Is It Possible to Increase the Associated Health Benefits?

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Occurrence and Risk Assessment of Mycotoxins)Tea has been consumed for thousands of years. Despite the different varieties, particular emphasis has been placed on green tea (GT), considering the associated health benefits following its regular consumption, some of which are due to its polyphenol constituents, such as epigallocatechin- 3-gallate (EGCG). Tea is not prone to the growth of microorganisms, except fungus, when proper storage, handling, and packing conditions are compromised. Consequently, mycotoxins, secondary metabolites of fungi, could contaminate tea samples, affecting human health. In the present study, we aimed to assess the balance between risks (due to mycotoxins and high levels of EGCG) and benefits (due to moderate intake of EGCG) associated with the consumption of GT. For this, 20 GT samples (10 in bulk and 10 in bags) available in different markets in Lisbon were analyzed through a LC–MS/MS method, evaluating 38 different mycotoxins. Six samples revealed detectable values of the considered toxins. Current levels of mycotoxins and EGCG intake were not associated with health concerns. Scenarios considering an increasing consumption of GT in Portugal showed that drinking up to seven cups of GT per day should maximize the associated health benefits. The present study contributes to the future establishment of GT consumption recommendations in Portugal.Key Contribution: Risks and benefits associated with the consumption of green tea were assessed in the present study. The obtained results showed that increasing green tea consumption up to seven cups/day should maximize the associated benefits, despite the risks associated with mycotoxins.This research was supported by Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal for funding the Project “Resistant mycobiota and mycotoxigenic profile of tea and medicinal plants” (IPL/2020/TEAResMyc_ESTeSL) and to Polish Minister of Science and Higher Education, under the program “Regional Initiative of Excellence” in 2019–2022 (Grant No. 008/RID/2018/19). R.A. was supported by FCT Individual CEEC 2018 Assistant Researcher Grant CEECIND/01570/2018.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Occurrence of fusarium toxins in spelt from ecological system of farming

Celem pracy była ocena mikotoksykologiczna pszenicy orkiszowej pochodzącej z różnych gospodarstw ekologicznych położonych na terenie województwa kujawsko-pomorskiego i warmińsko-mazurskiego oraz ekologicznych produktów orkiszowych, zakupionych w punktach handlowych na terenie miasta Bydgoszczy. Materiał do badań stanowiły 53 próbki: 15 – surowce (nieprzetworzone ziarno) 2009, 17 – surowce 2010, 10 – produkty 2009, 11 – produkty 2010. Wśród produktów znalazły się płatki, otręby, mąka, kasza, makaron i kawa. Mikotoksyny (T-2, HT-2, deoksyniwalenol – DON, niwalenol – NIV, 3-acetylodeoksyniwalenol – 3-ADON, monoacetoksyscirpenol – MAS, diacetoksyscirpenolu – DAS i zearalenon – ZEN) oznaczano metodą HPLC-MS/MS. W procesie przygotowania próbek wykorzystano technikę SPE oraz następujące wzorce wewnętrzne: 13C-DON, 13C-T-2, 13C-HT-2, ZAN. Oznaczenie mikotoksyn przeprowadzano w trzykrotnym powtórzeniu. Zanieczyszczenie badanych próbek wtórnymi metabolitami pleśni było nieznaczne. Spośród oznaczanych mikotoksyn w najwyższych stężeniach występował DON. Największy jego poziom zanotowano w ziarnie orkiszu ozimego (c = 139 ± 4 ppb), jednak stężenie to było prawie dziesięciokrotnie niższe niż maksymalny dopuszczalny poziom DON w zbożach nieprzetworzonych (Rozporządzenie Komisji (WE) Nr 6 1881/2006 z dnia 19 grudnia 2006). Pozostałe mikotoksyny zostały również wykryte, jednakże ich średnia zawartość zarówno w surowcach jak i produktach była niższa od granicy oznaczalności.The aim of this study was mycotoxicological evaluation of spelt wheat from different organic farms located in kujawskopomorskie and warmińsko-mazurskie and their products purchased in retail trade in the city of Bydgoszcz. Material for study consisted of 53 samples: 15 – raw material (unprocessed grain) from 2009, 17 – raw material from 2010, 10 – products 2009, 11 – products 2010. The spelt products consisted of flakes, bran, flour, groat, pasta and coffee. Mycotoxins (T-2 nad HT-2, deoxynivalenol – DON, niwalenol – NIV, 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol – 3-ADON, monoacetoxyscirpenol – MAS, diacetoxyscirpenol – DAS, and zearalenone – ZEN) were determined using the HPLC-MS/MS method. During sample preparation procedures the SPE technique was used and the following internal standards were applied: 13C-DON, 13C-T-2, 13CHT- 2, ZAN. Mycotoxin analysis was performed in triplicate. Contamination of samples with studied secondary metabolites of molds was negligible. Among determined mycotoxins DON occurred at the highest concentrations. Its maximum level was determined in winter spelt grains (c = 139 ± 4 ppb), but this concentration was almost ten times lower than the maximum acceptable level of DON in non-processed cereals (Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006). The other mycotoxins were also detected, however their average content both in raw materials and products was lower than the limit of quantification

Mycotoxicological evaluation of barley grain and its products

Celem badań była analiza zawartości trichotecenów oraz zearalenonu w ziarnie jęczmienia oraz jego produktach pochodzących z ekologicznych i konwencjonalnych systemów uprawy, z województwa kujawsko-pomorskiego. Materiał badawczy stanowiły 53 próbki: 31 z ekologicznego i 22 z konwencjonalnego systemu gospodarowania. Badany materiał pochodził z lat 2009-2011. Przy użyciu metody HPLC-MS/MS oznaczono osiem mikotoksyn: niwalenol (NIV), deoksyniwalenol (DON), 3-acetylodeoksyniwalenol (3ADON), monoacetoksyscirpenol (MAS), diacetoksyscirpenol (DAS), toksyny T-2, HT-2 oraz zearalenon (ZEN). Wszystkie oznaczenia powtórzono trzykrotnie. Próby przygotowano wykorzystując kolumienki Bond Elut® Mycotoxin (Varian) oraz wzorce wewnętrzne (IS) 13C- DON, 13C-T-2, 13C-HT-2, ZAN. W badanym ziarnie oraz produktach spożywczych dominowała toksyna HT-2 (30% próbek badanych) oraz NIV (28% próbek badanych). Natomiast w żadnej z próbek nie stwierdzono obecności 3ADON. Spośród ośmiu oznaczanych mikotoksyn w najwyższym stężeniu występował NIV. Jego maksymalną zawartość 85.6 ppb odnotowano dla surowca ekologicznego. Najwięcej mikotoksyn stwierdzono w ziarnie pochodzącym z konwencjonalnego systemu upraw. Dominowała tutaj toksyna HT-2, oznaczona aż w 80% próbek oraz toksyna T-2, której obecność stwierdzono w 70% próbek. W grupie tej odnotowano również najwyższe stężenia tych mikotoksyn, wynoszące odpowiednio 13.8 ppb (HT-2) i 23.8 ppb (T-2) oraz największe stężenie DON (65.1 ppb). ZEN był najczęściej oznaczaną mikotoksyną w produktach konwencjonalnych, gdzie wystąpił w 42% próbek. Zanieczyszczenie produktów ekologicznych i konwencjonalnych było porównywalne. Średnie stężenia oznaczonych mikotoksyn w produktach spożywczych były wielokrotnie niższe niż w przypadku surowców. W żadnej z badanych próbek zawartość mikotoksyn nie przekroczyła dopuszczalnych wartości (Rozporządzenie 1881/2006 WE).The aim of the study was to perform the analysis of trichothecenes and zearalenone content in barley grain and food commodities such as grits, flour and flakes, coming from organic and conventional farms. The analysed material included 53 samples, with 31 from organic and 22 from conventional farms. The food products had been purchased in local shops in kujawsko-pomorskie province. Raw materials also came from the same region. Each sample was analysed in 3 replicates. Eight mycotoxins were determined using HPLC-MS/MS method: nivalenol (NIV), deoxynivalenol (DON), 3- acetyldeoxynivalenol (3ADON), monoacetoxyscirpenol (MAS), diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS), T-2 and HT-2 toxins and zearalenone (ZEN). Sample preparation was made using Bond Elut® Mycotoxin columns (Varian) and internal standards (IS) 13C-DON, 13C-T-2, 13C-HT-2, ZAN. HT-2 toxin and NIV dominated in the analysed grains and food products (30% and 28% respectively), while 3ADON was not detected in a single sample. Among the 8 analysed mycotoxins it was NIV that dominated and its highest concentration was 85.6 ppb in the raw material from an organic farm. The highest number of mycotoxins was found in the grain from a conventional farm, with HT-2 and T-2 toxins prevailing (80% and 70% samples, respectively). Their concentration was also the highest in this group (13.8 ppb and 23.8 ppb, respectively). The third highest concentration turned out to be of DON (65.1 ppb). ZEN was most commonly present in food products coming from conventional farms - 42% samples. The contamination of organic and conventional products was comparable. Mean concentration of the analysed mycotoxins was much lower in food products than in raw material. None of the analysed products contained 3ADON or DAS. Moreover, neither DON was detected in any of the organic products nor MAS in the conventional ones. No tested sample exceeded the maximum acceptable levels of mycotoxins (Commission Regulation 1881/2006 EC)

Fungal burden in filtering respiratory protective devices used in the waste sorting industry

Project EXPOsE - Project nº 23222 (02/SAICT/2016). Project IPL/2018/WasteFRPD_ESTeSL.One of the solutions for reducing the workers' exposure to the effects of organic dust is the use of Filtering Respiratory Protective Devices (FRPD). During FFR use, water vapor and sweat are released increasing humidity of the material providing favorable conditions for fungal growth. The aim of this study is to characterize the fungal burden (fungi and mycotoxins) retained in FRPD used by workers from one waste sorting from Portugal. Fifty-four FFRs (Protection FFP3) were collected after normal use (one work shift) from waste sorting workers. The exhalation valve and 2 cm2 from the interior layer of the each FFR were extracted and seeded on two media: 2% malt extract agar (MEA) supplemented with 0.05 g/L chloramphenicol and dichloran-glycerol agar (DG18), following incubation at 27 °C for 5–7 days. All FFRs samples will be screened for mycotoxins presence. The fungal contamination in the interior layer of the mask ranged from 0 to 25 CFU.cm-2 in MEA, and from 0 to 26.4 CFU.cm-2 in DG18. Six different fungal species were found in the interior layer in both MEA and DG18. The most common fungal genera found in MEA were Lichtheima (57.41%), Penicillium (27.10%) and Aspergillus (14.35%; including sections Fumigati, Nigri, Flavi, Candidi, and Cicumdati). In DG18, the most common genera were Penicillium (85.37%), Aspergillus (14.29%; comprising sections Fumigati, Circumdati, Candidi, Flavi, Nigri, and Aspergilli) and Mucor sp. (0.15%). In the exhalation valve, the fungal contamination ranged from 0 to 0.45 CFU.cm-2 in MEA, and from 0 to 0.8 CFU.cm-2 in DG18. In MEA, only two genera were found: Penicillium (60.53%) and Aspergillus (39.47%; including sections Fumigati and Nigri). But in DG18, seven different genera were found, of which the most found were Penicillium (68%), Aspergillus (25.33%; covering sections Fumigati, Candidi, Nigri, Restricti, and Aspergilli) and Mucor (2.67%). Our results point out for the need for intervention regarding the FFR replacement frequency due to quantitative and qualitative results (species with toxigenic potential).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Mycological evaluation of cereals from organic and conventional systems of farming

Ustalenie stopnia skażenia grzybami pleśniowymi roslin zbożowych w warunkach upraw ekologicznych, przy ograniczonej ochronie wymaga ciągle wyjaśnienia. Szczególnie w latach wilgotnych i ciepłych możemy spodziewać się występowania fuzariozy kłosów. Istotnym jest też określenie innych grzybów patogenicznych zasiedlających ziarno zbóż w obydwu systemach uprawy. Celem pracy była ocena jakości mikologicznej ziarna zbóż (jęczmień, mieszanki zbożowe, owies, pszenica, pszenżyto, żyto, orkisz) uprawianych w systemie ekologicznym i konwencjonalnym, uzyskanych ze zbiorów w 2010 roku na terenie województwa kujawsko-pomorskiego. Przeprowadzone badania wykazały w gospodarstwach ekologicznych najwyższe zasiedlenie ziarna przez grzyby w próbach ziarna jęczmienia, a najmniejsze w pszenicy i pszenzycie. Najliczniej występowały pleśnie z rodzajów: Aureobasidium, Penicillium, Eurotium oraz Cladosporium. Natomiast w uprawie konwencjonalnej najbardziej skażone były próby ziarna żyta, a najmniej mieszanki zbożowe. Podobnie jak w ziarnach ekologicznych, w konwencjonalnych najliczniej identyfikowano pleśnie z rodzaju: Aureobasidium, Penicillium, Cladosporium i dodatkowo Alternaria. W przypadku oceny grzybów z rodzaju Fusarium nieznacznie ich wyższe zasiedlenie ustalono w zbożach z gospodarstw ekologicznych, a najwyższym procentem skazenia (w obu systemach) charakteryzowały się mieszanki zbożowe.The determination of the degree of contamination of cereals by moulds in organic farming conditions, with limited protection still requires explanation. Especially in the moist and warm, we can expect the occurrence of fusariosis of the ears. It is also important to identify other pathogenic fungi colonizing cereal grain crops in both farming systems. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of mycological cereal grains (barley, mixed cereal, oats, wheat, triticale, rye, spelt), grown in organic and conventional fields, harvested in 2010 in Kujawsko-Pomorskie province. In the samples collected from the organic farms the highest number of fungi was found in the samples of barley grains and the lowest in wheat and triticale, with the most numerous moulds of the genera: Aureobasidium, Penicillium, Cladosporium and Eurotium. Whereas in the samples collected from the conventional crops rye grain samples showed the highest and mixed cereals the lowest levels of moulds. Similarly to the organic harvest, the conventional ones contained mainly: Aureobasidium, Penicillium, Cladosporium and Alternaria. In case of Fusarium, a slightly higher number was found in cereals from organic farms, yet the highest percentage of contamination (in both farming systems) was identified in the mixed cereals