Cumulative Dietary Risk Assessment of Benzophenone-Type Photoinitiators from Packaged Foodstuffs

Photoinitiators used in ultraviolet-cured ink may migrate from food packaging materials into food products. Therefore, we conducted a dietary risk assessment of exposure to benzophenone (BP)-type photoinitiators by quantifying and reducing uncertainties associated with the risk characterization. A total of 362 food packaging samples including 180 cereals, 136 fruit and vegetable juices, and 46 milk samples were subjected to fast pesticides extraction to determine photoinitiator residues. The average daily dose (ADD) of BP was the highest in the age group of zero to three years, with a P97.5 ADD of 2.56 × 10−4 mg/kg bw/day. The ADD of 2-hydroxybenzophenone (2-OHBP) was the highest in the age group of three to six years, with a P97.5 UB ADD of 3.52 × 10−5 mg/kg bw/day. The estimated UB P97.5 ADD for each age group was below the toxicological concern threshold of 0.0015 mg/kg bw/day. The cumulative toxicity of all BPs, evaluated using the MOET value, was at an acceptable level. Although the MOET value of BPs was above the safety limit in the foodstuffs studied herein, this result may be different if Taiwan were to follow regulation guidelines for BP-type photoinitiators based on the specific migration limit for the unmeasured BP residues in other foodstuffs.

Occurrence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) carcinogen in Indonesian commercial goat satay

This study aimed to investigate the carcinogen content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in commercial charcoal grilled goat satay. Twenty-one portions of commercial raw goat satay and charcoal grilled goat satay samples were obtained from 4 restaurants which are the largest, well-known, and 15-55 years old goat satay restaurant in Batu Municipality, East Java. Sampling of 2 goat satay types (goat satay without sliced fat and goat satay with sliced fat) was carried out 3 replications in 3 consecutive weekends where many tourists visited. The results showed that the temperature of wood charcoal for grilling commercial raw goat satay in various satay restaurants ranged 486.833-548.300 oC with a grilling duration of 2-5.5 minutes and grilling distance of 0.5-2 cm. The weight of raw goat satay for a serving (10 skewers) ranged 144.000-194.000 g and after grilling the weight ranged 97.333-148.000 g. Total natural antioxidant activity (Dipheny-picrylhydrazyl, DPPH), fat content and moisture content of raw goat satay with sliced fat and without sliced fat reached up to 36.661 and 34.124%; 13.440-26.100% and 1.5-6.305%; 57.940-66.385% and 71.530-76.810%, respectively. Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), the only type of PAHs that is carcinogenic, for charcoal grilled goat satay with sliced fat and without sliced fat in various satay restaurants, ranged from not detected to 6.330 mg/kg and not detected to 0.773 mg/kg, respectively. The levels of BaP in charcoal grilled goat satay in several satay restaurants exceeded the safety limit by National Agency of Drug and Food Control (NA-DFC) of Republic Indonesia. Benzo(a)antharacene (BaA) and pyrene (Pyr) were detected in all grilled goat satay samples in various satay restaurants. Whereas, phenanthrene (Phe), acenaphthene (Acp) and naphthalene (Nap) were not detected in all grilled goat satay samples in various satay restaurants. The conclusion of our study was that the commercial charcoal grilled goat satay that are sold in Batu municipality contains PAH, especially the carcinogenic B(a)P. Therefore practical mitigation efforts are needed for producers to reduce and prevent the formation of carcinogenic B(a)P in commercial charcoal grilled goat satay.

Subway Embedded Track Geometric Irregularity Safety Limits

A coupling dynamic model of a subway train and an embedded track is established to study the safety limits of track irregularities. The simulated vehicle system was a 74-degrees of freedom multi-rigid body model, and the rail was a Timoshenko beam. The slab was a three-dimensional solid finite element model. The sensitive wavelength irregularity was first studied, and then the safety limit of the sensitive wavelength was analyzed. The wheel-rail lateral force exhibited a substantial effect on the track alignment and gauge irregularity safety limit. The wheel-rail vertical force and the rate of wheel load reduction significantly affected the height and cross-level irregularity safety limit. The results demonstrate that the safety limits of the alignment, gauge, height, and cross-level embedded track geometric irregularity are 5.3 mm, [− 10.5, 8] mm, 5.6 mm, and 6 mm, respectively.

Mapping of Natural Radioactivity in Soil Samples of Kufa Districts, Iraq Using GIS Technique

The aim from this work is to detect and draw the natural radioactivity of (uranium-238, thorium-232 and potassium-40) levels in soil samples that taken from Kufa districts, Najaf governorate, Iraq. The detection system used in study is NaI (Tl) with "3x3" dimension, while maps were drawn by geographic information system (GIS). Some radiological parameters were calculated depending on measuring of specific activity for 238U, 232Th, and 40K. The results of the average value with standard error in all samples of the present study for 238U, 232Th, 40K, and 235U were 6.2±0.74, 6.41±0.82, 278.10±19.43, and 0.28±0.03 Bq/kg, respectively. The specific activity of Uranium-238, Thourium-232, poasium-40 and Uranium-235 found in all soil samples were within the safety limit reported by UNSCEAR, except three samples have poasium-40 higher than safety limit. Also, the results of radiological parameters were all found to be below OECD, UNSCEAR safety limit. Generally, the average of specific activity in soil collected arranged of potassium-40 > thorium-232 > uranium-238. Mapping GIS for natural radioactivity and some radiological parameters were successfully draw for the study area. Finally, natural radioactivity and radiological parameters for soil samples at Kufa districts were safety.

Bio-Tolerance Potential and Environmental Risks Assessment of Oreochromis Niloticus and Lpomoea Aquatica in Agodi Reservoir, Nigeria

The concentration of nine heavy metals in Oreochromis niloticus and Ipomoea aquatica inhabiting Agodi reservoir, Oyo State, Nigeria were investigated for twelve months. The concentrations of the metals were carried out using PG990 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The Ecological Risk Quotient (ERQ) was calculated using standard methods while the tolerability was determined with Box Plot analysis. The metal bioaccumulation in O. niloticus and I. aquatica followed the order Mn>Fe>Zn>Cu>Co>Pb>Cd>Cr>Ni and Fe>Zn>Mn>Cu>Pb>Cd>Co>Cr>Ni respectively. The results revealed O. niloticus to bioaccumulate the metals more than I. aquatica. Most of the examined metals were higher than the safety limit for the metals concentration in O. niloticus and I. aquatica. Also, I. aquatica had higher tolerability for heavy metals than O. niloticus. In O. niloticus, metal concentration, as well as ERQ, was higher in the wet season while no particular order was observed for I. aquatica. The ERQ result revealed that Cd, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu and Pb exhibited a high level of ecological risk to both the aquatic flora and fauna as the ERQ values were above the risk limit of one (1). Thus, there is a significant environmental risk associated with heavy metals in the water body.

Gas Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Method for the Selective Detection of Glycols and Glycerol in the Liquids and Aerosols of E-Cigarette, or Vaping, Products

The long-term health effects of using e-cigarette, or vaping, products (EVPs; also known as e-cigarettes, electronic nicotine delivery systems, and vape pens) remain largely unknown. The inhalation of excipients, such as propylene glycol (PG) and glycerin (GLY), may have long-term health effects. In addition to the direct health effects of PG and GLY, glycerin-containing products can be contaminated with toxic ethylene glycol (EG) and diethylene glycol (DEG). To assess this issue, we developed a simple, versatile, high-throughput isotope dilution gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for quantifying these common excipients and contaminants. The method is applicable to both the liquid contents and machine-generated aerosols of EVPs. Our rigorous method validation demonstrates that the new method is specific, precise, accurate, and rugged/robust. The calibration range is linear from 0.1–7 mg for the excipients and 2.5–1,000 µg for the contaminants. These ranges encompass expected excipients levels in EVP e-liquids and their machine-generated aerosols and the relevant maximum residue safety limit of 1 mg/g, or 0.1% (w/w), for the contaminants. The calculated limits of detection for PG, GLY, EG, and DEG were determined as 0.0109 mg, 0.0132 mg, 0.250 µg, and 0.100 µg, respectively. The method was applied to the aerosol emissions analysis of 141 EVPs associated with the 2019 lung injury outbreak, and found typical levels of PG (120.28–689.35 mg/g of aerosol) and GLY (116.83–845.96 mg/g of aerosol) in all nicotine-containing products; PG (81.58–491.92 mg/g of aerosol) and GLY (303.86–823.47 mg/g of aerosol) in 13% of cannabidiol (CBD) products; PG (74.02–220.18 mg/g of aerosol) and GLY (596.43–859.81 mg/g of aerosol) in products with neither nicotine nor CBD; and none detected in tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products. No products contained glycol contaminants above the recommended maximum residue safety limit.