0000000000796960
AUTHOR
Andrea Macaluso
Toxic mineral elements in Mytilus galloprovincialis from Sicilian coasts (Southern Italy)
We assessed the relationship between V, Cr, Mn, Hg, As, Cd, Sn, Sb and Pb concentrations in Mytilus galloprovincialis samples from the coasts of Sicily and the expression of metallothioneins. Toxic mineral elements assessment was carried out by A.A. Spectrometry and ICP-MS. The metallothioneins expression was performed by q-PCR method. Low metals' levels were found in the mussel samples examined, in comparison with what was reported in literature. The highest mean values of toxic mineral elements were found in Gela (Cr 0.178 +/- 0.03 mg/Kg, Mn 4.325 +/- 0.012 mg/Kg, As 3.706 +/- 0.009 mg/Kg, Sn 0.148 +/- 0.014 mg/Kg, Sb 0.009 +/- 0.004 mg/Kg e Pb 0.364 +/- 0.01 mg/Kg). Significant levels of…
Land Snails as a Valuable Source of Fatty Acids: A Multivariate Statistical Approach
The fatty acid (FA) profile of wild Theba pisana, Cornu aspersum, and Eobania vermiculata land snail samples, collected in Sicily (Southern Italy), before and after heat treatment at +100 °C were examined by gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID). The results show a higher content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in all of the examined raw snails samples, representing up to 48.10% of the total fatty acids contents, followed by monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs). The thermal processing of the snail samples examined determined an overall reduction of PUFA levels (8.13%, 7.75%, and 4.62% for T. pisana, C. aspersum and E. vermiculata samples, respectively) and a spe…
Hair Mercury Levels Detection in Fishermen from Sicily (Italy) by ICP-MS Method after Microwave-Assisted Digestion
A number of ninety-six hair samples from Sicilian fishermen were examined for total mercury detection by an Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) method. The mercury levels obtained were compared with mercury levels of 96 hair samples from a control group, in order to assess potential exposure to heavy metals of Sicilian fishermen due to fish consumption and closeness to industrial activities. Furthermore, the mercury levels obtained from hair samples were sorted by sampling area in order to verify the possible risks linked to the different locations. The overall mean concentration in the hair of the population of fishermen was6.45±7.03 μg g−1, with a highest value in a fish…
Survey on the presence of non-dioxine-like PCBs (NDL-PCBs) in loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) stranded in south Mediterranean coasts (Sicily, Southern Italy).
A total of 71 loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) stranded along the coasts of Sicily (Southern Italy) were examined for nonâdioxine like polychlorinated biphenyl (NDL-PCB) levels in muscle and adipose tissue by a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) method. The results revealed 6 high-indicator congener (â6PCBIND) levels in 45% of the loggerhead turtles examined, with mean values of 980.39 ± 2508.39 ng/g wet weight in adipose tissue and 102.53 ± 238.58 ng/g wet weight in muscle tissue. The hexachloro and heptachloro PCB congeners were the most abundant in both the sample types. The highest NDL-PCB levels were reached in an adipose tissue sample of a logg…
Survey on the presence of non-dioxine-like PCBs (NDL-PCBs) in loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) stranded in south Mediterranean coasts (Sicily, Southern Italy)
A total of 71 loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) stranded along the coasts of Sicily (Southern Italy) were examined for non-dioxine like polychlorinated biphenyl (NDL-PCB) levels in muscle and adipose tissue by a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) method. The results revealed 6 high-indicator congener (∑6 PCBIND ) levels in 45% of the loggerhead turtles examined, with mean values of 980.39 ± 2508.39 ng/g wet weight in adipose tissue and 102.53 ± 238.58 ng/g wet weight in muscle tissue. The hexachloro and heptachloro PCB congeners were the most abundant in both the sample types. The highest NDL-PCB levels were reached in an adipose tissue sample of a loggerhe…
A New Potential Dietary Approach to Supply Micronutrients to Physically Active People through Consumption of Biofortified Vegetables
Micronutrients are required in many reactions involved in physical activity and exercise. Most physically active people do not meet the body’s needs in terms of micronutrients through diet. The novelty of the present manuscript is the use of an innovative dietary approach to supply micronutrients to physically active people through biofortified food. Therefore, the key point of this study was to verify whether supplementation with biofortified vegetables—and specifically molybdenum (Mo)-enriched lettuce—in healthy volunteers affects essential regulators of body homeostasis and, specifically, hematological parameters, iron and lipid metabolism, and hepatic function. Twenty-…
Analysis of β2-agonists in cattle hair samples using a rapid UHPLC–ESI–MS/MS method
A simple and efficient method was developed for simultaneous analysis of five illegal residual β2-agonists in cattle hair. β2-Agonists were quantified by ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry operating in positive multiple-reaction monitoring mode. The method was validated as quantitative confirmatory method according to the EU Decision 2002/657/EC: instrumental linearity, specificity, precision, recovery, decision limit (CCα) and detection capability (CCβ) were evaluated. The recovery were greater than 90% and the method appeared suitable for the control of these β2-agonists in cattle hair samples with LOQ values between …
First report on the presence of Alloxan in bleached flour by LC-MS/MS method
Abstract In this work the presence of Alloxan in bread, pastry and cake bleached flour was investigate in order to verify possible risk for consumers related to the use of chemicals for flour bleaching. A selective UHPLC–MS/MS method has been developed and validated for the purpose. Alloxan is one of the possible minor side products of oxidation after chemical bleaching of wheat flours, when several chemical agents are used. One hundred and seventy-five flour samples were analyzed for Alloxan determination. The validation of the method was performed in accordance with the ISO/IEC/EN 17025 for linearity, detection limit, quantification limit, accuracy, precision and ruggedness determination.…