Survey of lead and cadmium in adult canned foods eaten by young children

A U.S. Food and Drug Administration survey of lead and cadmium in 10 adult canned foods commonly eaten by children less than 5 years old was conducted between October 1981 and September 1985. The survey, which included foods preserved by a commercial canning process and packaged in metal containers, found the highest mean levels of lead (0.32 micrograms/g) in tuna and of cadmium (0.02 micrograms/g) in tuna and tomatoes. Lead levels in foods packaged in lead-soldered cans were about 5 times as high as those in foods packaged in nonlead-soldered cans. Mean lead levels appeared to decline over the 4 years of the study. Cadmium levels were usually below the data reporting limit (0.01 micrograms/g).     

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in U.S. Meat and poultry from two statistically designed surveys showing trends and levels from 2002 to 2008

Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) body burdens in the general U.S. population have been linked to the consumption of red meat and poultry. Exposure estimates have also indicated that meat products are a major contributor to PBDE dietary intake. To establish solid estimates of PBDE concentrations in domestic meat and poultry, samples from two statistically designed surveys of U.S. meat and poultry were analyzed for PBDEs. The two surveys were conducted in 2002-2003 and 2007-2008, between which times the manufacturing of penta-BDE and octa-BDE formulations had ceased in the United States (December 2004). Thus, the data provided an opportunity to observe prevalence and concentration trends that may have occurred during this time frame and to compare the mean PBDE levels among the meat and poultry industries. On the basis of composite samples, the average sum of the seven most prevalent PBDEs (BDE-28, -47, -99, -100, -153, -154, and -183) decreased by >60% from 1.95 ng/g lipid in 2002-2003 to 0.72 ng/g lipid in 2007-2008 for meat and poultry. PBDEs measured in individual samples in 2008 showed that beef samples had the lowest PBDE levels followed by hogs and chickens and then by turkeys. The PBDE congener pattern was the same for both surveys and resembled the penta-BDE formulation with BDE-47 and -99 accounting for 30 and 40% of the total, respectively. On the basis of the data from the two surveys, it appears that PBDE levels in U.S. meat and poultry have declined since manufacturing ceased; however, exposure pathways of PBDEs to livestock are still not known.     

Lead, cadmium, and fluoride levels in market milk and infant formulas in Canada

Lead, cadmium, and fluoride were determined in 68 samples of market milk and about 115 infant formulas. Mean and median levels (ranges) in ng/g found for cow milk were as follows: lead, 1.12, 1.19 (0.01-2.48); cadmium, 0.10, 0.039 (0.005-0.74); and fluoride, 41, 40 (7-86). In canned, ready-to-use formulas, lead, cadmium, and fluoride levels averaged 37.3, 1.50, and 840 ng/g, respectively. In concentrated liquid formulas, the respective levels were 21, 3.54, and 600 ng/g. In powder formula concentrates, respective levels were 73.7, 6.78, and 1130 ng/g. On the basis of this study and literature data, lead levels in market milk exceeding 5 ng/g appeared to signify contamination of the milk either directly or via the cow. For formulas considered on an as-consumed basis, lead levels exceeding about 10-15 ng/g were attributed to contamination from either the can used to store the formula or the formula ingredients. Infant formulas in lead-free cans contained about 1.7 ng/g of lead on a ready-to-use basis. Milk-based formulas contained about 0.26 ng/g of cadmium on a ready-to-use basis. Soy-based or milk-free formulas contained about 8-15 times more cadmium than did milk-based formulas. Canadian and U.S. ready-to-use formulas contained 900 and 230 ng/g fluoride, respectively, and this difference was attributed to the level of fluoride in the processing water used by the manufacturers.     

An analytical survey of aflatoxins in tissues from swine grown in regions reporting 1988 aflatoxin-contaminated corn.

A joint project was undertaken by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the Agriculture Research Service branches of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to determine the presence of aflatoxins in the U.S. meat supply during a drought year. In 1988, high incidences of aflatoxins occurred in corn grown in regions of the Midwest, Southeast, and South. Six states were identified as having serious aflatoxin contamination in their corn crop: Virginia, North and South Carolina, Texas, Iowa, and Illinois. Swine liver and pillars of diaphragm (muscle) tissues were sampled by federal FSIS Inspectors in plants located in these states. A worstcase sampling plan was conducted. Samples were taken in January 1989 from hogs fed corn soon after harvest and in April 1989 from hogs fed corn originally stored and then fed in the spring. A modification of the official AOAC method for the thin-layer chromatography (TLC) determination of aflatoxins in animal tissue was used to permit quantitation by LC with fluorescence detection. The official AOAC TLC confirmation of identity method was used to confirm all positive samples with B1 concentrations greater than 0.04 ppb and M1 concentrations greater than 0.1 ppb. Sixty samples in the January group and 100 samples in the April group were assayed. Concentrations of aflatoxins B1 and M1 in the first group of pig livers ranged from 0.04 to 0.06 ppb. The identity of aflatoxin B1 was confirmed in all positive samples. Aflatoxin M1 could not be confirmed in any of the positive liver samples because the method was insufficiently sensitive for this aflatoxin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Comparison of the Volhard and potentiometric methods for the determination of chloride in meat products: collaborative study

A collaborative study of the determination of chloride in meat products was conducted by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to compare the ISO 1841 method (Volhard titration) with the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Committee method (potentiometric titration). Five canned luncheon meat products containing 0.25-2.0% sodium chloride at 4 different spiking levels were analyzed by 11 laboratories. The data were analyzed by ISO statistics (ISO 5725) and by AOAC statistics (Youden-Steiner), the major differences being in the rejection of outliers and in the statement of precision parameters. Good agreement was found between the mean chloride contents of the products as determined by both methods and with the added amounts, although statistically significantly higher sodium chloride recoveries were obtained with the potentiometric method. The within-laboratory variability (repeatability) is greater for the Volhard method, especially for chloride levels below 1.0%. Therefore it is proposed to set the lowest level of determination for the Volhard method at about 1.0% sodium chloride. The among-laboratories variability (reproducibility) of the potentiometric method was comparable with the results from the collaborative studies for chloride in cheese, giving acceptable values for relative standard deviations of 1.5-3.0% for meat products with 0.3-2.0% added sodium chloride. It is recommended that further work be conducted to reduce or eliminate the systematic error present with the potentiometric method as applied to meat and meat products.     

Marine fish as source of protein supplement in meat

For the past 2 decades, a great deal of research has been done in fish technology, particularly in the area of mechanically deboned minced fish. Minced fish is the edible muscle flesh of fish that has been mechanically separated from the bones and skin. Ideally, the product is prepared from a high quality fish and resembles hamburger meat. In its final form, minced fish is used either as an ingredient or as an extender in seafood or in food products that require further processing. On the basis of technological advancements, the National Marine Fisheries Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce and the National Fisheries Institute jointly petitioned the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1980 to add minced fish at a level of 15% in the meat formulation of frankfurters. This paper explores certain aspects of processing, production, acceptance, and hazard assessment of minced fish ingredients as possible protein supplements in meat and poultry food products relative to this request.     

Accumulation of Glucosamine in the Methanolic Extract Of Corn Shoots Grown without Zinc Supply

Cadmium levels were determined in rice grains of Japonica, Indica, Javanica, and Indica-Japonica hybrid-bred varieties that were produced in the same plot of a non-polluted field in 1983 and 1985, using nameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry.

Cadmium levels in the brown rice grains harvested in 1983 and 1985 ranged from 2.1 to 27 0 ppb Cd for 28 Japonica varieties, 4.1 to 55.5 for 23 Indica varieties, 4.4 to 16.5 for 5 Javanica varieties, and 24.5 to 73.6 for 4 hybrid varieties.

The significant correlation of the cadmium levels between the 1983 and 1985 products may indicate the possible occurrence of varietal differences in the natural abundance of cadmium in rice grains. There was no correlation between the cadmium levels and the duration of ripening in each variety, suggesting that these differences could be partly attributed to some physiological characteristics of the rice varieties.     

Acute and chronic disability among U.S. farmers and pesticide applicators: the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)

The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) is a multipurpose household survey of the U.S. civilian non-institutionalized population conducted annually since 1957. From 1986 to 1994, over 450,000 U.S. workers, age 18 years and older, participated in a probability sampling of the entire non-institutionalized U.S. population; variables collected included a range of measures of acute and chronic disability. The objective of the present study was to assess predictors of health status, and acute and chronic disability for farmers and pesticide applicators (pesticide-exposed workers) compared to all other U.S. workers using the 1986-1994 NHIS. After adjustment for sample weights and design effects using SUDAAN, several measures of acute and chronic disability and health status were modeled with multiple logistic regression. Farmers (n = 9576) were significantly older compared to all other U.S. workers (n = 453,219) and pesticide applicators (n = 180). Farmers and pesticide applicators had a higher proportion of males, whites, and Hispanics and were less educated. After adjusting for age, gender, race-ethnicity, and education, compared to all other workers, farmers were significantly less likely to report acute and chronic disability and health conditions, while pesticide applicators were more likely to report chronic disability, health conditions, and poor health. Given the cross-sectional nature of the data and the significant job demands of farming, both leading to a relative healthy worker effect, the present results indicate that at any point in time, farmers report less acute and chronic disability, compared to other U.S. workers, whereas pesticide applicators report similar or poorer health.     

Intake and food sources of nitrites and N-nitrosodimethylamine in Spain

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a comprehensive assessment of dietary intakes of nitrites and N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). SUBJECTS AND SETTING: A study was conducted within the Spanish cohort of the European Prospective Investigation in Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) to assess the intake and food sources of these compounds in Spanish adults. The study included 41,446 health volunteers, aged 29-69 years, from Northern and Southern regions. Usual food intake was estimated by in-person interviews using a computerised dietary questionnaire. RESULTS: The estimated geometric mean was 0.994 mg day(-1) for nitrites and 0.114 microg day(-1) for NDMA. For both compounds a positive trend in consumption with increasing energy intake was observed. Dietary NDMA was related to age and sex after energy adjustment, while nitrite consumption increased with higher intakes of vitamin C (P < 0.001). The food groups that contributed most to intakes were meat products, cereals, vegetables and fruits for nitrites, and processed meat, beer, cheese and broiled fish for NDMA. Current and past smokers, who had high levels of NDMA from tobacco exposure, were also identified as the highest consumers of dietary NDMA. Furthermore, smokers had low intakes of vitamin C (an inhibitor of endogenous nitrosation). CONCLUSIONS: Intake levels of NDMA and nitrites in a Mediterranean cohort are currently relatively lower than those previously reported, although processed meat, beer and cured cheese still are the most important contributors to NDMA intake.     

Changing pesticide technology in meat and poultry products

In response to consumer concerns about pesticide residues in meat and poultry, a National Residue Program was introduced in the 1960s. Rapidly developing analytical methods and instrument capability resulted in a laboratory-based program of sufficient size and technical capability to quantitatively determine an increasing number of pesticides. In 1985, at the request of the Food Safety and Inspection Service, the National Academy of Sciences evaluated the program and recommended that more emphasis be placed on preventing residues and providing a higher degree of safety to consumers. In response, FSIS made a commitment to increase and improve capability to test for more residues, including pesticides, and to develop or purchase rapid test systems to facilitate the planned expansion of the National Residue Program. Such systems are now being evaluated and integrated into the program. Factors important for acceptability of rapid tests are reviewed in detail.     

Analysis of dietary supplements for arsenic,cadmium, mercury,and lead using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

The arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead contents of 95 dietary supplement products were determined using microwave digestion and high-resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Precision and accuracy were demonstrated by element recovery from 17 dietary supplements and replicates of 8 reference materials. The concentration ranges were as follows: arsenic, <5-3770 microg/kg; cadmium, <10-368 microg/kg; mercury, <80-16800 microg/kg; and lead, <20-48600 microg/kg. An assessment of estimated exposures/intakes of the four elements is presented.     

Simultaneous differential pulse polarographic determination of cadmium, lead, and copper in milk and dairy products

The contents of potentially toxic elements lead and cadmium and the essential element copper in various milk and dairy products consumed in Turkey were determined by differential pulse polarography (DPP), primarily to assess whether the intakes comply with recommended desired concentrations for essential and permissible levels for toxic elements. A simple and rapid DPP method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of cadmium, lead, and copper in samples. Using the differential pulse mode, half-wave peak potentials as E(1/2) were -0.58, -0.40, and -0.07 V for cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and copper (Cu), respectively. Marketed formulations of dairy products have been analyzed by calibration and standard addition methods. Recovery experiments were found to be quantitative. The linear domain ranges were 0.00-674.28 microg/L for Cd (R2 = 0.9999), 0.19-2.94 mg/L (p < 0.01) for Pb (R2 = 0.9997), and 0.41-133.46 microg/L for Cu (p < 0.01) (R2 = 0.9999). The studies have shown that the method is a rapid, reproducible, and accurate determination of these elements in milk and dairy products and can be used in the analysis of marketed formulations in the milk and dairy industry.     

Levels and incidences of pesticide residues in various foods and animal feeds analyzed by the Luke multiresidue methodology for fiscal years 1982-1986

During a 5 year period from 1982 to 1986, the FDA Los Angeles District Laboratory analyzed 19,851 samples of domestic and imported food and feed commodities for pesticide residues. A single, rapid, multiresidue method was used. The resultant data have been compiled showing the commodities sampled and the identity and range of levels of pesticide residues detected, including an indication of those residue findings that did not comply with U.S. federal tolerance levels. The residue data presented should not be viewed as being representative of the U.S. food supply; rather, the results are indicative of a surveillance- and compliance-oriented sampling of various food shipments collected by the Los Angeles District.     

Timing sulfur applications for corn (Zea mays L.) production on irrigated sandy soil

Abstract

The importance of sulfur (S) for corn (Zea mays L.) production on sandy soils has been noted for a number of years. Yet, there has been no extensive evaluation of the timing of S applications on corn production in these specific situations. This study was conducted for the purpose of measuring the effect of split applications of fertilizer S on com grown on irrigated sandy soils. The study was conducted in 1985 and 1986. Fourrâtes of fertilizer S (0, 6.5, 13, and 26 kg/ha) were combined with six times of application schemes in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Granular gypsum was used as the source of S. Corn responded to the use of fertilizer S in 1986 only. Time of application had no significant effect on yield in either year. There were no advantages to the use of split applications. The S concentration in the ear leaf tissue at silking was affected by both rate and time of S application at each experimental site. The current recommendation is to apply fertilizer S, when needed, in a starter fertilizer at planting. The results of this study indicate that there is no need to change this recommendation.     

Heavy metal, total arsenic, and inorganic arsenic contents of algae food products

The total arsenic, inorganic arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury contents of 18 algae food products currently on sale in Spain were determined. The suitability of the analytical methodologies for this type of matrix was confirmed by evaluating their analytical characteristics. The concentration ranges found for each contaminant, expressed in milligrams per kilogram of dry weight, were as follows: total arsenic, 2.3-141; inorganic arsenic, 0.15-88; lead, < 0.05-1.33; cadmium, 0.03-1.9; and mercury, 0.004-0.04. There is currently no legislation in Spain regarding contaminants in algae food products, but some of the samples analyzed revealed Cd and inorganic As levels higher than those permitted by legislation in other countries. Given the high concentrations of inorganic As found in Hizikia fusiforme, a daily consumption of 1.7 g of the product would reach the Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake recommended by the WHO for an average body weight of 68 kg. A more comprehensive study of the contents and toxicological implications of the inorganic As present in the algae food products currently sold in Spain may be necessary, which might then be the basis for the introduction of specific sales restrictions.     

Sulfuric acid/hydrogen peroxide digestion and colorimetric a collaborative study

Seven laboratories participated in a collaborative study of a method for determination of phosphorus in meat and meat products. Samples are digested in sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide; digestion is complete in approximately 10 min. Phosphorus is determined by colorimetric analysis of a dilute aliquot of the sample digest. The collaborators analyzed 3 sets of blind duplicate samples from each of 6 classes of meat (U.S. Department of Agriculture classifications): smoked ham, water-added ham, canned ham, pork sausage, cooked sausage, and hamburger. The calibration curve was linear over the range of standard solutions prepared (phosphorus levels from 0.05 to 1.00%); levels in the collaborative study samples ranged from 0.10 to 0.30%. Standard deviations for repeatability (sr) and reproducibility (SR) ranged from 0.004 to 0.012 and 0.007 to 0.014, respectively. Corresponding relative standard deviations (RSDr and RSDR, respectively) ranged from 1.70 to 7.28% and 3.50 to 9.87%. Six laboratories analyzed samples by both the proposed method and AOAC method 24.016 (14th Ed.). One laboratory reported results by the proposed method only. Statistical evaluations indicated no significant difference between the 2 methods. The method has been adopted official first action by AOAC.     

A Comparison of Cadmium in Ecosystems on Metalliferous Mine Tailings in Wales and Ireland

A comparative study of the concentrations of cadmium in ecosystems developed on tailings from lead/zinc mines was undertaken. Mine soils, vegetation, ground-dwelling invertebrates and Apodemus sylvaticus from nine historic and abandoned mines in Wales and a modern Irish mine site were sampled in order to evaluate and compare exposure risks to wildlife. There were three high soil cadmium sites (155–300 mg kg^-1) all from north-east Wales sites, one intermediate site (21 mg kg^-1) the Irish mine tailings, with the other sites having low (background) cadmium levels. The cadmium levels reflected differencesin ore minerology and in particular the presence of the zinc ore, sphalerite. The highest plant and invertebrate cadmium levels generally occurred in the three high soil cadmium sites. However, occasional high levels were found in plant and invertebrate samples from one or more of the low cadmium sites. Of particular significance was, despite the relatively high soil cadmium, the very low cadmium concentrations in the plants and invertebrates from the Irish tailings. Evidence of food-chain transfer and even biomagnification in invertebrates did not lead to high cadmium levels in kidneys of A. sylvaticus. Onlyat one high site were the kidney cadmium residues significantly higher than the reference site.     

Multimedia Modelling of the Exposure to Cadmium and Lead Released in the Atmosphere—Application to Industrial Releases in a Mediterranean Region and Uncertainty/Sensitivity Analysis

Two advanced models that respectively simulate the transport of heavy metals in the atmosphere at continental and regional scale, as well as the transfer of contaminants in the air–soil–plant system, were used to study the potential accumulation of lead and cadmium in vegetables in a French region submitted to global and local industrial releases. The dynamics of lead and cadmium in the atmosphere, the soil and two types of plants (leaf and fruit vegetables respectively) were simulated over 40 years. Kinetic best estimate calculations were conducted to simulate the potential accumulation of lead and cadmium in soils and plants. An uncertainty analysis was also performed to provide confidence intervals for the maximum contamination levels of leaf and fruit vegetables. A sensitivity analysis allowed to identify the most sensitive parameters of the modeling system. For this purpose, Probability Density Functions were proposed for the main parameters included in the air-soil-plant model. Different results were obtained for lead and cadmium respectively, lead being more sensitive to aerial processes (interception of deposits by leaves eventually followed by translocation to edible organs).     

Survey of mycotoxins in U.S. distiller's dried grains with solubles from 2009 to 2011

Distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) is a major coproduct of the fuel-ethanol industry and is becoming a popular low-cost ingredient for animal feed. Uncertainties regarding the risk factors in DDGS, such as level of mycotoxins, could limit its application in the animal feed industry. To provide a scientifically sound assessment of the prevalence and levels of mycotoxins in U.S. DDGS, we measured aflatoxins, deoxynivalenol, fumonisins, T-2 toxin, and zearalenone in 67 DDGS samples collected from 8 ethanol plants in the midwestern United States from 2009 to 2011. Among the five mycotoxins, deoxynivalenol was the main focus of the study because the crop year of 2009 was favorable for deoxynivalenol occurrence in corn. We learned that no more than 12% of the samples contained deoxynivalenol levels higher than the minimum advisory level for use in animal feed provided by the U.S. FDA, and the deoxynivalenol levels in all DDGS collected in 2011 were <2 mg/kg. Besides, intensive study showed that the enrichment of deoxynivalenol from contaminated corn to DDGS was about 3.5 times. With regard to the other mycotoxins in DDGS, the study suggested that (1) almost none of the DDGS samples produced in 2010 contained detectable aflatoxins and the highest level of aflatoxins in DDGS was 5.7 μg/kg; (2) no more than 6% of the samples contained fumonisin levels higher than the guidance level for feeding equids and rabbits provided by the U.S. FDA; (3) none of the samples contained T-2 higher than the detection limit; (4) most samples contained zearalenone levels between 100 and 300 μg/kg. This study was based on representative DDGS samples from the U.S. ethanol industry, and the data were collected using state-of-the-art analytical methodology. This study provided a comprehensive and scientifically sound assessment of the occurrence and levels of mycotoxins in DDGS produced from 2009 to early 2011 by the U.S. ethanol industry.     

Cholesterol oxidation in meat products and its regulation by supplementation of sodium nitrite and apple polyphenol before processing

The levels of cholesterol oxidation derivatives (OxChol) in eight commercial species of meat products were examined. These products contained more than 1 mg/100 g of OxChol, and 7beta-hydroxycholesterol + 5beta-epoxycholesterol (111-1092 microg/100 g), 5alpha-epoxycholesterol (80-712 microg/100 g), cholestanetriol (0-368 microg/100 g), and 7-ketocholesterol (708-1204 microg/100 g) were detected. To know the interaction of sodium nitrite supplementation against cholesterol oxidation in meat products, sausage was produced with or without varying levels of sodium nitrite and stored in the refrigerator for 15 days. As a result, cholesterol oxidation in sausage was inhibited by addition of sodium nitrite in a dose-dependent manner. This observation may be associated with inactivation of O(2)(-) radical and stabilization of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). In fact, the levels of OxChol in sausage increased, accompanying the decrease of coexisting linoleic acid when sodium nitrite was not added to sausage meat. Thus, cholesterol oxidation in meat products seems to be considarably promoted by the oxidation of coexisting PUFAs. On the other hand, additive apple polyphenol also inhibited linoleic acid oxidation in sausage and then suppressed cholesterol oxidation through its radical scavenging effects. Therefore, apple polyphenol, having a large amount of an oligomer of catechin, may interfere with cholesterol oxidation in meat processing or storage of meat products through its antioxidative action and be useful as a new antioxitant for meat products when it is added to the original meat before processing.