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Exposure to persistent organic pollutants begins in uterine life. The study was conducted to evaluate associations between gestational diabetes mellitus and the presence of persistent organic pollutants in placenta samples. They were derived from a birth cohort study in Ourense (NW Spain). Selective pressurized liquid extraction methodologies were used to determine targeted persistent organic pollutants in placenta samples. Cleanup of extracts was performed by solid-phase extraction using EZ-POP cartridges and detection by gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. Statistical calculations were performed by comparing the values obtained in the case and control groups. Statistical significance was considered as p

Financiado para publicación en acceso aberto: Universidade de Vigo/CISUG Most of organic pollutants (OPs) have the ability to interfere with biological systems causing negative effects in living beings, including humans. In the last decades, pets have been used as bioindicators of human exposure because they share the same habitat with their homeowners. We sought to determine levels of approximately 70 OPs, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBDEs), organophosphate pesticides (OPPs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and pyrethroids (PYRs) in plasma samples from 39 pet dogs from Ourense (north-western Spain). The results revealed that PAHs were the dominant OPs (mean value 175 ± 319 ng/g lipid weight (lw)), followed by PYRs (132 ± 352 ng/g lw), PCBs (122 ± 96 ng/g lw), OCPs (33 ± 17 ng/g lw), PBDEs (19 ± 18 ng/g lw) and OPPs (2.1 ± 2.7 ng/g lw) in plasma samples. We have previously detected the target OPs in hair samples of pets, collected simultaneously and similar trend of some OPs has been observed. Moreover, pyrene and chrysene showed correlations between levels detected in both matrices Xunta de Galicia | Ref. GRC-ED431C 2022/35

Financiado para publicación en acceso aberto: Universidade de Vigo/CISUG Evaluation of postnatal exposure to organic pollutants is especially important for suckling infants during breastfeeding, a crucial perinatal growth period when organs and hormonal systems develop. We determined levels of 60 pollutants, including organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs), pyrethroids (PYRs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), in 81 breast milk samples from breastfeeding mothers from Santiago de Compostela (north-western Spain). For most detected organic pollutants, levels were correlated with the season of milk sampling, maternal age at delivery, and place of residence. Dietary consumption habits (eggs, molluscs, and vegetable oils) were also correlated with OCP, OPP, PCB, PBDE and PYR levels. We also assessed the risk to infant health of exposure to organic pollutants in breast milk. PAHs, OCPs, OPPs, and PYRs accounted for almost 95% of the targeted organic pollutants in the samples analysed. Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431C 2022/35 Instituto de Salud Carlos III | Ref. RD21/0012

The Mediterranean diet includes virgin olive oil (VOO) as the main fat and olives as snacks. In addition to providing nutritional and organoleptic properties, VOO and the fruits (olives) contain an extensive number of bioactive compounds, mainly phenolic compounds, which are considered to be powerful antioxidants. Furthermore, olive byproducts, such as olive leaves, olive pomace, and olive mill wastewater, considered also as rich sources of phenolic compounds, are now valorized due to being mainly applied in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries. The digestive system must physically and chemically break down these ingested olive-related products to release their phenolic compounds, which will be further metabolized to be used by the human organism. The first purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the current status of in-vitro static digestion models for olive-related products. In this sense, the in-vitro gastrointestinal digestion methods are widely used with the following aims: (i) to study how phenolic compounds are released from their matrices and to identify structural changes of phenolic compounds after the digestion of olive fruits and oils and (ii) to support the functional value of olive leaves and byproducts generated in the olive industry by assessing their health properties before and after the gastrointestinal process. The second purpose of this review is to survey and discuss all the results available to date. Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades | Ref. RTI2018-098633-B-I00 Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades | Ref. IJC2019-038895-I Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED481D- 2019/001

Apples represent a significant source of dietary phenolic compounds with evidenced anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities. Nevertheless, the effect of the whole apple matrix on human macrophages is unknown. In this context, our study attempts to evaluate the effect of apple-derived phenolic compounds-rich extracts (pulp, peel and leaf) on IL-1β production in THP-1-differentiated macrophages and derived metabolic alterations through untargeted metabolomics. Our results have showed that apple pulp treatment inhibited the release of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β induced by LPS in THP-1 macrophages by ELISA analysis. Metabolomics demonstrate that different proportions of phenolic compounds led to differential alterations in the metabolism of THP-1 macrophages. Indeed, apple extracts promoted alterations in lipid, carbohydrate, amino acid and vitamins as well as cofactors metabolism. Specifically, leaf extracts were characterized by alteration of galactose metabolism while the extracts derived from the fruit showed predominant alterations in lipids metabolism. All extracts mimicked the response observed under normal conditions in LPS-stimulated macrophages, inhibiting LPS response. Thus, the phenolic enriched extracts from apples will be a good source of natural compounds with a beneficial effect against inflammation, and they may be applied as a food supplement and/or functional ingredient for the treatment of inflammatory diseases., This research was funded by EU FEDER funds, Interreg España-Portugal Programme, under the framework of the Project: ref. 0377_IBERPHENOL_6_E and also supported by UIDB/50006/2020 and PTDC/SAU-NUT/30448/2017 with funding from FCT/MCTES through national funds. I. F. ac- knowledge her Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) research contract (SFRH/BPD/86173/2012).

In this study, a new selective pressurised liquid extraction (SPLE) methodology was optimised for determining about 70 organic pollutants (OPs) including organochlorine (OCPs), organophosphate (OPPs) and pyrethroid (PYRs) pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybromodiphenyl ethers (PBDEs), as well as, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in wild boar liver samples considering the temperature, pressure and time of contact between the solvent and the matrix as influential variables. Clean-up of extracts was performed by solid-phase extraction (SPE) using EZ-POP cartridges. Detection of OPs was carried out by gas chromatography (GC) coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (QqQ-MS/MS). This new approach offers:•A new non-time consuming SPLE methodology for determining about 70 OPs in wild boar.•Recoveries achieved ranged between 74 to 119 % with RSD less than 20 %.•Detection and quantification limits in the low to mid pg/g range., Graphical abstract Image, graphical abstract

Organic pollutants (OPs) are widely distributed around the globe, their presence has become an issue of great concern in the last years due to their potential health effects. Wildlife biomonitoring of OPs has been nowadays a common approach to assess chemical exposure in wildlife and humans. In a sample of 60 wild boars (Sus scrofa) from NW Spain, we evaluated the suitability of using liver and hair samples for the assessment of exposure and bioaccumulation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) including dioxin and non-dioxin like PCBs (DLPCBs and NDLPCBs), organochlorine and organophosphate pesticides (OCPs and OPPs, respectively), polybromodiphenyl ethers (PBDEs), pyrethroids (PYRs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Selective pressurized liquid extraction (SPLE) and liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) methodologies were used to determine the target OPs in liver and hair samples. Clean-up of extracts was performed by solid-phase extraction (SPE) using EZ-POP cartridges and detection by gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (GC-QqQ-MS/MS). We found a distribution pattern of ΣPAHs ΣOCPs ΣPYRs ΣNDLPCBs ΣOPPs ΣDLPCBs ΣPBDEs in liver and of ΣPAHs ΣOCPs ΣNDLPCBs ΣPYRs ΣOPPs ΣDLPCBs ΣPBDEs in hair. Significant correlations (p 0.050) between the socio-demographic characteristics (gender, age and place) and OP concentrations of OCPs, PBDEs, PYRs, OPPs and PAHs were detected. Moderate correlation was found between HCB, PCB28, PCB157 and chlorpyrifos contents in both hair and liver samples. On the basis of these results, our data shows the correlation and complementary information given by both biological samples.

Objectives Antenatal exposure to organic pollutants is a leading public health problem. Meconium is a unique matrix to perform prenatal studies because it enables us to retrospectively evaluate fetal exposure accumulated during the second and third trimester. The aim of the present study was to evaluate associations between organic pollutant levels in meconium and birth weight in NW Spain. Methods In this study, we quantify the concentrations of 50 organic pollutants together with the total values of the most important chemical groups in meconium using gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. Results Organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers were detected with the highest levels in meconium from small for gestational age newborns. It was estimated that several congeners were statistically significant (p Conclusions The occurrence of transplacental transfer can be confirmed. Prenatal exposure to organic pollutants was associated with a decrease in birth weight and, therefore, organic pollutants could have an impact on fetal growth. Nevertheless, these results need validation in larger sample sized studies.

Organic pollutants (OPs) represent a wide range of chemicals that are potentially harmful for human and wildlife health. Many of these pollutants have been identified as endocrine disruptors that can alter hormonal balance producing adverse biological effects such as neurotoxicity, reproductive disorders, carcinogenicity and hepatotoxicity. For years, hair has been selected as a non-invasive source to assess levels of animal contamination. In the present study, a multiclass screening method for determining about 60 organic pollutants in pet hair was designed and validated for qualitative and quantitative purposes. Concentrations from different classes of organochlorine, and organophosphate pesticides (OCPs, and OPPs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (NDL-PCBs and DL-PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and organophosphate esters (OPEs) were identified in the selected pet hair samples from Ourense (NW, Spain). We detected most of these pollutants in the selected hair pets. The mean concentrations found ranged from 89 to 6556ng/g for OPEs, from 8.6 to 1031ng/g for PAHs, from 8.6 to 256ng/g for PBDEs, from 29 to 184ng/g for OPPs, from 0.29 to 139 for OCPs, from 0.30 to 59ng/g for NDL-PCBs and from 1.2 to 14ng/g for DL-PCBs. To our knowledge, this is the first study to document the presence of OPs in pets from North-West Spain and it could provide baseline information for future monitoring of OPs in the area.

Because forest fires are a source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), the influence of burnt conditions is of paramount importance and has not been thoroughly studied yet. In this study, two types of forest stands (Pinus nigra and Pinus pinaster) and two shrubland systems (Erica arborea and Ulex europaeus), differing in litter properties (composition and flammability), were considered. Changes in PAH levels were analysed in unburnt and charred litter, and they were related to different levels of soil burn severity and the organic matter composition of the charred litter, including charcoal and/or ashes. For monitoring PAH levels, an analytical method to determine them in unburnt and burnt woodland samples by pressure liquid extraction using a solid phase extraction cleanup was optimized. The highest levels of PAHs were found in the charred litter of P. pinaster (especially at soil burn severity = 200–400 °C), followed by U. europaeus, which presented similar concentration than Erica arborea and, finally, P. nigra. An association between the low molecular weight PAHs and 50% burn-off temperature differential scanning calorimetry supports the idea of fire smoke as the main source of low molecular weight PAHs in charred biomass generated at temperatures of 200–400 °C. Instead, the fraction of high molecular weight PAHs is related to hydrogen-to-carbon and oxygen-to-carbon ash-free dry weight, with charring depending on their organic matter content in the burnt material. PAH mobility will depend on the solubility of the organic matter, which is higher at higher pHs. The higher risk is the transport downstream to rivers or wet systems. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The early exposure to organic pollutants (OPs) related to dietary habit or environmental exposure is a concern of growing interest in environmental health. When OPs enter the body, they can accumulate in fatty tissue and even travel through the bloodstream being able to cross the placenta and reach the fetus through the substance exchange between the mother and the child. Epidemiologic and clinical data affirm that these chemicals increase the risk of adverse effects during childhood. This article reviews and addresses one of the most relevant analytical methods for determining OPs in placenta. We discuss and critically evaluate procedures, such as solid-liquid and selective pressurized liquid extraction (SPLE). Clean-up of extracts was performed by solid-phase extraction (SPE) using EZ-POP cartridges. Detection of OPs was carried out by gas chromatography (GC) coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Recoveries ranged from 52% to 94% by SPLE with estimated quantification limits between 0.15 and 2.2ng/g for organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), between 0.083 and 0.50 for organophosphate pesticides (OPPs), between 0.025 and 0.15ng/g for polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs), between 0.015 and 0.10ng/g for polybromodiphenyl ethers (PBDEs), between 0.33 and 0.66ng/g for pyrethroids and between 0.022 and 0.87ng/g for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Most of the target OPs were detected in twenty real placenta samples studied, with pyrethroids, PAHs and OPPs representing most of the 90% of OPs with means of 13-18ng/g versus PCBs, OCPs, and PBDEs with means4.0ng/g. The rsults of this work indicate a prenatal exposure to OPs in Galicia.

Background: Adipose tissue constitutes a continual source of internal exposure to organic pollutants (OPs). When fats mobilize during pregnancy and breastfeeding, OPs could affect foetal and neonatal development, respectively. Scope and approach: The main aim of this review is to deal with pre- and post-natal external exposure to organic pollutants and their effects on health, proposing prevention measures to reduce their risk. The goal is the development of a biomonitoring framework program to estimate their impact on human health, and prevent exposure by recommending some changes in personal lifestyle habits. Key findings and conclusions: It has been shown that new studies should be developed taking into account their cumulative effect and the factors affecting their body burden. In conclusion, several programs should continuously be developed by different health agencies to have a better understanding of the effect of these substances and to develop a unified public policy. Keywords: Organic pollutants, Mothers, Neonates, Toxicity, Potential prevention

Human exposure to environmental organic pollutants (OPs) begins in the uterine life period by trans-placental transfer. Epidemiological studies have consistently demonstrated the vulnerability of human fetuses and infants to the effects of OPs because of their rapid growth and organ development, cell differentiation, and immaturity of metabolism. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prenatal exposure to OPs characterized by different physicochemical properties using non-invasive biological samples (meconium and placenta). A total of 88 placenta and 53 meconium samples were collected in Ourense, a city located in northwestern Spain, at the delivery and after birth from mothers and their infants from the University Hospital of Ourense, respectively. Selective pressurized liquid extraction (SPLE) methodologies were used to determine the targeted OPs in the selected biological samples. Cleanup of extracts was performed by solid-phase extraction (SPE) using EZ-POP cartridges and detection by gas chromatography (GC) coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (QqQ-MS/MS). The targeted OPs were detected with the following mean level total concentration order polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) > organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) > non-dioxin like polychlorinated biphenyls (NDLPCBs) > pyrethroids (PYRs) > polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) > dioxin like polychlorinated biphenyls (DLPCBs) > organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) for placenta and ΣNDLPCBs > ΣPAHs > ΣOCPs > ΣPYRs > ΣOPPs > ΣDLPCBs > ΣPBDEs for meconium, respectively. Significant correlations (p < .050) between the socio-demographic characteristics of the selected population (mother's parity, age, weight increase during pregnancy, place of living and smoking habits) and log transformed concentration of some of the targeted OPs (OCPs, PBDEs, PYRs, OPPs and PAHs) were detected. The results obtained shown the complementary information given by both biological samples selected. Nevertheless, additional research will be needed to gain an understanding of the trans-placental transfer of OPs, to choose the best biological matrix to evaluate the prenatal exposure to OPs in a correct way and to know their health implications.

A large portion of organic pollutants (OPs) represent a potential hazard to humans and living beings due to their toxic properties. For several years, birds have been used as biomonitor species of environmental pollution. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBDEs), organophosphate pesticides (OPPs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and pyrethroids (PYRs) were assessed in body feather samples of 71 feral pigeons (Columba livia domestica) collected from Asturias and Galicia (NW Spain). The percentage of detection for all chemical groups were above 90% in studied birds. The general pattern was dominated by PAHs (mean value ± standard deviation (SD) 32 ± 15 ng/g) followed by OCPs (3.8 ± 1.1 ng/g), PYRs (3.4 ± 3.8 ng/g), PCBs (1.6 ± 1.0 ng/g), OPPs (1.3 ± 0.70 ng/g) and PBDEs (0.80 ± 0.30 ng/g). Significant differences were observed between age, location and gender suggesting different sources of exposure and accumulation pathways.

Results gained from in vivo metabolism could be more authentic to reflect the biotransformation of drugs than in vitro metabolism. This paper discusses the development and characterization of an analytical method for controlling tiamulin (TIA) and doxycycline (DOX) residues in pig plasma and urine, as well as their in vivo biotransformation during treatment and suppression steps at pig farms. For such a purpose, urine samples were taken daily (24-hr intervals) during treatment and until day 8 after last dose. Plasma samples were collected on the last treatment day and up to days 4 and 7 after the last dose. Only traces of TIA and their metabolites have been still detected 8 days after the last day of therapy, in agreement with the period of suppression of both antibiotics set by the manufacturers in 7 days. It was estimated that TIA and DOX half-lives were of two days and one day, respectively. TIA and DOX metabolites have been identified for the first time in plasma and urine pig samples during treatment and suppression steps.

Cortisol and corticosterone in saliva were evaluated as pig stress biomarkers, using pig genotype (Duroc, L62 or Pietrain) and lairage time in the slaughterhouse (0, 2.0, 4.0 or 6.0 h) as controlled variables. Although some pigs were found to be carriers of stress susceptibility, all were healthy heterozygous individuals. Pre-slaughter transport increased cortisol levels in saliva above 3.0 μg/L (medium stress), and 4.0 h of lairage in the slaughterhouse raised them above 6.0 μg/L, whereas corticosterone concentrations exceeded 4 μg/L, which are suggestive of high stress. The highest cortisol levels were detected in the Duroc genotype. Other factors such as food deprivation, background noise, the presence of a large number of animals waiting to be slaughtered, mixing with unfamiliar animals or recent mixing of genders may also influence stress. Corticosterone proved a reliable indicator of high stress only. Meat quality from the pig breeds studied was not affected by lairage in the slaughterhouse for up to 6.0 h.

Fish oils are one of the main sources of health promoting nutrients such as n-3 fatty acids in animal and human diet. Nevertheless, they could be an important source of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Different strategies of decontamination processes to reduce polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) levels in fish oils, such as solvent extraction (ethanol) and adsorbent extraction using commercially available (activated carbon) and sustainable adsorbents (mussel shell and wood ashes), were compared. Adsorption conditions were evaluated and optimized by an experimental design and the experimental results were adjusted to response surfaces. In this way, PAH removals increased with increasing of individual PAH molecular weight and they range from 80% to 100% using activated carbon and from 10% to 100% using wood ashes. Pine wood ashes showed similar removal rates to activated carbon (87%-100%) excluding F (51%) and P (42%). No PAH removal was observed using mussel shell ashes. Ethanol extraction was also optimized and showed a good performance in the extraction of PAHs. However, it does affect their ω-3 fatty acid contents. Finally, real oil samples from different fishing areas: Spain, South America, and North Europe were selected for the decontamination experiments under experimental conditions previously optimized.

Fish oil has been identified as one of the most important contributors to the levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in food and feed products. In this study, PCB adsorption from fish oil onto activated carbon (AC), other sustainable adsorbents (mussel shell and wood waste ashes) and organic solvent such as ethanol were compared and optimized. Regarding to adsorbents, PCBs were extracted from fish oil by a 2.0% adsorbent material dose, during 6.0 h at 25 °C. Solvent extraction was carried out using 2 × 5.0 mL ethanol by manually stirring for 3.0 min, and then by Ultrasound-Assisted Solvent Extraction (UASE) for 5.0 min. The results showed that removal rates obtained by using adsorbent materials ranged from 0.0 to 10% for marker PCBs, from 0.0 to 37% for mono-ortho-PCBs, from 0.0 to 74% for PCB11 and from 0.0 to 95% for non-ortho-PCBs. Regarding to solvent extraction, ethanol was used by manually stirring and then by Ultrasound-Assisted Solvent Extraction (UASE). The samples were then centrifuged (2000 rpm/10 min) and the alcoholic phase was removed. With this method, removal efficiencies were much better (85-116%); nevertheless, high eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) removal rates (70-78 and 71-79%, respectively) were detected. We can conclude that adsorption with adsorbents depends on the geometry of PCB congeners, as well as both type of adsorption material and their origin, and that several sorption cycles are needed. Adsorption with ethanol could be the most effective methodology but nutritional quality was impaired, what makes necessary to look for other not so polar removal solvents.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a family of toxicants that are ubiquitous in the environment. These contaminants generate considerable interest, because some of them are highly carcinogenic in laboratory animals and have been implicated in breast, lung, and colon cancers in humans. Dietary intake of PAHs constitutes a major source of exposure in humans. Factors affecting the accumulation of PAHs in the diet, their absorption following ingestion, and strategies to assess risk from exposure to these hydrocarbons following ingestion have received very little attention. This review, therefore, focuses on concentrations of PAHs in widely consumed dietary ingredients along with gastrointestinal absorption rates in humans. Metabolism and bioavailability of PAHs in animal models and the processes, which influence the disposition of these chemicals, are discussed. Finally, based on intake, disposition, and tumorigenesis data, the exposure risk to PAHs from diet is presented. This information is expected to provide a framework for refinements in risk assessment of PAHs.

Summary An improved extraction (2.5% HPO3, 5 mm dithiothreitol) and HPLC quantification methodology using a C–18 column at 35 °C and 0.1 m acetic acid (98%) and acetonitrile (2%) mobile phase was developed to quantify total ascorbic acid (AA) in commercial whole/semi-skim/skim raw/pasteurised/UHT milk packaged in opaque bags, transparent plastic, cardboard and Tetra Brik™. AA content ranged from 0.21 to 10 and from 3.4 to 16 mg L−1 in milk from retail outlets and processing plants, respectively, and was higher in organic milk. For same processor/lot samples, pasteurised milk showed higher AA content than UHT milk. This was not true for retail outlets samples. AA content was similar for whole/semi-skim and semi-skim/skim milk, but not for whole/skim comparisons. Among UHT samples, the AA content trend was whole

Animal nutrition constitutes an important issue for the animal production industry. Products intended for animal feed may contain undesirable substances which could endanger animal health or, because of their presence in livestock products, human health or the environment. In this sense, several incidents related with the presence of persistent organic pollutants, particularly with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), have happen in food and feed additives. Simple, fast, quantitative, and economic methods for determining PAHs and PCBs in potentially polluting feed ingredients were developed and evaluated. The methods involved liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), clean-up, and detection by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (LC-FD) for PAHs and gas chromatography (GC) coupled to electron capture detection (ECD) for PCBs, using tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) as confirmatory technique. The overall method quantification limits range from 0.020– 4.0 μg/Kg fo...

Food safety is central to any society, having important economic, social, and environmental implications. International comparisons have shown that the European Union is the world's largest producer of food and drink products. It is not surprising therefore that the Agro-food sector has major importance/influence on the economy of Europe. The first link in the agro-food chain is animal feed, and therefore the risks associated to them, as is the case of the distribution of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), are of paramount importance. Simple, fast, quantitative, and economic methods for PAHs and PCBs potentially polluting feeds were developed. The PAHs were detection by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (LC-FD) and the PCBs by gas chromatography (GC) coupled to electron capture detection (ECD), using tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) as confirmatory technique. The complete data set of 27 feed samples x 13 PAH and PCB concentrations wer...

Hydrothermic features in Galicia (northwest Spain) have been used since ancient times for therapeutic purposes. A characterization of these thermal waters was carried out in order to understand their behaviour based on inorganic pattern and water-rock interaction mechanisms. In this way 15 thermal water samples were collected in the same hydrographical system. The selected thermal water samples were classified using principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares (PLS) regression analysis in two groups according to their chemical composition: group I with the young water samples and group II with the samples with longest water-rock contact time. This classification agreed with the results obtained by the use of geothermometers and hydrogeochemical modelling, where the samples were classified into two categories according their residence time in the reservoir and their water-rock interaction.

The influence of different concentrations of two new fungicides (metiram and pyraclostrobin) on the fermentative activity of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast during winemaking process has been evaluated through in vitro assays. These fungicides were assayed as pure active compounds (single and in combination) and as a commercial formulation which contains both fungicides (55% metiram + 5% pyraclostrobin). The presence of pyraclostrobin pure standard in the culture medium, at the highest concentration evaluated (10 mg/L), increased the biomass and ethanol production rate. No effect on the alcoholic fermentation was observed for metiram pure standard due to its low solubility in the synthetic medium. However, a total inhibition of yeast growth was observed in presence of ≥40 mg/L of the commercial formulation. Se analizo, mediante ensayos in vitro, la influencia de diferentes concentraciones de dos nuevos fungicidas - metiram y piraclostrobin - sobre la actividad fermentativa de la levadura Saccharomyces cere...

Vinasses coming from the five CBOs of Galicia, north-western Spain, were characterized, and successfully employed as economic nutritional supplements for xylitol production by Debaryomyces hansenii . All fermentations can be modelled showing kinetic patterns fairly described by the mathematical models. No negative effect of the phenolic compounds in the liquid phase on the initial volumetric rate of product formation ( r P 0 ) was observed. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to describe the effect of metals and initial xylose acting on P max and Y P / S . Zn was the most influential variable. Besides, partial least-squares regression models show a clear separation, based on the first two principal components, between the whole vinasses and the liquid fractions, which provided the higher P max , with the exception of CBO 4, where P max = 40.4 g/L, was achieved using the solid and liquid fraction.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous contaminants in the marine environment derived from uncontrolled petroleum spills, marine transports, discharges from ships, and urban runoff. The NW coast of Spain (Galicia) has a characteristic hydrography, defined by a continuous suite of estuarine systems called “Rias Gallegas”. Some of these estuaries support important industrial and urban centres while others are preserved from human influence. The PAH contents in invertebrate organisms, such as bivalves, have been widely investigated because they are good bioindicators of pollution due to their ability to filter the water. 12 PAHs were determined in canned mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis), clams (Venerupis pullastra), cockles (Cerastoderma edule) and knives (Ensis ensis) from the Galician “Rias Gallegas” to perform a possible risk assessment on these contaminants. Pyrene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene and benzo[a]pyrene were detected in all the selected samples by liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence spectroscopy. With regard to benzo[a]pyrene, which represents the most potentially carcinogenic PAHs, European Regulation 1881/2006/EC fixed at 10 μg/kg of wet weight the MRL (maximum residual level) in bivalve molluscs. None of these marine invertebrates showed values higher than the MRL and therefore, they do not suppose risk for human health. Mussels hydrocarbon body burden levels were highest than exhibited by others bivalves. Some factors may determine this feature, as lipid content or habitat. Lower PAH levels of five and six benzene rings were detected in canned mussels in pickle sauce (vegetable oil, vinegar, paprika, salt and other spices) than in mussels in natural sauce (water, salt and other spices). PAHs migration from mussels to the vegetable oil in pickle sauce was verified to be the reason.

Eleven polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been analysed in commercial milk formulae and infant cereals. Two hydroxylated PAHs metabolites (1-OH-Pyr and 3-OH-B[a]P) and their conjugates were also analysed in milk samples. To determine the selected PAH metabolites, a simple, fast quantitative and economic method was developed. This method comprising ultrasound-assisted solvent extraction, enzymatic hydrolysis, solid-phase clean-up and detection by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (LC–FD) and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) as confirmatory technique. The method was evaluated by constructing calibration curves, measurement of recovery, precision and the limits of detection. The purpose of this survey was to determine the selected analytes, to assess the exposure of babies and infants and to produce data for comparison with proposed limits that were being considered at the time of the survey. The results showed that not only no samples would have exceeded the limit for benzo[ a ]pyrene which is used as an indicator for the presence of PAHs, but also no hydroxy PAH metabolites have been detected.

Summary Thermal waters are certainly a substantial asset of the Galicia region of Spain. They can be regarded as worth developing because of their human health implications and, if thermal tourism is promoted, their importance to the local economy. In this paper the chemistry of major and trace inorganic elements in about 45 thermal springs and wells discharging in the same hydrographical system are presented and discussed. For handling the results of all measurements, graphical representations of B/Li vs. SO 4 2 - /Cl− ratios, Hill–Piper diagram, discriminant analysis (DA) and principal component analysis (PCA) were employed. All this with the intention to classify, based on their inorganic pattern, both thermal springs and wells waters, but also waters circulating through adamellite and granodiorite rocks. The results of the hydrogeochemistry analysis showed three main water families: sulphated, chlorinated and bicarbonated waters. The results show also the presence of saline materials with chloride influence in the deeper aquifer, allowing its classification in deeper and younger/shallow waters.

The assessment of historical trends in atmospheric deposition of organic contaminants by using peat samples has been reported on several occasions because these samples represent an almost ideal medium for recording temporal changes in organic contaminant deposition rates. The determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in peat samples is complicated due to the high content of organic matter in peat, which affects both extraction efficiency and analytical quality. A rapid and simple method is proposed for the determination of 10 US Environmental Protection Agency indicator PAHs in complex matrices such as peat. This article reviews and addresses the most relevant analytical methods for determining PAHs in peat. We discuss and critically evaluate three different extraction procedures, such as ultrasound-assisted solvent extraction (UASE), shaking and pressurized liquid extraction (PLE). Clean-up of extracts was performed by solid-phase extraction using silica cartridges. Detection of the selected PAHs was carried out by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection for determination. Optimization of the variables affecting extraction by the selected extraction techniques was conducted, concluding that the UASE extraction method using hexane:dichloromethane (80:20) as extractant was robust enough to determine the selected PAHs in peat samples with estimated quantification limits between 0.050 and 3.5 microg/kg depending on the PAH. UASE did not demand sophisticated equipment and long extraction times. PLE involved sophisticated equipment and showed important variations in the results. The method proposed was applied to the determination of PAHs in peat samples from Xistral Mountains (Galicia, Spain).

The agronomic utility of a solid waste, waste bentonite (WB), from wine companies was assessed. In this sense, the natural characteristics of the waste were measured, followed by the monitoring of its effects on the adsorption/desorption behaviour of three quaternary herbicides in acid soils after the addition of increasing levels of waste. This was done with the intention of studying the effect of the added organic matter on their adsorption. The high content in C (294 g kg −1 ), N (28 g kg −1 ), P (584 mg kg −1 ) and K (108 g kg −1 ) of WB turned it into an appropriate amendment to increase soil fertility, solving at the same time its disposal. WB also reduced the potential Cu phytotoxicity due to a change in Cu distribution towards less soluble fractions. The adsorption of the herbicides paraquat, diquat and difenzoquat by acid soils amended with different ratios of WB was measured. In all cases, Langmuir equation was fitted to the data. Paraquat (PQ) and diquat (DQ) were adsorbed and retained more strongly than difenzoquat (DFQ) in the acid soil studied. However, the lowest retention of DFQ in an acid soil can be increased by amendment with organic matter through a solid waste from wineries, and it is enough for duplicate retention a dosage rate of 10 t/ha. Anyway, detritivores ecology can still be affected. Detritivores are the organisms that consume organic material, and in doing so contribute to decomposition and the recycling of nutrients. The term can also be applied to certain bottom-feeders in wet environments, which play a crucial role in benthic ecosystems, forming essential food chains and participating in the nitrogen cycle.

The purpose of this work was to examine the relationship of the total polyphenol index (TPI) as measured spectrophotometrically and individual phenols as determined by HPLC to antioxidant activity in red wines made from two Vitis vinifera grape varieties grown in NW Spain (viz. Mencia and Brancellao) during bottled storage in the dark for 12 months. Antioxidant activity was determined by using various methods based on inhibition of the coupled oxidation of the β-carotene/linoleic acid mixture. Also, free radical scavenging activity was determined with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Antioxidant activity as measured by DPPH after storage for 3 months was higher in Mencia wines than in Brancellao wines (4.5 ± 0.60 vs. 3.7 ± 0.30 mmol/L trolox equivalents). Beyond 3 months of storage, radical scavenging activity increased in both types of wine (from 4.5 ± 0.60 to 6.0 ± 0.80 mmol/L in Mencia wines and from 3.7 ± 0.30 to 4.7 ± 0.71 mmol/L trolox equivalents in Brancellao wines). The significant correlation found between antioxidant activity and TPI in all wines (r > 0.88) is indicative of the significance of condensation and polymerisation products to the total antioxidant activity of the wines. The relatively high correlation of total flavonols (r = 0.89) and acylated anthocyanins (r = 0.70) as measured by HPLC with to the overall antioxidant capacity suggests that these two polyphenol classes can substantially influence the antioxidant properties of these wines. The linoleic acid/β-carotene assay exposed a higher antioxidant capacity in Brancellao wines than in Mencia wines after 3 months of storage (6.0 ± 0.80 vs. 4.7 ± 0.70). Most of the studied wines lost an average 45% antioxidant activity during bottled storage. Antioxidant activity as measured with the linoleic acid/β-carotene assay was closely correlated with both hydroxycinnamic acids (r = 0.90) and flavanols (r = 0.71 and 0.61 for monomeric and polymeric forms, respectively).

PAHs from a polluted atmosphere are generally transferred to plants by particle-phase deposition on the waxy leaf cuticle or by uptake in the gas phase through stomata. Thus, they are also present in ingredients for animal feed. Generally, toxic substances are metabolized before or after absorption through the intestinal tract. This is the case of 3-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene, which can be found free or in its glucuronide and/or sulphate conjugate forms. This article develops a procedure to monitor the carry-over of PAHs from feed to food of animal origin based on the analysis of animal manure. Eleven PAHs and 3-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene were measured in four animal manures (cow, horse, rabbit and pig) by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[b]fluoranthene and benzo[k]fluoranthene were found in all the selected samples, but their total levels were not alarming (benzo[a]pyrene equivalents (microg/kg)

Very challenging analytical problems arise from the continuous introduction in agriculture of chemical pesticides. Particularly, diquat (DQ), paraquat (PQ) and difenzoquat (DF) are a difficult group of quaternary ammonium herbicides to analyze. This article reviews and addresses the most relevant analytical methods for determining the selected herbicides in soil. We discuss and critically evaluate procedures, such as digestion-based methods, shaking extraction and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE). Clean-up of extracts was performed by solid-phase extraction (SPE) using silica cartridges. Detection of these herbicides was carried out by liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to UV detection and mass spectrometry (MS) as confirmatory technique. Recoveries ranged from 98% to 100% by digestion, from no recovered to 61% by shaking, and from 102% to 109% by MAE with estimated quantification limits between 1.0 microg/kg and 2.0 microg/kg by digestion and 5.0 mug/kg and 7.5 microg/kg by MAE using LC/MS-MS as detection technique. The recoveries obtained under the optimum conditions are compared and discussed with those obtained from digestion extraction and MAE.

On Friday, September 1, 2006, the facilities of a chemicals distributor in the Spanish town of Caldas de Reis, were almost completely destroyed as a result of a fire. Comprehensive liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection (LC-FD) analyses were performed on plant foods to determine the toxic impact of this kind of accident on population. PAHs from a polluted atmosphere are generally transferred to plants by particle-phase deposition on the waxy leaf cuticle or by uptake in the gas phase through stomata. PAH levels in all samples were not alarming (total PAHs were below 4.240 ng/g) and the PAH profiles were similar, with the exception of peppers, in all vegetal materials (5-to-4 rings ratio of 1–2), suggesting the similarity in source type (the fire). PAH concentrations in plants were related to their surface exposed to air, indicating that the contribution of soil/water PAHs to plants (aerial part) accumulation was insignificant.

The aim of this study was to examine the fate of quaternary herbicides in soil deposits derived from erosion of vineyard-devoted soils. Herbicide occurrence in the crop soils was due to the farmer application inputs. Special attention should be paid to the presence of paraquat (PQ) in the studied vineyard-devoted soils. The major factor governing the sorption of PQ was the solid state organic fraction with the clay mineral content also making a significant contribution. The mobilization and transport of quats-enriched soil particles may generate downslope and downstream environmental problems that mainly affect detritivore ecology.

Pesticides, the most cost-effective means of pest and weed control, allow the maintenance of current yields and so contribute to economic viability. Concern about the environmental impact of repeated pesticide use has prompted research into the environmental fate of these agents, which can emigrate from treated fields to air, other land and waterbodies. How long the pesticide remains in the soil depends on how strongly it is bound by soil components and how readily it is degraded. It also depends on the environmental conditions at the time of application, e.g., soil water content. Pesticide use must ensure public safety and environmental protection with regards to both the chemical itself and their potentially harmful metabolites. This paper reviews what is known of the influence of the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil system, such as moisture content, organic matter and clay contents, and pH, on the sorption/desorption and degradation of pesticides and their access to groundwater and surface waters. An understanding of the fate of pesticides is essential for rational decision-taking regarding their authorization. To reach an adequate understanding will require the concourse of soil science, clay mineralogy, physical chemistry, surface chemistry, environmental microbiology, plant physiology and, no doubt, other disciplines. Only through a multidisciplinary approach to environmental research will it be possible to plan, manage, pursue and integrate the results of the studies that will be necessary for the development of tools and techniques allowing effective environmental decision-making. There seems to be a great potential to develop microbially derived pesticides, which are effective, reliable and have a low environmental risk. In addition, new application techniques, for example precision band spraying, can reduce the dose, which can be a very effective way to minimize transport and emission but also to avoid a build-up of resistance in target organisms. Improved formulations will also be needed to reduce off-target deposition, improve retention on target, and enhance uptake and translocation.

The purpose of this work is to study the evolution, over three selected harvests, of phenolic compounds and colour stability of red wines produced in the north of Portugal by means of two wine-making processes (conventional maceration/fermentation and fermentation after initial carbonic maceration), with and without the use of four different fining agents (polyvinylpolypyrrolidine, gelatine, egg albumin, and casein). In general, it was observed that wines obtained by conventional maceration/fermentation (PO) present the highest colour intensity and polyphenolic content (total and monomeric anthocyanins, flavan-3-ol monomers and polymers), and the lowest orange–red hue, immediately following vinification. Nevertheless, carbonic maceration (CM) afforded wines with most stability in colour density, for 26 months’ storage. Different evolutions of anthocyanins and of flavan-3-ol monomers (catechins) and polymers (procyanidins) in PO and CM protocols during storage were observed. Decrease of anthocyanins and flavan-3-ol dimmers were, in general, more remarkable in PO wines. Monomers and trimers underwent a rise, especially in CM wines. Wines treated with fining agents tended to have somewhat lower anthocyanins levels, and especially in the case of PVPP, less intense colouration than untreated wines. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that catechins and some procyanidins are mainly responsible for the separation and evolution of wines during storage according polyphenolic composition. Partial least squares (PLS) regression models confirm that colour density in wines from PO and CM protocols explains a high proportion of the variance in hue, chemical age, IFC and anthocyanins and a prediction model has been built.

Soxhlet extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to tandem mass spectrometry detection (MS/MS) was used for the determination of selected quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) in solid samples. The method was applied for the determination of alkyl benzyl, dialkyl and trialkyl quaternary ammonium compounds in sediment and sludge samples in Austria. The overall method quantification limits range from 0.6 to 3 microg/kg for sediments and from 2 to 5 microg/kg for sewage sludges. Mean recoveries between 67% and 95% are achieved. In general sediments were especially contaminated by C12 chain benzalkonium chloride (BAC-C12) as well as by the long C-chain dialkyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC-C18) with a maximum concentration of 3.6 mg/kg and 2.1mg/kg, respectively. Maxima of 27 mg/kg for DDAC-C10, 25 mg/kg for BAC-C12 and 23 mg/kg for BAC-C14 were determined for sludge samples. The sums of the 12 selected target compounds range from 22 mg/kg to 103 mg/kg in the sludge samples.

A method for simultaneous quantitative determination of alkyl benzyl, dialkyl and trialkyl quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) has been developed, validated and subsequently applied to real water samples in Austria. The method employs liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) followed by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), using electrospray ionization (ESI) in positive mode. The overall method quantification limits range from 4 to 19 ng/L for the enrichment of 500 mL water samples and analyte recoveries are between 80 and 99%. The method was applied to 62 of the respective water samples without filtration to avoid the loss of the analytes due to the high adsorption capacity of these compounds. Maxima in the mg/L range, especially in the wastewater of hospitals and laundries, could be detected for the selected target compounds.

Various analytical methods based on the HPLC-DAD technique were used to determine 38 phenolic compounds in red wines. While anthocyanins and hydroxycinnamic acids were determined by direct injection of wine samples, hydroxybenzoic acids, catechins, procyanidins and flavonols required an analytical pretreatment involving liquid–liquid partitioning with ethyl ether followed by solid-phase extraction on C18 mini-columns. The proposed analytical methods were used to establish the phenol composition of Mencia and Brancellao, two varietal young red wines, and its influence on colour stability during storage in bottles for one year. At the end of malolactic fermentation, Mencia wine was found to contain much greater amounts of anthocyan pigments than was Brancellao wine. This resulted in a higher colour density but a weaker hue in Mencia wine than in Brancellao wine. Phenolic compounds evolved similarly in both wines during storage; changes in such compounds involved a decrease in the levels of monomeric anthocyanins, phenolic acids, epicatechin and flavonols, and an increase in those of procyanidins. The absence of a relationship between the changes in colour density and monomeric anthocyanins in both wines suggests that copigmentation and polymerization with other phenolic compounds (viz. phenolic acids, catechins and/or flavonols) prevail over degradation of the pigments.

Atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and exist in gas and particle phases, as well as dissolved or suspended in precipitation (fog or rain). While the hydrosphere is the main reservoir for PAHs, the atmosphere serves as the primary route for global transport of PCBs. In this study, fog and rain samples were collected during fourteen events from September 2011 to April 2012 in the Xistral Mountains, a remote range in the NW Iberian Peninsula. PAH compounds [especially of low molecular weight (LMW)] were universally found, but mainly in the fog-water samples. The total PAH concentration in fog-water ranged from non-detected to 216ng·L -1 (mean of 45ng·L -1 ), and was much higher in fall than in winter. Total PAH levels in the rain and fog events varied from non-detected to 1272 and 33ng·L -1 for, respectively, LMW and high molecular weight (HMW) PAHs. Diagnostic ratio analysis (LMW PAHs/HMW PAHs) suggested that petroleum combustion was the dominant contributor to PAHs in the area. Total PCB levels in the rain and fog events varied from non-detected to 305 and 91ng·L -1 for, respectively, PCBs with 2-3 Cl atoms and 5-10 Cl atoms. PCBs, especially those with 5-10 Cl atoms, were found linked to rain events. The occurrence of the most volatile PCBs, PCBs with 2-3 Cl atoms, is related to wind transport from far away sources, whereas the occurrence of PCBs with 5-10 Cl atoms seems to be related with the increase of its deposition during rainfall at the end of summer and fall. The movement of this fraction of PCBs is facilitated by its binding to air-suspended particles, whose concentrations usually show an increase as the result of a prolonged period of drought in summer.

Dioxins include polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and part of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Only the compounds that are chlorinated at the 2,3,7, and 8 positions have characteristic dioxin toxicity. PCDDs, PCDFs and PCBs accumulate in the food chain due to their high lipophilicity, high stability, and low vapor pressure. They are not metabolized easily; however their hydroxylated metabolites are detected in feces. They cause a wide range of endocrine disrupting effects in experimental animals, wildlife, and humans. Endocrine related effects of PCDDs, PCDFs and PCBs on thyroid hormones, neurodevelopment and reproductive development were referenced. In addition, some studies of contamination of foods, bioaccumulation, dietary exposure assessment, as well as challenges of scientific research in these compounds were reviewed.

The kinetic bioconcentration of N-heterocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) after short waterborne exposure was studied. Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), its analogue azaarene 10-azabenzo[a]pyrene (AzaBaP), and their mixture (Mix), were selected to monitor the changes in water concentrations over three days. Decay of both PAHs concentrations in water after 24 h of waterborne exposure to mussels at levels of 10 and 100 μg/L follows a first order kinetic with half-lives of 4–5 h, with residual levels of PAHs below 7%. While steady-state scenarios are well studied, there is a lack of information of what happens under non-steady-state conditions, the main purpose of our paper. A synergistic bioconcentration of the mixture was found (around 800 in the mix vs. around 400 for individual PAHs at 100 μg/L of waterborne exposure). It could be explained by the following reasons. The most polar AzaBaP does not compete with the most non-polar BaP for the same tissue compartments. Whereas BaP aggregate in hydrophobic areas, AzaBaP can also do in hydrophilic areas. Moreover, a chance for complex formation between them by charge-transfer stabilization mechanisms could make possible a higher bioaccumulation as a mixture. Instead, toxicological results suggest an additive behaviour in the mixture performance, dominated by BaP, which is the key PAH controlling phase I metabolization in mussels, since is approx. three times more toxic. These experiments provide useful indications for a rapid assessment of PAHs kinetic bioconcentration in mussels.

Fish oil has been identified as one of the most important contributors to the level of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in feed products. The determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in fish oils is complicated due to the fat matrix, which affects both extraction efficiency and analytical quality. This article reviews and addresses two of the most relevant analytical methods for determining 11 mutagenic and carcinogenic PAHs, as well as two EPA indicator PAHs in fish oils. We discuss and critically evaluate two different extraction procedures, such as ultrasound-assisted solvent extraction (USAE) and ultrasound-assisted emulsification-microextraction (USAEME). Clean-up of extracts was performed by solid-phase extraction using C18 and glass columns containing silica gel and florisil for USAE or only C18 for USAEME. Detection of the selected PAHs was carried out by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection for determination. Optimization of the variables affecting extraction by the selected extraction techniques was conducted and recoveries ranged from 70% to 100% by USAE and from 70% to 108% by USAEME with estimated quantification limits between 0.020 and 2.6 μg/kg were achieved. Moreover, the applicability of the selected methods was evaluated by the analysis of real samples. To our knowledge, this is the first time that USAEME has been applied to the determination of PAHs in food matrices, such as oil fish samples. The methods proposed were applied to the determination of the target PAHs in fish samples from different countries, and it was found that the low PAH contamination of the selected fish oils could mainly occur by atmospheric sources.

Animal nutrition constitutes an important issue for the animal production industry. Products intended for animal feed may contain undesirable substances which could endanger animal health or, because of their presence in livestock products, human health or the environment. In this sense, several incidents related with the presence of persistent organic pollutants, particularly with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), have happen in food and feed additives. Animal feed and feed components are challenging matrices for the determination of residues and contaminants. The variability of these matrices is enormous. It ranges from relatively simple ones like those based on wheat to all kinds of by-products from agro and food industry, such as cereal oils. Firstly, this article reviews and addresses the extraction efficiency of ultrasonic assisted solvent extraction (UASE) and focused ultrasonic solvent extraction (FUSE) for determining selected PCBs in animal feed and ingredients. Detection of these pollutants was carried out by gas chromatography (GC) coupled to electron capture detection (ECD); tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) was used as confirmatory technique. Recoveries ranged from 70% to 98% by UASE and from 75% to 106% by FUSE with estimated quantification limits between 0.11 and 0.3 μg/kg in feeds and ingredients and between 0.2 and 0.75 μg/kg in fats. Once the method was optimised, it was applied to 18 feed samples as well as 16 ingredients. PCBs were detected in almost all the selected samples. As expected, the samples of animal origin as shell powder and fish oil showed the highest concentrations of 56 and 29 ng/g, which are equivalent to toxicological concentrations of 123 and 18 ng WHO-TEQDL-PCBs/kg, respectively. Feeds and ingredients from vegetable origin ranged from non-detected to 7.1 μg/kg. PCB 77 and 169 were the discriminant congeners in the selected samples of feed and ingredients. Samples showed that the pattern of PCBs depends on the sources of contamination.

The primary aim of the proposed work is to propose the potential sources of pollution by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in feeds and ingredients. To reach this propose the development of a simple, fast, quantitative and economic method for determining PAHs using liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), clean-up and detection by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (LC-FD) in polluting feeds and ingredients was developed. The overall method quantification limits range from 0.020 to 4.0 μg/kg and analyte recoveries are between 70% and 105% with relative standard deviations (RSD) lower than 20%. Molecular patterns of PAHs were used to study their distribution in the selected samples by cluster analysis, separating them in two groups: contaminated by atmospheric or pyrolytic sources. In order to find a relationship between the nutritional composition (protein, fibre, ash and fat content), and the hypothetical toxicity of selected feeds, a partial least squared (PLS) analysis was used, showing that fibre was a major contributor. Moreover, the complete data set of 27 feed samples and 25 feed ingredients x 13 PAH concentrations were analysed by PCA to find out what ingredients were controlling PAH pollution.

Studies on the temporal deposition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in peatlands are scarce, and none have been carried out in the Iberian Peninsula. To address this gap, ten PAHs were determined in a short peat core (spanning the last 1000 years) sampled in NW Iberian Peninsula, by HPLC-fluorescence. Fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo[b]fluoranthene and indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene predominated in the upper layers (10 cm), whereas fluoranthene and pyrene were the most abundant in the lower layers (40 cm), which showed an absence of high molecular weight PAHs (benzo[ghi]perylene and Indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene). Although increased PAH contents have been detected since 1700 A.D., coinciding with the beginning of the Metallurgical and Industrial Revolution, high levels of fluoranthene and pyrene were present in peat samples dating back to the 12th century A.D. The results suggest that changes in sources, type of emission (global or local) and transport could be responsible for the different PAH content and composition of the peat core. These changes are consistent with the history of the use of natural resources in the NW of the Iberian Peninsula.

Solid waste incineration has recently attracted much attention because the combustion process involved produces highly toxic organohalogen contaminants such as dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) present in fly ash. This has raised the need for simple, rapid, accurate methods for monitoring PCBs in ash samples.A method for the simultaneous quantitative determination of indicator, non-ortho and mono-ortho PCBs based on ultrasound-assisted extraction with 50:50 (v/v) n-hexane/acetone was developed, validated, and subsequently applied to real samples from a mussel shell incinerator facility in Galicia. The overall method quantification limits range from 0.35 to 1.5 ng/g in fly ash waste, from 0.30 to 1.0 ng/g in bottom ashes, and from 1.0 to 2.0 ng/g in sludge samples. Mean recoveries between 70% and 105% are achieved.DL-PCBs were identified in ash and in sludge samples collected from the wastewater treatment plant of the waste incineration facility. The enrichment factors for fly ash ranged from 3.3 to 3.7. Sewage sludge was also found to contain some polychlorinated biphenyls such as PCB 77 (29 ± 5.0 ng/g; n=4) and PCB 169 (6.9 ± 0.89 ng/g; n=4), as well as three of the seven PCB-like indicators, namely: PCB 138 (14 ± 4.4 ng/g), PCB 153 (6.1 ± 1.4 ng/g), and PCB 180 (7.7 ± 3.0 ng/g). Toxicity equivalent concentrations were 0.0054 ng/g for bottom ash, 0.0264 ng/g for fly ash, and 3.6 ng/g for sewage sludge; these values are well below the limit for DL-PCBs in wastes recently set by the European Union.All samples studied contained PCBs at levels below the maximum tolerated limit established by European legislation. Based on their PCB content, the studied sewage sludge can be used as a soil amendment with no health risk. Also, fly ash and sewage sludge can be deemed stable PCB reservoirs releasing PCBs at concentrations below the regulatory cutoff to runoff water.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can be formed during the refinery processes of crude petroleum. Their removal is of great importance. The same happens with other organic solvents used for the extraction of PAHs (hexane, acetonitrile...), which can be polluted with PAHs. Kinetic and equilibrium batch sorption tests were used to investigate the effect of wood ashes wastes as compared to activated carbon on the sorption of three representative PAHs from n-hexane and acetonitrile. Mussel shell ashes were discarded for batch sorption experiments because they were the only ashes containing PAHs. The equilibrium time was reached at 16 h. Physical sorption caused by the aromatic nature of the compounds was the main mechanism that governed the PAHs removal process. Our investigation revealed that wood ashes obtained at lower temperature (300 degrees C) did not show any PAHs sorption, while ashes obtained at higher temperature (500 degrees C) have adsorbent sites readily available for the PAH molecules. An increase in the molecular weight of PAHs has a strong effect on sorption wood ashes wastes. As low the wood ashes particle size as high the sorption of PAHs, as a result of differences in adsorbent sites. The performance of wood ash wastes vs. activated carbon to remove 10 PAHs from organic solvents is competitive in price, and a good way for waste disposal.