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Essential oil (EO)-based nanoemulsions (NEs) are promising grain protectants in the management of stored-product pests. However, the potential impact of the stored-grain species on the green insecticide effectiveness has been poorly studied. In this study, two concentrations of EO-based NEs from Carlina acaulis L., Mentha longifolia (L.) Huds., and Hazomalania voyronii (Jum.) Capuron were evaluated as insecticides against the major stored-product pest Sitophilus oryzae (L.) on barley, oats, and maize kernels. The C. acaulis EO-based NE applied at 1000 ppm on barley achieved the highest mortality, killing 94.4% of S. oryzae adults after a 7-day exposure, followed by 1000 ppm of H. voyronii EO-based NE (83.3%). The lowest mortality (1.1%) was recorded with 500 ppm of M. longifolia EO-based NE on maize after the same interval. All tested NEs exhibited elevated efficacy when applied on barley, while mortalities were lower on oats and maize. Furthermore, C. acaulis EO-based NE was the most effective when applied on all commodities, followed by H. voyronii and M. longifolia EO-based NEs. Overall, our results highlighted the significant impact of the stored cereal on the insecticidal effectiveness of EO-based NE used for stored-product pest control. Sitophilus oryzae adults on barley can be adequately controlled through the application of C. acaulis and H. voyronii EO-based NEs.

Colchicine is a naturally occurring alkaloid used in human and veterinary medicine. It shows genotoxicity in in vitro and in vivo systems even at low concentrations. Therefore, no ADI has been established, and colchicine has been included in Annex IV of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2377/90. No abuse of this drug in intensive livestock farming has yet been reported. However, there may be a natural route of entry for this compound into the food chain when Colchicum autumnale is consumed by animals kept outdoors. To address this concern, we developed and validated a highly sensitive and selective quantitative LC-ESI-MS-MS method for the detection of colchicine in sheep serum and milk. For sample pretreatment, all samples were liquid-liquid extracted with phosphate buffer (pH 8.0) and dichloromethane. LC separation was carried out on an RP C18 column employing a 0.5% formic acid/acetonitrile gradient system. The recoveries in both matrixes at a concentration range from 0.0005 to 1 mg/L were >80% with RSDs of <10%. The applicability of the method was demonstrated in serum and the corresponding milk samples from Albanian sheep. After exposure to C. autumnale, the animals showed clinical signs of intoxication. Significant concentrations (up to 1 mg/L) of the drug were found in serum as well as in milk samples.

This paper presents monitoring data on levels of aflatoxin M1 in the farm-gate milk in Albania. The monitoring included 120 evenly distributed samples collected in winter and summer from various farms all over the country. The levels of aflatoxin M1 were determined using the quantitative thin layer chromatography. On average, the winter milk samples revealed higher concentrations of aflatoxin M1 than the summer samples. Thirteen percent of the winter samples resulted above the 0.5 microgram/kg level, as compared to 3% of the summer samples exceeding that level. Skimmed and semi-skimmed milk from the same source contained comparatively lower levels of aflatoxin M1 than whole milk.

In April 1997, a severe lead poisoning in humans was reported in rural Albania and a 30-y-old male and a 17-y-old female died. Twenty-three persons exhibiting signs of lead intoxication recovered following intensive EDTA-Ca chelation therapy. The poisoning resulted from lead contaminated flour originating from repair of a mill's cracked grindstone with metallic lead. Lead levels in flour samples averaged 325 +/- 18 ppm and in bran were 370 +/- 22 ppm. Blood lead levels in intoxicated individuals averaged 0.42 +/- 0.05 ppm and were compatible with their symptomatic status. Contaminated bran from the same mill was fed to lactating cows as well. Lead levels in blood and milk of exposed cows averaged 0.27 +/- 0.06 and 0.61 +/- 0.04 ppm, respectively.

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) contamination of animal products, may pose a threat to human health. Among ruminants, sheep appear to be more resistant to PAs poisoning and consequently comparatively higher concentrations of the PAs into their milk might be expected. To investigate the PAs transfer into sheep's milk following multiple intakes, three lactating sheep were submitted to the administration of 14C-seneciphylline in daily amounts of 32.4 mg, for a 5 days period. The appearance of radioactivity, derived from this compound was monitored in blood and milk and was calculated as seneciphylline, Alkaloid levels in blood during the first hour following the first dose administration, were 167 ng/ml and reached a maximum of 518 ng/ml at the 5th day of multiple treatment, before falling below the detection limit at the second day of the post treatment period. The Milk levels were respectively 62.3 ng/ml at the 3rd hour following the first dose administration, reaching a maximum of 987 ng/ml at the 5th day and falling below the detection limit at the fourth day of the postreatment period. The Seneciphylline levels in liver at the end of the 5 d multiple administration period averaged at 85 ng/g corresponding to 0.22% of the daily intake.

In early February 1996 severe lead intoxication in humans was reported from a rural area of Albania. An entire family of 5 individuals was involved and 2 of them died. The origin of the poisoning was lead-contaminated flour used by the family on a regular basis in their diet. The flour lead levels ranged between 550 to 800 ppm. Following 2 days of treatment with EDTA-Ca the blood lead concentration in survivors varied between 16 and 58 micrograms/dL blood.

The present communication describes the use of a quantitative thin-layer-chromatography method for the determination of colchicine in milk of a lactating sheep following a 10 mg single oral intake of the alkaloid extracted from the leaves of Colchicum autumnale. The concentration of the alkaloid in the leaves was 0,18% by weight. Unchanged colchicine can be detected in milk with the described method within the first 6 hours following the intake, whereas the maximal concentration of the alkaloid is reached 9 hours after the administration. Almost 40 hours following the intake the detection of the alkaloid in milk is not more possible. Postmortal determinations of the tissue levels of the alkaloid revealed major concentrations in the bone marrow, whereas only trace amounts were identified in heart and muscular tissue.

"Peak" levels of radioiodine (131J) in sheep and goats milk were reached between 12-24 hrs following their contamination. At the end of the nine days period for sheep and of 12 days period for goats, following a single contamination with the prescribed 131J dose, the radioiodine level is 0,25% of the contamination dose. Following a multiple biweekly radioiodine contamination, the corresponding radioactivity levels in milk are much higher than in blood. From the fourth day on, the ratio between the respective levels in milk and blood remains constant. Following a biweekly multiple contamination in goats, average concentration of 131J in thyroid is about 220% of the daily contamination dose, whereas the corresponding concentrations in milk and blood are 33% and 5% of the daily contamination dose. The corresponding values in sheep are 140% for thyroid and 26% and 3.5% for milk and blood. Chemicals used as "iodine metabolic inhibitors" do sensibly reduce radioiodine levels in milk, while simultaneously increasing the corresponding levels in blood.