Determination of Potentially Toxic Elements in Food, Beverage and Medicinal Plants by Analytical Methods and Separation Technologies

A special issue of Separations (ISSN 2297-8739). This special issue belongs to the section "Analysis of Food and Beverages".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2024) | Viewed by 6766

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Nuclear Physics, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Joliot-Curie 6, 141980 Dubna, Russia
Interests: neutron activation analysis; food quality; nanotoxicology; soil and water bioremediation
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Guest Editor
1. Department of Structure of Matter, Earth and Atmospheric Physics, Astrophysics, Faculty of Physics, University of Bucharest, 405, Atomistilor Str., 077125 Magurele (Ilfov), Romania
2. Geological Institute of Romania, 1, Caransebes Str., 012271 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: major and trace elements in environment; presumably contaminating elements in soil and food; contamination chains; high sensitivity elemental analysis technique; image analysis
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Potentially/presumably toxic elements (PTE) are emitted into the environment by natural and anthropogenic processes. Their release leads to their accumulation in food products and medicinal plants, and this may have a negative impact on human health. In this context, it is important to develop methodologies for PTE determination in different food products, the monitoring of their content in regions with different levels of anthropogenic pollution, and assessments of the potential risks for human health.

This Special Issue aims to collect studies that show the progress in analytical techniques applied for food analysis. The contributions (original research papers and review articles) may present examples of analytical technique applications for the determination of the food elemental analysis, as well as risk assessment studies.

Dr. Inga Zinicovscaia
Prof. Dr. Octavian G. Duliu
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • analytical techniques
  • food quality
  • metals
  • metalloids
  • nanoparticles
  • risk assessment
  • potentially/presumably contaminating elements
  • radioactive contamination
  • radon as potential carcinogenic agent

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 1288 KiB  
Article
Evolution of Eight Biogenic Amines in Raw and Preserved Mackerel (Scomber scombrus) Fillets Monitored by UHPLC-PDA
by Laura Barp, Erica Moret and Sabrina Moret
Separations 2024, 11(8), 235; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations11080235 - 1 Aug 2024
Viewed by 600
Abstract
The presence of biogenic amines (BAs) in seafood can pose a health risk to consumers, as they have been linked to adverse reactions such as histamine poisoning. Although the only biogenic amine for which maximum limits have been set is histamine, it is [...] Read more.
The presence of biogenic amines (BAs) in seafood can pose a health risk to consumers, as they have been linked to adverse reactions such as histamine poisoning. Although the only biogenic amine for which maximum limits have been set is histamine, it is also important to regulate the presence of other amines associated with certain adverse effects. In this study, the official method for determining histamine was slightly modified and adapted for a UHPLC-PDA system and applied to analyze raw and preserved mackerel fillet samples. The evolution of biogenic amines during the storage period under refrigerated conditions revealed that, within two days, the limit for the content of histidine of 100 mg/kg was exceeded in raw fillets, while the histidine content in preserved mackerel (in oil and marinated) remained more stable. The thawing phase, whether in the fridge or at room temperature, did not significantly affect the BA content. Additionally, three different cooking methods (steaming, oven-baking, and boiling) significantly decrease the levels of BAs in highly contaminated raw mackerel fillets. Full article
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12 pages, 948 KiB  
Article
Fertilizers’ Impact on Grassland in Northeastern Romania
by Otilia A. Culicov, Doina Tarcau, Inga Zinicovscaia, Octavian G. Duliu, Mihai Stavarache and Vasile Vintu
Separations 2024, 11(5), 139; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations11050139 - 1 May 2024
Viewed by 1725
Abstract
In order to obtain more data concerning the influence of fertilizers (organic and mineral) on different forage plants in the northeastern Romanian grassland, the mass fractions of 14 essential, enzymatic, or toxic elements were determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis together with the [...] Read more.
In order to obtain more data concerning the influence of fertilizers (organic and mineral) on different forage plants in the northeastern Romanian grassland, the mass fractions of 14 essential, enzymatic, or toxic elements were determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis together with the amount of crude proteins, ash, fibers, as well as fat ether extract. The final results showed a significant variance in the content of analyzed elements on organic as well as on mineral fertilized experimental plots. At the same time, increased content of crude protein and fat ether extract was evident in fertilized grasses for all applied fertilizers, while other global indicators such as neutral and acid fibers of sulfuric lignin content decreased, suggesting significantly higher nutritional values for fertilized forage plants. Full article
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25 pages, 3820 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Pesticide Residues on Soil Health for Sustainable Vegetable Production in Arid Areas
by Turki Kh. Faraj, Mohamed Hamza EL-Saeid, Mohamed M. M. Najim and Maha Chieb
Separations 2024, 11(2), 46; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations11020046 - 31 Jan 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3768
Abstract
The assessment of pesticide residues in agricultural soils is an essential prerogative in maintaining environmental health standards. Intensive vegetable cultivation is practiced in the Al-Kharj area of the eastern Najd region of Saudi Arabia, where excessive applications of agrochemicals are reported to pollute [...] Read more.
The assessment of pesticide residues in agricultural soils is an essential prerogative in maintaining environmental health standards. Intensive vegetable cultivation is practiced in the Al-Kharj area of the eastern Najd region of Saudi Arabia, where excessive applications of agrochemicals are reported to pollute vegetable-growing soils, challenging the sustainable management of soils and groundwater resources. This study aimed to monitor the levels of thirty-two types of pesticide residues in the soils of vegetable fields and the estimated potential health risk for humans due to non-dietary exposure to pesticides in soils in the Al-Kharj region. Pesticide residues were evaluated at 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm depths at 20 sampling sites from Al-Kharj. Gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry, coupled with a quadrupole mass spectrometer with a GC column, was used in the analysis. The results indicated that agrochemical residues show prolonged soil pollution that may cause adverse impacts on human and environment. Herbicides Atrazine, Isoproturpon, and Linuron have been detected in the soils, and these pose many problematic environmental threats. Bromoxynil, Pendimetholin, and Diclofop-methyl could be used as per the recommendations to sustainably manage soil and water resources in the Al-Kharj area. Resmethrin, Methidathion, Ethoprophos, Tetramethrin, Bromophis-methyl, Bifenthion, Permethrin, Fenoxycarb, Cyfluthrin, Phosmet, and Azinophos-methyl can be used safely in the Al-Kharj agricultural area, maintaining sustainable soils and water resources. Applications of Carbaryl require sufficient care, while Endosulfan, Deltamethrin, Lindane, Chlorpyrifos, Chlorpyrifos-methly, Dimethoate, Heptachlor, and Mevinphos, which are detected in soils, require policy guidelines to limit the use to ensure sustainability. Policy interventions need to be formulated to increase the sustainability of soil management and groundwater resources in the Al-Kharj region to ensure the safety of people who are in direct contact with the agrochemicals used and to ensure the safety of agricultural products generated in this region. Full article
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