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Summary: The primary source of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) exposure is the diet, mainly fish. Seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and seabream (Sparus aurata) are among the most consumed sea fish in Italy. Fish from Northern Italy lakes like perch (Perca fluviatilis) is of particular importance in terms of consumption volume, while Mediterranean shad (Alosa agone) and European whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus) represent niche consumption. These species too could be a cause of consumer exposure to PFAS. The study investigated the presence of PFASs in the above‐mentioned fish species through LC‐HRMS analysis. Only PFBA and PFOS were found both in lake and sea fish while PFBS was found only in lake fish. The found concentrations were used to estimate intake of PFOS, the only detected molecule of the four discussed in the last EFSA report. The Tolerable Weekly Intake of 4.4 ng kg−1 b.w. per week was never exceeded also for the 99th percentile consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terpenes are among the major causes of pleasant or unpleasant odors close to active or inactive landfills. We studied R-limonene and p-cymene environmental degradation products using the heterogeneous photocatalysis mediated by titanium dioxide to explore the odor pollution. The aim of the study was the development of mass spectrometry based methods both hyphenated with GC and HPLC to identify and characterize transformation products (TPs) derived from photodegradation of R-limonene and p-cymene. With the GC-MS method we identified three TPs for R-limonene and two for p-cymene comparing the obtained mass spectra with those in the NIST library. While with HPLC-MS method, thanks to the use of the high resolution of MS tool, we recognized four and five TPs for R-limonene and p-cymene respectively. No p-cymene was detected as R-limonene transformation product. The methods developed were then applied to real environmental samples coming from landfills active (Lan1) or inactive (Lan2 and Lan3) located in northern Italy. R-limonene was detected in the active landfill (Lan1 at the concentration of 2.35 μg/mL) together with one of its TPs and one TP derived from p-cymene. p-Cymene was detected in the other two inactive landfills (Lan2 and Lan3 concentrations 0.025 and 0.15 μg/mL, respectively) together with one of its TP and two TPs coming from R-limonene photodegradation. The finding of TPs together with R-limonene and p-cymene both in active and inactive landfills point out the attention on the reduction of these molecules in the environment to reduce pollution and human risks. • Terpenes were associated to odor pollution in the environment close to landfills. • Degradation of molecules in landfills is both anaerobic and aerobic (oxidation). • Photodegradation induced by TiO 2 was used to simulate species oxidation in laboratory. • GC-HPLC/MS methods were developed to identify TPs of R-limonene and p-cymene. • Methods were applied to real samples from landfills and TPs were quantified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The popularity of small berries has rapidly increased in Western countries given their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities and health-promoting properties. The aim of this study was to compare the fatty acid (FA) profile, phenolic compounds, and antioxidant capacity of extracts of 11 berries cultivated in the North West of Italy. Berry samples were extracted and evaluated for FA profile and total anthocyanin (TAC), total flavonoid contents (TFC), ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and for their radical scavenging activities against 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) radical. The main polyphenols of berry extracts were characterized by HPLC-DAD-UV-ESI HRMS in positive ion mode. Results showed that the highest TAC and TFC contents were recorded in black currants, blackberries, and blueberries. Maximum and minimum DPPH• radical scavenging activities, Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity, and FRAP measurements confirmed the same trend recorded for TAC and TFC values. HPLC-HRMS analyses highlight how blueberries and blackberries have the highest concentration in polyphenols. Palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, α-linolenic, and γ-linolenic acids significantly differ between berries, with oleic and α-linolenic acid representing the most abundant FAs in raspberries. Among the berries investigated, results of phytochemical characterization suggest choosing black currants and blueberries as an excellent source of natural antioxidants for food and health purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The popularity of edible wild fruits has increased in industrialized countries due to their composition and positive effects. The aim of this study has been to characterize the polyphenolics and anthocyanins of black mulberry (Morus nigra L.), cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.), elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.), hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna L.), lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.) and rose hip (Rosa canina L.) harvested in the north-west of Italy by means of HPLC-DAD-ESI HRMS in positive ion mode. Although there is an abundant amount of literature related to the polyphenolics of cultivated fruit, a new type of comparison has here been conducted between wild and cultivated fruits on their polyphenolic content. The HPLC-DAD-ESI HRMS method has detected 64 different polyphenolic molecules and it can be used to perform qualitative and quantitative analyses. Furthermore, the cornelian cherry and elderberry samples showed the highest polyphenolic compound levels. The quercetin glycosylated compounds showed the highest percentage of flavonols in most of the analyzed wild fruits.