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In recent years, there has been an intensification of weather variability worldwide as a result of climate change. Some regions have been affected by drought, while others have experienced more intense rainfall. The incidence and severity of moldy grain and mycotoxin contamination during the growing and harvesting seasons have increased as a result of these weather conditions. Additionally, torrential rains and wet conditions may cause delays in grain drying, leading to mold growth in the field. In July 2023, a wheat field in Lecco (Lombardy, Italy) was affected by torrential rains that led to the development of the Claviceps fungi. In the field, dark sclerotia were identified on some ears. Wheat ears, kernels, and sclerotia were collected and analyzed by LC-MS/MS at IZSLER, Food Chemical Department, in Bologna. The wheat ears, kernels, and sclerotia were analyzed for 12 ergot alkaloids (EAs) according to (EU) Regulation 2023/915 (ergocornine/ergocorninine; ergocristine/ergocristinine; ergocryptine/ergocryptinine; ergometrine/ergometrinine; ergosine/ergosinine; ergotamine/ergotaminine), after QuEChERS (Z-Sep/C18) purification. The analyzed sclerotia showed significant differences in total alkaloid content that vary between 0.01 and 0.5% ( w / w ), according to the results of the 2017 EFSA scientific report. EAs detected in sclerotia were up to 4951 mg/kg, in wheat ears up to 33 mg/kg, and in kernels were 1 mg/kg. Additional mycotoxins, including ochratoxin A, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, fumonisins, T2-HT2 toxins, and aflatoxins, were investigated in wheat kernels after purification with immunoaffinity columns (IAC). The analysis revealed the presence of deoxynivalenol in wheat kernels at a concentration of 2251 µg/kg. It is expected that climate change will increase the frequency of extreme weather events. In order to mitigate the potential risks associated with mycotoxin-producing fungi and to ensure the protection of human health, it is suggested that official controls be implemented in the field.

Infection is one of the main issues connected to implantation of biomedical devices and represents a very difficult issue to tackle, for clinicians and for patients. This study aimed at tackling infection through antibacterial nanostructured silver coatings manufactured by Ionized Jet Deposition (IJD) for application as new and advanced coating systems for medical devices. Films composition and morphology depending on deposition parameters were investigated and their performances evaluated by correlating these properties with the antibacterial and antibiofilm efficacy of the coatings, against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus strains and with their cytotoxicity towards human cell line fibroblasts. The biocompatibility of the coatings, the nanotoxicity, and the safety of the proposed approach were evaluated, for the first time, in vitro and in vivo by rat subcutaneous implant models. Different deposition times, corresponding to different thicknesses, were selected and compared. All silver coatings exhibited a highly homogeneous surface composed of nanosized spherical aggregates. All coatings having a thickness of 50 nm and above showed high antibacterial efficacy, while none of the tested options caused cytotoxicity when tested in vitro. Indeed, silver films impacted on bacterial strains viability and capability to adhere to the substrate, in a thickness-dependent manner. The nanostructure obtained by IJD permitted to mitigate the toxicity of silver, conferring strong antibacterial and anti-adhesive features, without affecting the coatings biocompatibility. At the explant, the coatings were still present although they showed signs of progressive dissolution, compatible with the release of silver, but no cracking, delamination or in vivo toxicity was observed., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Sorghum plants naturally produce dhurrin, a cyanogenic glycoside that may be hydrolysed to cyanide, resulting in often-lethal toxicoses. Ruminants are particularly sensitive to cyanogenic glycosides due to the active role of rumen microbiota in dhurrin hydrolysis. This work provides an overview of a poisoning outbreak that occurred in 5 farms in Northwest Italy in August 2022; a total of 66 cows died, and many others developed acute toxicosis after being fed on either cultivated ( Sorghum bicolor ) or wild Sorghum ( Sorghum halepense ). Clinical signs were recorded, and all cows received antidotal/supportive therapy. Dead animals were subjected to necropsy, and dhurrin content was determined in Sorghum specimens using an LC-MS/MS method. Rapid onset, severe respiratory distress, recumbency and convulsions were the main clinical features; bright red blood, a bitter almond smell and lung emphysema were consistently observed on necropsy. The combined i.v. and oral administration of sodium thiosulphate resulted in a rapid improvement of clinical signs. Dhurrin concentrations corresponding to cyanide levels higher than the tolerated threshold of 200 mg/kg were detected in sorghum specimens from 4 out of 5 involved farms; thereafter, such levels declined, reaching tolerable concentrations in September-October. Feeding cattle with wild or cultivated Sorghum as green fodder is a common practice in Northern Italy, especially in summer. However, care should be taken in case of adverse climatic conditions, such as severe drought and tropical temperatures (characterising summer 2022), which are reported to increase dhurrin synthesis and storage.

In a balanced diet, regular fish consumption provides positive outcomes for human health. On the other hand, the seafood supply chain faces a significant food safety risk due to the presence of potentially toxic elements (PTEs). In the present study, to assess the risk for Italian consumers, the concentrations of five PTEs, namely lead, chromium, cadmium, mercury, nickel, and aluminum, were determined in the three most consumed preserved fish in Italy: tuna ( Thunnus albacares, Katsuwonus pelamis ), mackerel ( Scomber scombrus ) and anchovy ( Engraulis encrasicolus ). Samples were collected from the national market, and the instrumental analysis was performed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The analyzed PTEs were found in all the species that were investigated. However, after considering the target hazard quotient (THQ) and the hazard index (HI), it was observed that the three fish preserves did not pose any risk of chronic toxicity for the average consumer, even at the highest concentrations detected. However, for significant consumers, mercury detected in tuna samples represented almost 90% of the tolerable weekly intake (TWI) reported by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), representing a matter of concern for consumers, particularly regarding developmental neurotoxicity, whose HI exceeded 111%. The acute toxicity of nickel was also considered for significant consumers at the highest concentration detected, and the margin of exposure (MOE) calculated was above 7000, much higher than the value of 30 indicated by EFSA. Due to the lack of data on non-professional carcinogenicity or human intake through foods with low cancer risk, this toxicity was not considered in the analysis of PTEs.

Along the Italian coasts, toxins of algal origin in wild and cultivated shellfish have been reported since the 1970s. In this study, we used data gathered by the Veterinary Public Health Institutes (IZS) and the Italian Environmental Health Protection Agencies (ARPA) from 2006 to 2019 to investigate toxicity events along the Italian coasts and relate them to the distribution of potentially toxic species. Among the detected toxins (OA and analogs, YTXs, PTXs, STXs, DAs, AZAs), OA and YTX were those most frequently reported. Levels exceeding regulatory limits in the case of OA (≤2,448 μg equivalent kg -1 ) were associated with high abundances of Dinophysis spp., and in the case of YTXs (≤22 mg equivalent kg -1 ) with blooms of Gonyaulax spinifera, Lingulodinium polyedra, and Protoceratium reticulatum. Seasonal blooms of Pseudo-nitzschia spp. occur all along the Italian coast, but DA has only occasionally been detected in shellfish at concentrations always below the regulatory limit (≤18 mg kg -1 ). Alexandrium spp. were recorded in several areas, although STXs (≤13,782 µg equivalent kg -1 ) rarely and only in few sites exceeded the regulatory limit in shellfish. Azadinium spp. have been sporadically recorded, and AZAs have been sometimes detected but always in low concentrations (≤7 µg equivalent kg -1 ). Among the emerging toxins, PLTX-like toxins (≤971 μg kg -1 OVTX-a) have often been detected mainly in wild mussels and sea urchins from rocky shores due to the presence of Ostreopsis cf. ovata. Overall, Italian coastal waters harbour a high number of potentially toxic species, with a few HAB hotspots mainly related to DSP toxins. Nevertheless, rare cases of intoxications have occurred so far, reflecting the whole Mediterranean Sea conditions., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Contamination levels of dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were monitored over 2018-2021 in 214 bovine milk samples from farms located in two regions in northern Italy (Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna). The average concentrations of the sum of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs (0.78 ± 0.55 pg TEQ/g fat) and six non-dioxin-like PCBs (6.55 ± 2.24 ng/g fat) were largely below the maximum, and action limits established at European level, confirming a decreasing trend observed both locally and across Europe in recent years. The impact of contamination levels on chronic dietary exposure of the Italian population to dioxins and PCBs was found to be highly variable based on the type of cow milk (skimmed, semi-skimmed, or whole-fat milk) and the population age group considered. Indeed, a first-tier screening of the potential exposure via determinist methods allowed for the identification of the youngest population as the group with the worst risk profile. The refinement of exposure assessment via Monte Carlo probabilistic methods suggested that, at the less pessimistic middle-bound simulation scenario, infants, toddlers, and children consuming whole cow milk may be exposed to dioxins and PCBs levels above the toxicological reference values with a probability of 76, 56, and 22%, respectively.

Antibiotic residues in food of animal origin is a great concern for public health worldwide in terms of antibiotic resistance development, potential allergic reactions and disruption of intestinal flora equilibrium. In this study the presence of antibiotic residues in raw bovine milk samples collected from farms located in Lombardy region in Italy from 2018 to 2022 was assessed in the context of the national milk quality payment system. Samples were screened with microbiological growth inhibition test Delvotest ® SP NT and a very low positivity rate ranging from 0.1% to 0.07% over the four years was determined. A total of 79 positive samples were further analysed by LC-HRMS screening technique to confirm positivity and detect the specific antibiotic compound contaminating the sample. The β-lactam antibiotics resulted to be the most frequently detected, with the penicillin G being the most abundant compound. The data suggested that low levels of antibiotic contamination are consistently maintained over the last four years and the integration of the techniques used in this study is a valuable tool for a deep and precise monitoring of antibiotic residues in milk., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. ., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Exposure to environmental stressors during pregnancy plays an important role in influencing subsequent susceptibility to certain chronic diseases through the modulation of epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation. Our aim was to explore the connections between environmental exposures during gestation with DNA methylation of placental cells, maternal and neonatal buccal cells by applying artificial neural networks (ANNs). A total of 28 mother-infant pairs were enrolled. Data on gestational exposure to adverse environmental factors and on mother health status were collected through the administration of a questionnaire. DNA methylation analyses at both gene-specific and global level were analyzed in placentas, maternal and neonatal buccal cells. In the placenta, the concentrations of various metals and dioxins were also analyzed. Analysis of ANNs revealed that suboptimal birth weight is associated with placental H19 methylation, maternal stress during pregnancy with methylation levels of NR3C1 and BDNF in placentas and mother's buccal DNA, respectively, and exposure to air pollutants with maternal MGMT methylation. Associations were also observed between placental concentrations of lead, chromium, cadmium and mercury with methylation levels of OXTR in placentas, HSD11B2 in maternal buccal cells and placentas, MECP2 in neonatal buccal cells, and MTHFR in maternal buccal cells. Furthermore, dioxin concentrations were associated with placental RELN , neonatal HSD11B2 and maternal H19 gene methylation levels. Current results suggest that exposure of pregnant women to environmental stressors during pregnancy could induce aberrant methylation levels in genes linked to several pathways important for embryogenesis in both the placenta, potentially affecting foetal development, and in the peripheral tissues of mothers and infants, potentially providing peripheral biomarkers of environmental exposure.

Cyanobacteria are characterized by high iron content. In this research, we collected ten commercial samples of Arthrospira spp. sold as food supplement to determine iron content and assess whether iron speciation showed variability among samples and changed respect to A. platensis grown in controlled conditions. Particular attention was also paid to phycocyanin, as an iron-binding protein. In six of the ten samples, 14 essential and non-essential trace elements were analysed using ICP-MS. Iron content measured in samples using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) varied from 353 (sample S5) to 1459 (sample S7) µg g - 1 dry weight and was in the range of those reported by other authors in commercial supplements. Iron speciation was studied using size exclusion chromatography followed by the analysis of the collected fraction for the determination of iron by AAS and for protein separation using SDS-PAGE. Overlapping chromatographic profiles were obtained for total proteins, phycocyanin and iron, although quantitative differences were evidenced among the samples analysed. In most samples, iron was mainly bound to ligands with high molecular mass; however, in four samples iron was also bound to ligands with low molecular mass. In fractions containing the most relevant iron burden, the principal protein was phycocyanin, confirming its role as an iron-binding protein in commercial samples.

In fish-based foods, one of the effects of inappropriate storage can be the formation of biogenic amines. Among these, histamine is considered one of the most toxic. The purpose of the present study is to assess the occurrence of histamine in fish-based pet foods, and to evaluate the changes in histamine content during storage at different temperatures. For the analysis, an LC-MS/MS method was used. Fifty-eight pet foods were purchased, and an aliquot of them was analyzed just after opening the packages. Histamine was detected in 12 samples and concentrations ranged from 1.5 to 30.1 mg/kg. The remaining of each positive sample was divided into seven subsamples. One of them was used as a control sample and kept at -20 °C, while the other six were exposed to different environmental conditions. Samples exposed to room temperature showed no significant changes in histamine levels, while samples exposed to high temperatures showed significant increases in histamine content. Finally, samples exposed to refrigerator temperature showed a slight decrease in histamine levels. Under the experimental conditions, the EU limit of 100 mg/kg established for fishery products was never exceeded. These results seem to indicate a low risk of histamine intoxication in cats fed fish-based pet food.

Hen eggs from farms with different production systems (organic, free range, barn, and in cage) sited in two regions of Italy (Emilia-Romagna and Lombardy) were collected from 2017 to 2019 to monitor the levels of 17 polychlorinated dibenzo- p -dioxin/dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), 12 dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs) and the 6 non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyl indicators (ndl-PCBs). Average concentrations of PCDD/Fs (0.21 pg WHO (2005) -TEQ/g fat), PCDD/Fs + dl-PCBs (0.43 pg WHO (2005) -TEQ/g fat) and ndl-PCBs (6.41 ng/g fat) were below the maximum limits established at European level in eggs, but significantly higher amounts of PCDD/Fs and PCDD/Fs + dl-PCBs were found in eggs from free-range housing system compared to barn, cage, and organic ones. The potential dietary intake of the monitored contaminants by Italian population age groups through the consumption of locally produced eggs was also evaluated. Exposure levels to PCDD/Fs plus dl-PCBs were below the tolerable weekly intake (TWI) of 2 pg WHO (2005) -TEQ/kg bw/week recently set by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). However, the younger population was found to be more vulnerable than other age groups to exposure to these contaminants. Specifically, the preferential consumption of free-range eggs by infants, toddlers, and children contributed more than 30% to the TWI. The results confirm the need to continuously monitor the levels of chemical contaminants in the environment and provide a reminder of the importance of targeted intervention measures aimed to reduce their occurrence in food and feed, firstly by improving the management practices on egg-producing farms.

The detection of Ochratoxin A (OTA) in the milk of ruminants occurs infrequently and at low levels, but its occurrence may be higher in dairy products such as cheese. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of OTA in cheeses purchased in the metropolitan city of Bologna (Italy) and the surrounding area. For the analysis, a LC-MS/MS method with a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 1 µg/kg was used. OTA was detected in seven out of 51 samples of grated hard cheese (concentration range 1.3-22.4 µg/kg), while it was not found in the 33 cheeses of other types which were also analysed. These data show a low risk of OTA contamination for almost all types of cheese analysed. To improve the safety of cheese marketed in grated form, more regulations on cheese rind, which is the part most susceptible to OTA-producing moulds, should be implemented or, alternatively, producers should consider not using the rind as row material for grated cheese. It would be interesting to continue these investigations particularly on grated hard cheeses to have more data to update the risk assessment of OTA in cheese, as also suggested by EFSA in its 2020 scientific opinion on OTA.

Lead poisoning from spent ammunition is known to affect many avian species. Birds of prey ingest lead when feeding on game shot with lead gunshot or bullets. Raptors with scavenging habits are particularly vulnerable to ingesting lead in areas with intensive hunting and are good indicators of the risk of poisoning from lead ammunition. To assess how much facultative and obligate avian scavengers suffer lead contamination in south-central Europe, between 2005 and 2019 we collected and analysed 595 tissue samples from 252 carcasses of 4 species (golden eagle, bearded vulture, griffon vulture, cinereous vulture). Lead concentrations in organs showed a similar pattern across species with long and small bones revealing the highest median values (5.56 and 6.8 mg/kg w.w., respectively), the brain the lowest (0.12), and the liver and kidney the intermediate (0.47 and 0.284). Overall, 111 individuals (44.0%) had lead concentrations above background thresholds in at least one tissue (i.e. >2 mg/kg w.w. in soft tissues, >8.33 in bone) and 66 (26.2%) had values indicating clinical poisoning (>6 mg/kg w.w. in liver, >4 in kidney, >16.6 in bone). Tissue lead concentrations and incidence of clinical and sub-clinical poisoning were higher in golden eagles and griffon vultures than in bearded and cinereous vultures, likely due to different feeding habits. In all species we found a rapid increase in lead values with age, but differences between age classes were significant only in the golden eagle. Birds with lead fragments in their digestive tract, as detected by X-rays, had higher median lead concentrations, suggesting that hunting ammunition is the main source of lead poisoning. Our results imply that lead impacts the demography of these long-lived species with delayed sexual maturity and low reproduction rate. A rapid transition towards lead-free bullets and gunshot is therefore required across Europe., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Game meat is endowed with excellent nutritional value, but it may also be a possible source of harmful substances, such as mycotoxins and heavy metals. In particular, several studies showed that lead fragments from hunting ammunition are able to represent a residual contaminant in the meat of wild boars or deer, representing a possible source of lead absorption. Even though wild boar meat consumption in Italy is rather limited, this meat could also be present in very popular Italian recipes, such as the typical meat sauce called ragù. We evaluated the lead levels in 48 samples (three different batches for each of the 16 brands) of ready-to-eat wild boar meat ragù sold on the Italian market in food stores and online distribution with the inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) technique. A high variability was found in the lead levels detected in the samples, with a median lead level of 0.10 mg/kg (0.01-18.3 mg/kg) and some of the samples showing very high lead concentrations. Since no intake level of lead is considered completely safe, and maximum levels for game meat have so far not been established, a greater attention on the risks to consumers' health related to the presence of this heavy metal in game meat is recommended.

The seaweed food has always been important in Asia, but recently increased in the Western diet. Superfood known for health benefits and rich in essential elements, can also accumulate high contents of heavy metals and iodine from the environment, becoming a health hazard. In particular for iodine, an appropriate labelling of seaweed is needed to warn the consumer of the potential risks. The aim of the study was to analyze the content of 20 heavy metals in seaweeds, distributed in Italy, by ICP-MS, also determining iodine and arsenic (total and inorganic fraction). A total of 72 samples of European and Asian seaweed of 8 genera were analyzed and the results correlated the content of heavy metals to genus, geographical origin and type of sample; 8.33% of the products lacked in the label of the indications of allergens, while 9.72% had irregularities in the label language. The highest concentration of elements was found in the Rhodophyta. The Aluminum level was the highest in the mixed seaweed (165.39 mg/kg) and for the Cadmium in the Asian seaweed (1.16 mg/kg). The amounts of Iron, Zinc and Magnesium, was highest in the Asian seaweed. The values of Arsenic (total and inorganic contents) were compared with the limits: 2.78% exceeds France and USA limits for inorganic, while higher content of total was found in Phaeophyta, which also showed the highest Iodine content (6770.80 mg/kg) that can be dangerous if not reported correctly in the label., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Turmeric is the common name for the rhizome of Curcuma longa L. In the recent years, food supplements containing turmeric have been marketed and widely used by an increasing number of consumers. Spontaneous reports of suspected adverse reactions to food supplements are collected within the Phytovigilance system., Methods: An ad hoc multidisciplinary group investigated the suspected cases of hepatotoxicity reported to the Italian Phytovigilance system associated with the assumption of turmeric food supplements with the methodology specific to pharmacovigilance as well as for the evaluation of the quality and safety of food supplements., Results: A cluster of 28 spontaneous reports of acute hepatitis, mostly with cholestasis, associated with turmeric products were sent to the Italian Phytovigilance system in the first six months of 2019. In all cases, except one, the causality assessment was at least possible. The suspected products were collected and analysed for the presence of drugs, heavy metals, aflatoxins, pesticides, synthetic dyes and pyrrolizidine alkaloids., Conclusion: On the basis of the results of all the activities performed by multidisciplinary group, regulatory intervention was taken. This study highlights the importance of developing an integrated evaluation approach for the evaluation of the adverse effects associated with the use of food supplements.

Wild animals have been used as food since ancient times and, currently, the consumption of unconventional animals is increasing worldwide. The process of cooking meat using traditional recipes includes a variety of ingredients, which can influence the total metal intake from the diet. In this study, the concentrations of eight essential (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Se, Ni, Mo, and Co) and six non-essential (Pb, Cd, Hg, Al, As, and Cr) trace elements were determined in home-processed food obtained from snails and from three common species of game animals (woodcock, pheasant, and hare), seasoned with anchovies, mushrooms, and different vegetables using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). In general, Fe was the most abundant trace element, ranging from 18 ± 8 µg/g in pheasant to 99 ± 76 µg/g in snail, and Co was the least abundant, ranging from 0.007 ± 0.003 µg/g in hare to 0.093 ± 0.048 µg/g in snail. Regarding the non-essential trace elements, Pb concentrations showed wide variations, reaching a concentration of 17.30 µg/g in hare, while Cd concentrations were higher in snail, ranging from 0.18 to 0.46 µg/g. These alternative food sources can offer an important contribution to the human nutritional requirements of essential trace elements, in particular of Fe. The high concentrations of Pb and Cd present in some samples should be considered as potentially dangerous for the consumers.

Bats are particularly suited as bioindicators of trace element pollution due to their longevity and their position in the trophic chain. In this study, the concentrations of ten non-essential trace elements (Al, As, Ba, Cd, Hg, Pb, Sb, Sr, Th, Tl) were determined in the tissues (whole body, skin-fur, skinned body, liver, kidney and bone) of lactant Tadarida teniotis from a nursery colony in Rome. A large number of bats from this nursery died before fledging and had bone deformities and fractures. The concentrations of non-essential trace elements in bone and whole body were also analysed in adult specimens of Miniopterus schreibersii from a colony located in a natural park in Northern Italy. In lactant T. teniotis, the Pb concentration decreased in the following order: bone>liver>skinned body>whole body>skin-fur>kidney, and exceeded the toxic threshold associated with negative effects reported for different mammalian species. The levels of the other non-essential trace elements were within a range indicative of low environmental contamination in both species. Significant interspecies differences (P < 0.05) were observed for concentrations of Pb and Ba, higher in the bones of T. teniotis, and of Cd, Hg and Sr, higher in the bones of M. schreibersii. In lactant T. teniotis, the different sources of Pb exposure, through inhalation and/or food, may represent a potential threat to the colony of this synanthropic European bat., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)