Critical evaluation of hazardous pollutants in edible insects: A simple review

The use of edible insects offers significant environmental benefits, particularly in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and minimising water and land use. Recently, some species of edible insects have been recognised as novel foods in the European Union, regulated by Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 until the end of 2022. In this context, it is necessary to pay close attention to the assessment of the health risks posed by the contaminants ingested by insects. Indeed, there are numerous risks associated with the consumption of insects for human consumption. This review highlights the importance of assessing the health risks associated with contaminants in edible insects. Similar to other animal-derived foods, insects can accumulate hazardous substances such as heavy metals, pesticides, dioxins and flame retardants. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of contaminant levels in edible insects, based on studies published over the last two decades, in order to assess the potential health risks associated with their consumption

Titanium dioxide in face powders and eyeshadows: Developingan analytical methodology for accessing customer safety

Background: Titanium dioxide (TiO2 ), a white powder, represents the opacifier used inmany products, including drugs, foods, cosmetics, paints, and dyes.Method: The Uv-Vis spectrophotometry was a particularly suitable technique toquantify TiO2 in the solutions obtained from cosmetics. In this work, we determinedthe TiO2 content in a total of 88 samples of eye shadows and face powders of differ-ent brands and costs. Before to analyse the samples, we developed the mineralizationand analysis method, in fact, fusion with potassium bisulphate would be very labori-ous because it must be carried out on one sample at a time and requires very longtimes, instead, the mineralization with the acid mixture and the aid of microwavesallowed us to solubilize six samples at the same time within 45 min.Results: From the results obtained, we can state that the highest concentrations of TiO2 are found in the eyeshadows with a maximum value of 36% in a blue eyeshadow

A Short Review of Simple Analytical Methods for the Evaluation of PAHs and PAEs as Indoor Pollutants in House Dust Samples

Studies on indoor air quality are indispensable when considering that people spend approximately 85% of their time in confined environments. This short review mostly takes into consideration research that uses passive samplers to evaluate the quality of indoor environments (houses, school, cars, etc.). This short review summarizes most analytical methods to detect and quantify PAHs and PAEs in house dust used as a passive sampler. The objective of house dust analysis is to identify the presence, amount and distribution of specific hazardous substances in confined spaces and, if possible, to identify their sources. Household dust and the compounds present in it can enter the human body by inhalation, non-food ingestion and absorption through the skin. The observed differences in concentrations of house dust may also indicate important differences in the chemical and physical nature of pollutants caused by air filtration and absorption during the migration of ambient air into the indoor environment

Analytical Method for Quantification of Several Phthalate Acid Esters by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry in Coffee Brew Samples

Several phthalate acid esters (PAEs), often called phthalate esters or phthalates, are substances classified as harmful due to their carcinogenic and mutagenic properties, and moreover, as dangerous for humans because they interfere with the endocrine system. In general, phthalic esters are used as plasticizers for different polymers and more other consumer products. In the present study, we describe a simple method to quantify PAEs in coffee brew using a liquid-liquid extraction without purification processes through analysing the obtained organic phase by GCMS in the single ion monitoring mode. The totals of single PAEs, in coffee brew samples analysed by us, are in the range of 159-5305 mu g L-1. Considering that, on average, a person drinks three cups (total 90 mL) of the aforementioned drink per day, this will lead to the uptake of a total 14 to 477 mu g of phthalates

II) Wood pellets for home heating can be considered environmentally friendly fuels? Heavy metals determination by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) in their ashes and the health risk assessment for the operators

The aim of the present study was to determine the concentrations of twelve potentially hazardous elements in wood pellet ashes obtained by the combustion of 13 pellet brands for sale in Italy, the impact of adding the ashes to soils and health risk of operator due to dust exposure. Samples were analysed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry. The concentrations of heavy metals in ashes from stoves ranged from 0.41 to 7.2 mg kg-1 for As, from 1.3 to 12 mg kg-1 for Sb, from 1.8 to 12 mg kg-1 for Zn, from 0.23 to 0.8 mg kg-1 for Pb, from 0.18 to 2.8 mg kg-1 for Ni, from 0.09 to 1.0 mg kg-1 for Cd, from 0.46 to 3.4 mg kg-1 for Cr, from 0.94 to 2.7 mg kg-1 for V, from 2.2 to 11 mg kg-1 for Cu, from 60 to 409 mg kg-1 for Mn, from 83 to 432 mg kg-1 for Fe and from 3484 to 15,484 mg kg-1 for Al. The total concentrations for the 12 investigated elements, expressed as the sum of the concentrations (∑me), ranged from 3703 mg kg-1 to 15,946 mg kg-1 of dry weight with a mean of 8455 mg kg-1. Considering all the metals, the results indicate that there are very low risks for operators regarding non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic elements contained in the wood pellet ashes produced during cleaning of pellet stoves in confined environments

Platinum and rhodium in wine samples by using voltammetric techniques

For the first time, the concentrations of Pt and Rh in 42 different alcoholic beverages (white and red wines, vodka and brandy) produced in Italy, Malta and Gozo were investigated. Only the voltammetric techniques, in particular, differential Pulse Voltammetry (DPV/a) and Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetry (AdSV) were used for the determination of Pt and Rh respectively. Accuracy was tested with standard addition method and recoveries ranged from 90% to 98%. In analyzed wine samples, Pt and Rh concentrations are in the ranges from 3 to 470\uc2 \uce\ubcg\uc2 L\ue2\u88\u92\uc2 1and from 0.0006 to 0.36\uc2 \uce\ubcg\uc2 L\ue2\u88\u92\uc2 1respectively. We found a Pt/Rh ratios ranged from 37 to 180,000, in quite disagreement with the ratio in catalytic converters. Unlike other investigated matrices (settled dust matter), the concentrations of Pt and Rh are not correlated, suggesting that the grape or the plant (vitis vinifera) treats the two metals very differently. Daily intakes (DIM) of Pt and Rh were calculated. Consuming 200\uc2 mL/day of wine, this supply from 0.6 to 94\uc2 \uce\ubcg and from 0.00012 to 0.072\uc2 \uce\ubcg of platinum and rhodium for person respectively

Heavy Metals in Tattoo Inks: Developing an Analytical Methodology for Accessing Customer Safety

Tattoo inks contains metal salts or different types of coloured organic molecules. To the best of our knowledge, there are few data on the concentration of hazardous metals in tattoo inks sold online or by makeshift hawkers. The aim of this work was to organize an analytical methodology to ensure the simultaneous quantitative determination of 18 elements in a complex matrix, like inks for tattooing, by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. The total concentrations of metals in the 16 analysed tattoo ink samples ranged from 0.060 to 16.9 g kg(-1). Zinc is the most present metal in the samples, in fact it is in the range 3.4-13882 mg kg(-1). In three of the 16 samples the zinc concentrations exceed those required by legislation (2000 mu g g(-1)). Cr concentration in all cases is higher than allowed (0.5 mu g g(-1)). The weight loss by heating the ink samples to 105 degrees C and, subsequently, to 550 degrees C showed that in all cases the volatile component (ethanol, solvents, etc.) varies from 48 (Wh1) to 95 %, while the percentages of the residue at 550 degrees C ranged from 0 % (BK0) to 47 % (Wh1). Considering values limit, four of analysed samples should not be used by tattoo artists