Pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent environmental pollutants. When entering the food chain, they can represent a public health problem due to their negative effects on ...health. In this study, concentrations of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), organophosphate pesticides (OPPs), pyrethroids, carbamates, and PCBs-a total 73 compounds-were determined in a total of 2268 samples of fat tissues (beef, pork, sheep, goat, poultry, game, horse, rabbit) and processed fat, meat, and processed meat products collected in Croatia during an 8-year period. In fatty tissues, 787 results exceeded the limits of quantification (LOQ): 16 OCPs, eight OPPs, six pyrethroids, one carbamate, and seven PCBs. The most positive results in fat samples were found for OCPs, with a frequency of quantification in the range of 57.5-87.5%. Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) were quantified in the highest percentages, in the ranges of 5.5-66.7% and 5.4-55.8%. Concentrations above the MRL values were determined for chlorpyrifos in pork fat and for resmethrin in six fat samples and one pâté. In 984 samples of meat and meat products, only 62 results exceeded the LOQ values. The highest frequency of quantification was determined for OCPs (25 samples), of which 40% were DDT isomers (60% DDE). Frequency quantifications of PCBs in fat samples were between 7.23 and 36.7%. An evaluation of the health risk assessment showed that the consumption of fat, meat, and meat products does not pose a threat to consumer health, since all EDI values were well below the respective toxicological reference values.
The aim of this study was to evaluate contamination levels and the frequency of detection of organochlorine (OCPs) and organophosphate pesticides (OPPs), pyrethroids, carbamates and polychlorinated ...biphenyls (seven PCB congeners) in a total of 534 samples of cow's, sheep's and goat's milk and dairy products from Croatia. Concentrations above the limit of quantification (LOQ) were measured for fourteen OCPs, nine OPPs, six pyrethroids, one carbamate and PCBs with a total of 172 results, and no concentrations exceeded the maximal residue levels defined by the European Union. The mean concentrations of pesticides and the sum of seven PCBs were determined in the ranges 0.92-17.4 μg/kg and 1.38-2.74 μg/kg. Pesticides were quantified in 27% of samples, and seven PCBs were quantified in 5.23% of samples. Among the three pesticide groups, the highest numbers of quantified results were found for OCPs (12.1-20.8%). The highest frequencies of detection were found for the sum of 4,4'-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its isomers (DDTs), hexachlorobenzene and seven PCBs. The sum of seven PCBs was quantified within the range of 3.3-6.67% of samples per milk type and dairy products. Among the OPPs, the highest frequency of detection was found for chlorpyrifos in cow's milk. Based on the estimated daily intakes, chronic risk characterisation showed no risk for adults or ten-year-old children for the consumption of cow's milk and dairy products.
This study’s objective was to estimate the seasonal occurrence of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in cow’s milk between winter 2016 and winter 2022 and to assess dietary exposure and risk assessment for the ...adult Croatian population. In total, 5817 cow milk samples were screened for AFM1 concentrations using the enzyme immunoassay assay (ELISA). For confirmation purposes of AFM1 concentration above the European Union maximum permitted level (MRL), ultra high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry was performed. In 94.7% of milk samples, AFM1 levels were below the detection limit (LOD) of the ELISA test. For 3.47% of samples, the AFM1 was between the LOD and MRL values. Only 1.87% of all samples exceeded the MRL. The mean value of elevated AFM1 in different seasons ranged between 59.2 ng/kg (autumn 2017) and 387.8 ng/kg (autumn 2021). The highest incidences of positive AFM1 were determined in autumn and winter and the maximum (6.4%) was in winter 2019/2020. The largest percentage of positive samples (69.7%) was found in central Croatia. The estimated daily intakes for positive samples ranged between 0.17 and 2.82 ng/kg body weight/day. Risk assessment indicated a high level of concern during autumn and winter, especially for consumers of large amounts of milk.
The aim of this study was to determine the concentrations of essential, trace, and toxic elements in beef and pork meat cuts available at markets and retail chains in the Croatian capital. ...Significant differences in the concentrations of Al, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Se, Pb, and Zn were found between bovine cuts (
< 0.01, all) and also between pork cuts (
< 0.01, all). A risk assessment using the estimated intakes based on the lowest and highest mean values of Al, Cr, Ni, and Pb in beef and pork showed low contributions to tolerable toxicological limits. However, consumers whose diets consist of large amounts of beef and pork kidneys may be at risk because the estimated intakes for Cd and Se exceeded the toxicological limits. Consumers of large quantities of beef mixed meat may be at risk due to higher values of estimated As intakes compared to health-based guidance values. Estimation based on the provisional maximum tolerable daily intake values for Cu, Fe, and Zn showed that beef and pork cuts can be considered safe for consumption. A comparison with data from other studies shows that the concentrations of the analyzed elements in beef and pork cuts vary considerably.
The aim of this study was to monitor the biochemical and chemical parameters of the blood of commercial chickens following treatment with one of three coccidiostats: maduramycin, monensin or ...diclazuril. Chickens received feed treated with maduramycin at concentrations of 5, 10 and 15 mg kg-1, monensin at 125, 225 and 325 mg kg-1 or diclazuril at 1, 5 and 10 mg kg-1. A control group of chickens consumed feed without the addition of coccidiostats. Following treatment, blood was sampled for 11 days and analysed for the following biochemical and chemical parameters: aspartate aminotransferase (AST), bile acid (BA), creatine kinase (CK), uric acid (UA), glucose (GLU), cholic acid (CA), total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), globulin (GLOB) and phosphorus (PHOS). Administration of different concentrations of maduramycin, monensin and diclazuril did not affect the concentration of the parameters AST, UA, GLU, BA, TP, ALB, GLOB and PHOS in experimental groups of broilers in relation to the control group. However, significant differences were observed in the concentrations of CK and CA between the experimental and control groups. Significant differences were also found in the concentrations of AST, CA and UA between experimental groups. Key words: maduramycin; monensin; diclazuril; chickens; biochemical and chemical parameters SPREMEMBE BIOKEMIJSKIH IN KEMIJSKIH PARAMETROV V KRVI KOKOŠI PO ZDRAVLJENJU Z MADURAMICINOM, MONENZINOM IN DIKLAZURILOM Namen raziskave je bil spremljanje biokemijskih in kemijskih parametrov krvi industrijsko gojenih piščancev po zdravljenju z enim od treh kokcidiostatikov: maduramicinom, monenzinom ali diklazurilom. Piščanci so dobivali krmo z maduramicinom v koncentracijah 5, 10 in 15 mg/kg, monenzin v koncentracijah 125, 225 in 325 mg/kg ali diklazuril v koncentracijah 1, 5 in 10 mg/kg. Kontrolna skupina piščancev je dobila krmo brez dodatka kokcidiostatikov. Enajsti dan po zdravljenju je bila piščancem odvzeta kri in analizirani so bili naslednji biokemijski in kemijski parametri: koncentracija aspartatne aminotransferaze (AST), žolčnih kislin (BA), kreatininske kinaze (CK), sečne kisline (UA), glukoze (Glu), skupnih beljakovin (TP), albuminov (ALB), globulinov (GLOB) in fosforja (Phos). Dodajanje različnih koncentracij maduramicina, monenzina in diklazurila ni vplivalo na koncentracijo parametrov AST, UA, Glu, BA, TP, ALB, GLOB in Phos v poskusnih skupinah pitovnih piščancev v primerjavi s kontrolno skupino. Statistično značilne razlike so bile ugotovljene v koncentracijah CK in CA med poskusnimi in kontrolno skupino. Značilne razlike so bile ugotovljene tudi v koncentracijah AST, CA in UA med posameznimi poskusnimi skupinami. Ključne besede: maduramicin; monenzin; diklazuril; piščanci; biokemijski in kemijski parametri
Concentrations of the anthelmintic agent levamisole were measured in a total of 85 raw cow milk samples collected during 2014 from dairy farms across Croatia. The liquid chromatographytandem mass ...spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method used for levamisole quantification was validated according to the criteria set by Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. The following validation parameters were determined: limit of decision (CCα) 0.55 μg kg-1, detection of capability (CCβ) 0.59 μg kg-1, limit of detection (LOD) 0.06 μg kg-1, limit of quantification (LOQ) 0.22 μg kg-1, precision and accuracy (expressed as recovery) 97.3-100 %, intra-laboratory reproducibility (RSD) 4.2-5.6 %. Levamisole levels for 45 of the total of 85 samples were below the LOD value (0.06 µg kg-1). In the remaining 40 milk samples, levamisole was measured in the range from 0.061 to 0.142 µg kg-1 and the mean value was 0.092 µg kg-1. Accordingly, all concentrations analysed were below the LOQ value (0.22 µg kg-1) and limit of decision (CCα) of the method used.
A total of 119 raw milk samples collected at individual small milk-producing facilities and collection tanks of milk routes from five counties of east and north continental Croatia were examined for ...chloramphenicol, sulfonamides, tetracyclines, gentamicin, streptomycin, dihydrostreptomycin, flumequine and enrofloxacin from January to March of 2011. Immunoassay methods used for drug determination were validated according to the guidelines laid down by European Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. Data indicated that the methods are appropriate for the detection of antibiotics measured. Measured mean values (μg L-1) of antibiotics were: 0.005 for chloramphenicol, 3.67 for sulfonamides, 2.83 for tetracyclines, 1.10 for gentamicin, 2.64 for streptomycin, 7.67 for dihydrostreptomycin, 10.4 for flumequine and 4.11 for enrofloxacin. None of samples analyzed showed the presence of veterinary drug residues above the maximum residues levels (MRLs) established by European Union and Croatian legislation. The calculated estimated daily intakes (EDIs) for the average daily milk consumption of 300 mL for an adult in Croatia for examined antibiotics showed levels 20 to 1640 times lower than the values of acceptable daily intakes (ADIs) fixed by European Medicines Agency and World Health Organization. This suggested that toxicological risk associated with the consumption of analysed milk could not be considered a public health issue with regards to these veterinary drugs.
Trace elements were determined in five types of cheese, cream and butter using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. In cheese samples trace elements were measured as follows ...(mg/kg): Al 0.01-3.93, Co<0.005, Cr 0.005-1.66, Li 0.008-0.056, Mn 0.068-5.37, Mo 0.003-0.225, Ni 0.01-0.163 and Sr 0.085-3.49. There were significant differences considering the concentrations of Mn, Cr and Al (p<0.01, all) among the analysed dairy products. There were no significant differences in Sr, Mo, Ni and Li levels among products. The highest levels were found in following products (mg/kg): 4.23 Mn in semi-hard fat cheese, 2.43 Sr in cream cheese, 0.18 Mo in cream, 0.14 Ni and 0.028 Li in melted cheese, 1.13 Cr and 3.87 Al in butter. The trace element con¬centrations measured in cheeses and butter varied compared to the literature data. Concentrations of Al, Cr, Mn and Mo found in cheeses and Mn and Ni in butter were in line with contents reported in other countries. These results may demonstrate differences in production processes between countries. The estimated daily intakes (EDIs) calculated for Cr, Mn, Mo and Ni in cheeses showed a low contribution (0.59-3.38 %) to the reference values for the permitted daily exposure (PDE) for these elements. However, the high contribution of Al concentrations (56 and 124 %) to PTWI (provisional maximum tolerable daily intake) calculated in fresh and melted cheese may pose a health risk to consumers.
The concentrations of essential elements in the milk of Croatian Coldblood mares and Littoral- Dinaric donkey were measured. The mean element contents in horse milk were (mg/kg): Ca 687.1, Mg 72.1, K ...637.7, Na 143.5, Cu 0.126, Fe 0.235, Se 0.01, Zn 2.06, Mn<0.01. In donkey milk, the mean element contents were (mg/kg): Ca 815.4, Mg 80.8, K 887.7, Na 217.6, Cu 0.027, Fe 0.196, Zn 2.36, Mn 0.016. In horse milk, moderate correlations were found between the elements: Ca-K, Mg-Se, Mg-K, Mg-Cu, Se-Cu, Se-Fe, Mn-K. Strong correlations were found among elements in donkey milk: Ca-Na, Ca-K, Ca-Cu, K-Na, K-Cu, Cu-Mn. Significant differences between Na, K and Cu concentrations were obtained between the two species. Other elements concentrations were similar in both species.
PDF
