Acrylamide in food products-chiefly in commercially available potato chips, potato fries, cereals, and bread-was determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Samples were homogenized with water/dichloromethane, centrifuged, and filtered through a 5 kDa filter. The filtrate was cleaned up on mixed mode, anion and cation exchange (Oasis MAX and MCX) and carbon (Envirocarb) cartridges. Analysis was done by isotope dilution ([D(3)]- or [(13)C(3)]acrylamide) electrospray LC-MS/MS using a 2 x 150 mm (or 2 x 100 mm) Thermo HyperCarb column eluted with 1 mM ammonium formate in 15% (or 10% for the 2 x 100 mm column) methanol. Thirty samples of foods were analyzed. Concentrations of acrylamide varied from 14 ng/g (bread) to 3700 ng/g (potato chips). Acrylamide was formed during model reactions involving heating of mixtures of amino acids and glucose in ratios similar to those found in potatoes. In model reactions between amino acids and glucose, asparagine was found to be the main precursor of acrylamide. Thus, in the reaction between nitrogen-15 (amido)-labeled asparagine and glucose, corresponding (15)N-labeled acrylamide was formed. The yield of the model reaction is approximately 0.1%.

A series of monosubstituted deoxy and deoxyfluoro 2,4-dinitrophenyl (DNP) β-d-glycopyranosides was synthesized and used to probe the mechanism of spontaneous β-glycoside hydrolysis. Their relative rates of hydrolysis followed the order 2-deoxy > 4-deoxy > 3-deoxy ≈ 6-deoxy > parent > 6-deoxy-6-fluoro > 3-deoxy-3-fluoro > 4-deoxy-4-fluoro > 2-deoxy-2-fluoro. Hammett correlations of the pH-independent hydrolysis rates of each of the 6-, 4-, 3-, and 2-position substituted glycosides with the σI value for the sugar ring substituent were linear (r = 0.95 to 0.999, ρI = −2.2 to −10.7), consistent with hydrolysis rates being largely dictated by field effects on an electron-deficient transition state. The relative rates of hydrolysis of the DNP glucosides can be rationalized on the basis of the stabilities of the oxocarbenium ion-like transition states, as predicted by the Kirkwood−Westheimer model. The primary determinant of the rate of hydrolysis within a series appears to be the field effect of the ring substituent on O5, the principal center of charge development at the transition state. Differences in the rates of hydrolysis between different series of hexopyranosides may not arise solely from field effects and likely also reflect differences in steric factors or solvation.

The free amino acid profile and sugar (fructose, glucose, and sucrose) composition were determined in potato samples selected to give a large range of variation (a total of 66 samples). From these samples French fries were produced in a laboratory-scale simulation of an industrial process followed by a finish fry at 180 degrees C for 3.5 min using a restaurant fryer. The final product was blast frozen and analyzed for acrylamide. Acrylamide was detected in all samples, but its concentration varied significantly from 50 to 1800 ng/g. For isotope dilution (13C3) acrylamide analysis, samples were extracted with water, cleaned up on HLB Oasis polymeric and Accucat mixed mode anion and cation exchange SPE columns, and analyzed by LC-MS/MS. Statistical analysis of the data indicates that the effect of sugars and asparagine on the concentration of acrylamide in French fries is positive and significant (p < 0.001). It appears that one of the ways acrylamide formation in French fries can be effectively controlled is by the use of raw products with low sugar (and to a lesser degree, asparagine) content.

Background: The Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC) Study was established to obtain Canadian biomonitoring data for pregnant women and their infants, and to examine potential adverse health effects of prenatal exposure to priority environmental chemicals on pregnancy and infant health. Methods: Women were recruited during the first trimester from 10 sites across Canada and were followed through delivery. Questionnaires were administered during pregnancy and post-delivery to collect information on demographics, occupation, life style, medical history, environmental exposures and diet. Information on the pregnancy and the infant was abstracted from medical charts. Maternal blood, urine, hair and breast milk, as well as cord blood and infant meconium, were collected and analysed for an extensive list of environmental biomarkers and nutrients. Additional biospecimens were stored in the study's Biobank. The MIREC Research Platform encompasses the main cohort study, the Biobank and follow-up studies. Results: Of the 8716 women approached at early prenatal clinics, 5108 were eligible and 2001 agreed to participate (39%). MIREC participants tended to smoke less (5.9% vs. 10.5%), be older (mean 32.2 vs. 29.4 years) and have a higher education (62.3% vs. 35.1% with a university degree) than women giving birth in Canada. Conclusions:The MIREC Study, while smaller in number of participants than several of the international cohort studies, has one of the most comprehensive datasets on prenatal exposure to multiple environmental chemicals. The biomonitoring data and biological specimen bank will make this research platform a significant resource for examining potential adverse health effects of prenatal exposure to environmental chemicals.

Furan was previously detected in foods that had undergone thermal treatment. Because furan is now classified as a possible human carcinogen, a model system was developed to investigate the origins of furan. Also, a simple, rapid isotope dilution (d4-furan) headspace method was developed to measure furan. Two pathways of furan formation have been identified in the model systems tested so far. The first is the oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids at elevated temperatures, and the second is linked to the decomposition of ascorbic acid derivatives. The analytical procedure, based on the use of a 50 μL injection (from the headspace of a 1.5 mL vial containing 0.5 mL water) into the split/splitless injection port of a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (electron ionization, selected-ion monitoring), showed linearity in the 10–1000 ng/g range with a limit of detection of 1 ng/g.