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Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) rank among the primary risk pollutants and their adverse effects may endanger the environmental balance and affect the ontogenetic development of live organisms and their body functions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to monitor the occurrence of PAEs in packaging materials and plastics (infusion sets), to evaluate the accumulation and distribution of the most common phthalates such as DEHP (di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate) and DBP (di-n-butyl phthalate) in body tissues and organs of pigs and broiler chicks having been administered the phthalates per os, to assess the occurrence of PAEs in pig and cattle farms in the district of Hodonín (1997–1999), and to propose precautionary measures to mitigate the risk of PAE penetration into the food chain and the environments. DEHP and DBP contents in packaging materials ranged from 0.1 to 4259 mg DEHP, and from 0.1 to 1298 mg DBP per 1 kg printed packaging material, respectively. In haemodialysis patients, over 0.5 mg DEHP per 1 kg blood was found after three hours of haemodialysis. In combined feeds for farm animals (pigs, cattle, poultry), DEHP and DBP concentrations ranging from 0.07 to 1.77 and from 0.06 to 2.36 mg/kg feed, respectively, were detected. In all the food samples investigated, measurable levels of DEHP (less than 0.01–0.22 mg/kgsample) and DBP (less than 0.01 to 1.31 mg/kgsample) were found. In the experimental pigs and broilers, phthalates were distributed in all the organs monitored and the highest accumulation was found in adipose tissue as expected. All the samples withdrawn from farms in the Hodonín district had measurable phthalate concentrations; the hygienic limit (4 mg/kg) was exceeded in 2 samples of swine adipose tissue (4.26 and 6.92 mg/kgfresh sample) and in 1 sample of cattle adipose tissue (4.75 mg/kgfresh sample).  

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ABSTRACT:The relationship between different levels of n-6 and n-3 PUFA in chicken breast and thigh meat and sensory characteristics of meat was studied. Chickens were fed diets containing 1, 3, 5 or 7 percent of oil made of seeds either of the linseed cultivar Atalante (A) with a high content of α-linolenic acid or of the cultivar Lola (L) with a predominating content of linoleic acid. The meat of chickens fed L showed better sensory characteristics than the meat of birds fed A. If the tissue contained more than 180 mg/100 g of n-3 PUFA, i.e. the thigh meat when chickens were fed 3% or more A and the breast meat when chickens were fed 7% A, significant fishy odour and taste as well as slight oily aftertaste were recorded. Texture, tenderness and juiciness of breast meat did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) in groups fed different diets. Thigh meat in the group with 1% A was significantly (P < 0.05) more fibrous than in the group with 7% L; however, there were no differences in texture between the other groups. The thigh meat of chickens fed L was tenderer, juicier and tastier than the meat of those fed A. Tenderness and juiciness were the highest in the group fed 7% of L. There is only a limited possibility to increase the intake of n-3 PUFA without any risk of changes in sensory characteristics of meat. If the levels of α-linolenic acid in the diet were 6.5 and 31 g/kg and the n-6/n-3 PUFA ratios in the meat were 3.3:1 and 0.9:1, respectively, the sensory value of TM and BM was not significantly deteriorated.

ABSTRACT:For the monitoring of distribution and accumulation of phthalic acid esters (PAE) in animal tissues, samples of muscle, mesenteric fat (fat), skin and liver from broiler chicks ROSS 308 were used. The chicks were divided into four groups (50 chicks each). All the chicks were given commercial diets (complete feed, KKS) for broiler chicks (starter -BR1; grower -BR2 and finisher -BR3). The experimental diets were supplemented with vegetable oil (RV) with low (group N) or high (group V) phthalate contents, or animal fat with a high phthalate content (group Z). Neither the control diets (K), nor the grower (BR1) diets contained vegetable oils or animal fat. The N chicks were given the grower (BR2) and finisher (BR3) diets supplemented with 5% and 3% vegetable oil, respectively. The V chicks were given BR2 and BR3 diets with 5% and 3% vegetable oil, respectively. The Z chicks were given BR2 and BR3 diets with 5% and 3% animal fat, respectively. The chicks were fattened till 42 days of age. Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were found in the tissues of chicks in all the experimental groups. The DBP content in the muscle ranged from 0.03 to 0.55 mg/kg, in the adipose tissue from < 0.20 to 2.56 mg/kg, in the skin from < 0.20 to 1.49 mg/kg , and in the liver from 0.03 to 0.13 mg/kg. The content of DEHP in the muscle ranged from 0.03 to 1.15 mg/kg, in the adipose tissue from 0.25 to 9.85 mg/kg, in the skin from < 0.20 to 4.68 mg/kg, and in the liver from 0.16 to 0.24 mg/kg. The highest concentrations of DBP of 1.28 ± 1.00 mg/kg of fresh sample (an average value from eight chicks) was determined in the adipose tissue of V chicks. The highest concentration of DEHP of 3.27 ± 2.87 mg/kg of fresh sample (mean of eight chicks) was also determined in the V group. The accumulation of DEHP was 3.2; 2.6 and 2.9 times higher than that of DBP in the muscle, adipose tissue and skin, respectively. The V and Z chicks showed higher phthalate contents (the sum of DBP and DEHP) in the adipose tissue, skin and liver than the K and N chicks.