International audienc

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A total of 146 samples of different kinds of cheeses produced in Spain were analysed in order to ascertain the specific contamination pattern. The organochlorine compounds studied were those most commonly investigated in previous surveys : a-HCH, /?-HCH, y-HCH (lindane), 6-HCH, chlordane, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, and the isomers and metabolites of DDT. a-HCH, /3-HCH, y-HCH, chlordane, p,p'-DDT, and p,p'-DDE were found in more than 76% of samples; p,p'-DDE and y-HCH were the most frequently detected, with frequencies of 100 and 97.9% respectively. 6-HCH, aldrin, dieldrin, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, o,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDD and o,p'-DDD were observed at lower frequencies. No residues of endrin were detected in any sample. Insecticides exceeding the maximum residue limits (MRLs) were chlordane, /?-HCH, a-HCH and 7-HCH, with 42, 20, eight and six samples respectively. Mean residues of organochlorines found were as follows (pg kg-butterfat): a-HCH = 46.3; /?-HCH = 46.5; y-HCH = 54.2; 8-HCH = 16.9; aldrin = 16.7; dieldrin = 9-7; heptachlor = 15.9; heptachlor epoxide = 14.8; chlordane = 50.2; o,p'-DDT = 5.1; p,p'-DDT = 12.4; o,p'-DDD = 19.6; p,p'-DDD = 46.7; 0,~'-DDE = 6.9; p,p'-DDE = 40.7 (ZDDT = 55.0).Estimated dietary intakes (EDIs) from cheese consumption were compared to acceptable daily intakes (ADIs) for the pesticides where residues exceeded the MRL. EDIs calculated were in all cases below ADIs, and, therefore, based on the ADIs, there is no health risk involved in the consumption of cheese from Spain arising from organochlorine residues.

Aim of study: Colony losses of the western honey bee Apis mellifera have increased alarmingly in recent years. These losses have been attributed to nutritional deficiency, environmental conditions, viral infection and the global presence of the ectoparasite mite Varroa destructor. Ensuring pollen availability may improve colony health, so the present study aimed to examine whether the diversity of pollen collected by the colony as well as landscape characteristics of apiaries influence colony health.Area of study: Tenerife Island (Canary Islands, Spain).Material and methods: Colonies at eight apiaries were sampled in late summer to determine colony strength, presence of varroa and load of DWV. Pollen was collected during six months and analyzed. Landscape of each apiary was spatially analyzed.Main results: Pollen diversity did not correlate significantly with colony strength or the load of DWV, but it positively correlated with varroa levels. In contrast, DWV load correlated with varroa infestation, and both variables negatively correlated with colony strength. Weak colonies were located in landscapes with areas less suitable for bee nutrition.Research highlights: These results suggest that DWV and varroa infection as well as landscape characteristics influence colony survival, while pollen diversity on its own does not seem to have direct relationship. Our findings highlight the usefulness of DWV and varroa as predictors of colony losses, and they suggest the need to carefully assess honey bee apiary location in order to ensure adequate nutritional resources.

The fungal contamination in green beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) was studied according to their location and height during growth in greenhouses. The genera most frequently isolated were Aureobasidium, Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Alternaria. Height and location did not have a significant influence on the fungal contamination of the beans. A strain of A. flavus was isolated which had the capacity to synthesize aflatoxins in vitro.

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