A feeding study was carried out to investigate the kinetics in cow milk of the 17 polychlorinated dibenzo- p -dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), the 12 dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs), and the 6 non-dioxin-like PCBs (NDL-PCBs) regulated by the European (EU) legislation. A fortified ration (ΣPCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs: 24.68 ng TEQ/day/cow; ΣNDL-PCBs: 163.99 μg/day/cow) was given to the animals for 49 days, followed by 42 days on clean feed. EU maximum limit for TEQ PCDD/F+DL-PCB was exceeded in milk after 1 week of exposure, while for ΣNDL-PCBs, after 5 weeks. Milk compliance was restored after 1 week on clean feed, but to return to the basal TEQ PCDD/F+DL-PCB it took 42 days. At the end of the study, ΣNDL-PCBs had not yet reached the basal level. The carryover rate of ΣNDL-PCBs was 25.4%, while the carryover rate of TEQ PCDD/F+DL-PCB was 36.9%. The latter was mainly affected by the 12 congeners contributing most to the toxic equivalent (TEQ) level, explaining the fast overcome of the maximum limit in milk.

No abstract

An analytical method, using ion chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry was developed and validated to quantify glyphosate, glufosinate, ethephon, fosetyl aluminium and their related metabolites. This method allows multiresidue analysis of 11 highly polar molecules in a single chromatographic run, without derivatization step, using acidified water with low level of acetonitrile as extraction solvent. Three different matrices that are representative of commodity group were studied and validated: one fruit (grapes), one cereal (wheat) and honey, according to the criteria established by SANTE/12682/2019 taking into account maximum residue limits indicated by Regulation (EC) No. 396/2005, confirming that the procedure was selective, repeatable and robust. Matrix effect was studied and linearity was evaluated comparing analytical response differences between solvent standard solutions and matrix-matched calibration curve. Due to the relevant matrix effect observed, the use of response factor (RF) approach to quantify analytical batch was evaluated, using isotopically labelled internal standardisation. The in-depth study, validation results and several proficiency tests, used to verify procedure performance, demonstrated that the method is fit for purpose to routine analysis in an official laboratory. Moreover, it allows surveillance activities in fruits and vegetables control, as indicated by European Community, furthermore monitoring presence of polar pesticides, at low level, in some particular food as honey that could become environmental pollution indicator. K E Y W O R D S glyphosate, high resolution mass spectrometry, ion chromatography, method validation, polar pesticides 1 | INTRODUCTION Glyphosate and other similar pesticides are used in agriculture to combat weeds that compete with crops. They are generally applied before sowing and as a preharvest drying treatment to optimize the ripening process. The discovery of the glyphosate molecule dates back to 1950, but its usefulness in the agriculture field was not immediately identified; only in 1970, a Monsanto chemist studied the herbicide activity and its applications. 1 The use of this molecule, in different formulation, from its discovery to today, has increased exponentially; however, resistance mechanisms have been developed by the

No abstract

Contamination levels of dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were monitored over 2018–2021 in 214 bovine milk samples from farms located in two regions in northern Italy (Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna). The average concentrations of the sum of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs (0.78 ± 0.55 pg TEQ/g fat) and six non-dioxin-like PCBs (6.55 ± 2.24 ng/g fat) were largely below the maximum, and action limits established at European level, confirming a decreasing trend observed both locally and across Europe in recent years. The impact of contamination levels on chronic dietary exposure of the Italian population to dioxins and PCBs was found to be highly variable based on the type of cow milk (skimmed, semi-skimmed, or whole-fat milk) and the population age group considered. Indeed, a first-tier screening of the potential exposure via determinist methods allowed for the identification of the youngest population as the group with the worst risk profile. The refinement of exposure assessment via Monte Carlo probabilistic methods suggested that, at the less pessimistic middle-bound simulation scenario, infants, toddlers, and children consuming whole cow milk may be exposed to dioxins and PCBs levels above the toxicological reference values with a probability of 76, 56, and 22%, respectively.