In order to calculate the dietary fumonisin intake of the German consumer, a large survey was carried out on a variety of potentially contaminated products in the period between December 1998 and July 2001. A total of 1960 food samples comprising all known relevant groups of products were analysed for fumonisins. Furthermore, 272 of these samples were also analysed for hydrolysed fumonisins (HFB). For routine analysis enzyme immunoassay was used, confirmatory and control analyses were performed using HPLC-FLD after precolumn derivatisation, or by LC-MS/MS. Daily intake of fumonisins was calculated by combining fumonisin contamination data obtained in this study with available food consumption data for Germany. In a "mean case" scenario, median fumonisin levels in foods and mean food intake values were used. To generate a "bad case" scenario, the 90(th) percentile of fumonisin levels in foods and mean food intake values were combined. The overall daily fumonisin intake by the German consumer was 1.1 μg in the "mean case" scenario, and 21 μg in the "bad case" scenario. It was concluded that in general there is no increased risk for the German consumer in aspects of exceeding the recommended tolerable daily intake of fumonisins (2 μg/kg body weight). However, certain products (and certain brands of products) were repeatedly found to contain elevated fumonisin levels, which in a "worst case" scenario ("high" food intake of maize-based products) could pose a potential risk for the consumer, in particular concerning foods for infants and young children. High fumonisin levels were found in infant foods in 1999, but contamination levels decreased strongly in the following years. HFBs (mostly HFB1) were frequently found in processed cereals such as corn flakes, but in relatively low concentrations. According to our findings, the new European Union maximum levels for fumonisins are suitable to eliminate peak contamination levels of fumonisins in foods, but would lead to a regular excess of the TDI for infants and young children if these maximum levels would indeed be exhausted.
Polyclonal antibodies against hydrolyzed fumonisin B1 (HFB1) were prepared by immunization of rabbits with a keyhole limpet hemocyanin conjugate coupled by glutaraldehyde. Sensitivity and specificity of these antibodies were tested in a direct competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), in which a HFB1-horseradish peroxidase conjugate prepared by reductive alkylation served as the labeled antigen. A direct competitive ELISA for the quantitative determination of HFB1 in corn-based food samples was developed with this antibody. The 50% inhibition level was used for the determination of cross-reactivity. The cross-reactivities of the antibodies for HFB2 and HFB3 were 4.3% and 14.4%, respectively, whereas the parent compound fumonisin B1 (FB1) showed no cross reactivity. The detection limit of the EIA calculated from the HFB1-concentration given a 30% binding inhibition was 0.25 ng/ml for the standard solutions and 10 ng/g for the analyzed food samples e.g. tortilla chips, nachos and cornflakes. Mean recoveries of HFB1 for artificially contaminated food samples were in the range of 96 to 98%. This test offers a rapid and economic opportunity for the HFB1-screening of food samples.
Tests with various clean-up materials after optimisation of different parameters showed that the use of Oasis® material resulted in matrixless chromatograms in HPLC-FLD. The selectivity and detection limit of the method was improved by using LC-MS/MS as the detection system. Mean recovery was 100%, and no negative food matrix effects could be observed.
This study investigates the contributions of atypical transportation noise sources to community noise and relates these contributions to policymaking and resource allocation. Small percentages of aircraft and surface transportation vehicles make a significant contribution to noise levels as measured by day-night sound level and other descriptors. Rogue sources are loosely defined in this study as anomalous sources that have a large impact on community noise. Included are sources that do not comply with regulatory standards due to intentional modifications or due to failure of noise suppression components. Also included are sources that produce noise levels well above reasonably attainable levels despite attainment of regulatory standards. Rogue source identification and assessment can be a component in policymaking and resource allocation. Cost savings can be realized by reducing noise at the source vice by the path. For instance, surface transportation noise standards based on best-available technology and vigorous enforcement can be more cost-effective than erection of noise barriers. In this case, the cost is borne by the offender rather than by the community at-large. The authors analyze and quantify the noise contribution of rogue sources and suggest appropriate noise mitigation.
Environmental impact statements and reports are often required for proposed airport improvements and aircraft routing changes. Direct monetary costs and benefits are usually addressed. But the social cost of noise impact is seldom expressed in monetary form. Cost/benefit ratios are of questionable value when noise impact is not evaluated. As a result, policy decisions and resource allocation may be used on incomplete data. Even when noise data are provided in environmental impact statements, laymen may find the data difficult to interpret. A method is suggested for assessing noise impact in monetary form. A procedure for interpreting day-night sound level contours in terms of probable speech interference is also proposed. Impacts on real estate values and other social costs of noise were estimated in one area. The results suggested that annual ‘‘losses’’ due to aircraft noise are significant in cost/benefit analysis. It was observed that air travel and air freight enjoy substantial direct and indirect subsidies including direct appropriations, airport payments in lieu of tax and rent, and tax-free bonds. Inclusion of social cost estimates in environmental impact statements provides a basis for allocation of direct and indirect subsidies, and allocation of funds for noise mitigation.
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