Research Publications (Food Safety)

Heavy metals are natural components that are formed as a result of biotic activities, accumulate in the ecosystem because they cannot be biodegraded, and thus cause environmental stress.

The heavy metalloid arsenic (As), occurring in both trivalent and pentavalent is extremely toxic and has detrimental effect on humans through water-soil-crop transfer. Previously organic and inorganic amendments have been used separately for mitigation of As in rice but there exists a research gap regarding use of them simultaneously.

The role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulators of toxicological responses to environmental chemicals is gaining prominence. Previously, our laboratory discovered an lncRNA, sox9b long intergenic noncoding RNA (slincR), that is activated by multiple ligands of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR).

by Hilomi Iwai, Hideki Yamamoto Cattle-related injuries are a significant contributing factor in 84.3% of livestock-related incidents in Hokkaido Japan. The specific countermeasures to respond to its characteristics are needed because cattle move freely. This study examined the JA Kyosai mutual aid payment claim form data of the agricultural work-related incidents that occurred from 1st January 2013 to 31st December 2016.

Journal of Applied Toxicology, EarlyView. Our previous study showed that sodium arsenite (200 mg/L) affected the nervous system and induced motor neuron development via the Sonic hedgehog pathway in zebrafish larvae. To gain more insight into the effects of arsenite on other signaling pathways, including apoptosis, we have performed quantitative polymerase chain reaction array-based gene expression analyses.

With the rapid development of synthetic biology, various whole-cell biosensors have been designed as valuable biological devices for the selective and sensitive detection of toxic heavy metals in environmental water. However, most proposed biosensors are based on fluorescent and bioluminescent signals invisible to the naked eye. The development of visible pigment-based biosensors can address this issue. The pbr operon from Klebsiella pneumoniae is selectively induced by bioavailable Pb(II).

Assessment of heavy metal (HM) transfer across the food chain has attracted much interest. This study investigated the trophic transfer and toxicokinetics of lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) in the soil-barley-aphid-ladybird system. At the following rates of 0, 5, 10, 20, and 40% (w/w), sewage sludge from the wastewater treatment plant was applied to the soil.

Exposure to lead (Pb) and manganese (Mn) during early life influences neurodevelopment and increases the risk of neurodegenerative disorders. However, the level of developmental neurotoxicity due to combined exposure to the two metals remains unclear.

Wheat cultivars with low cadmium (Cd) accumulation (WCCA-Cd) are widely used on Cd-contaminated farmland and can effectively reduce the grains Cd content to achieve the clean production in agriculture. However, there is a lack of soil Cd content thresholds specifically for the WCCA-Cd.

Industrial and pharmaceutical activities are contributing to global environmental contamination. These pollutants having various physicochemical properties are harmful to aquatic organisms and ecosystems. Among daily discharged pollutants, heavy metals can be removed from wastewater by sorption process using natural clay minerals. Quick clays (QCs) are unique glaciomarine clays with unstable structures contributing to their high cation exchange affinity.

Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, EarlyView. Cadmium (Cd)-contaminated rice is a human food safety problem that lacks a clear solution. A large amount of rice having an excessive Cd content is processed yearly, but it cannot be discarded and placed in landfills because it will cause secondary pollution. How do we best cope with this toxic rice?

Fagopylum tatarium (L.) Gaertn (buckwheat) can be used both as medicine and food and is also an important food crop in barren areas and has great economic value. Exploring the molecular mechanisms of the response to cadmium (Cd) stress can provide the theoretical reference for improving the buckwheat yield and quality.

In wheat, TaMYC8 is a negative regulator of cadmium (Cd)-responsive ethylene signaling. In this study, we functionally characterized TabHLH094, a basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH) transcription factor (TF) that inhibits the transcriptional activity of TaMYC8. The TabHLH094 protein was found in the nucleus of tobacco epidermal cells and exhibited transcriptional activation activity.

Cadmium (Cd) exposure is a risk factor for endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular disease. Ferroptosis is a type of cell death that relies on lipid peroxidation. Whether ferroptosis acts in Cd-induced vascular endothelial damage and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Herein, we found that Cd resulted in ferroptosis of vascular endothelial cells (ECs) in vivo and in vitro.

Cadmium (Cd) is a carcinogenic environmental pollutant that harms male reproductive systems by lowering sperm quality, impairing spermatogenesis, and causing apoptosis. Although zinc (Zn) has been reported to alleviate Cd toxicity, the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. The aim of this work was to investigate the mitigating effects of Zn on Cd-induced male reproductive toxicity in the freshwater crab Sinopotamon henanense.

Population growth, international market expansion, and climate change have caused changes in agricultural practices, including increased use of phytosanitary products to control pests and diseases in food production. The European Union aims to achieve sustainable and high-quality food, with the priority of reducing pesticide use.

With emerging food safety concerns, our study aimed to assess the effect of different levels of soil As and Cd on the accumulation/translocation of toxic (As, Cd) and essential elements (Zn, Fe, Cu, and Mn) by ‘‘red raw samba’’, a hybrid rice variety (short grain; red pericarp; 3.5 months).

Highly hydrophobic compounds like petroleum and their byproducts, once released into the environment, can persist indefinitely by virtue of their ability to resist microbial degradation, ultimately paving the path to severe environmental pollution. Likewise, the accumulation of toxic heavy metals like lead, cadmium, chromium, etc., in the surroundings poses an alarming threat to various living organisms.

An optimized QuEChERS method for the simultaneous extraction of 26 antibiotics and 19 anthelmintics in whole cow milk was established, followed by UHPLC-MS/MS analysis. Briefly, 20 mL acetonitrile with 1 g disodium hydrogen citrate, 2 g sodium citrate, 4 g anhydrous MgSO4, and 1 g sodium chloride were added to 10 g milk for target chemical extraction, followed by 50 mg anhydrous MgSO4 for purification.

Epidemiological studies report associations between early-life exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and impaired metabolic homeostasis in adulthood. We investigated the impact of early-life exposure to low-dose 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD or ‘dioxin’) on the establishment of β-cell area during the perinatal period, as well as β-cell health and glucose homeostasis later in life.

by Magdalena R. Raykova, Katie McGuire, William J. Peveler, Damion K. Corrigan, Fiona L. Henriquez, Andrew C. Ward Tetracycline antibiotics are used extensively in veterinary medicine, but the majority of the administrated dose is eliminated unmodified from the animal through various excretion routes including urine, faeces and milk. In dairy animals, limits on residues secreted in milk are strictly controlled by legislation.

The use of antimicrobial drugs and coccidiostats in poultry farming is widespread, with a significant proportion of these drugs being excreted and released into the environment. The residues of such drugs in poultry litter (PL) can result in the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Probiotics are live microorganisms with various health benefits when consumed in appropriate amounts. Fermented foods are a rich source of these beneficial organisms. This study aimed to investigate the probiotic potential of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from fermented papaya (Carica papaya L.) through in vitro methods. The LAB strains were thoroughly characterized, considering their morphological, physiological, fermentative, biochemical, and molecular properties.

Journal of Food Science, EarlyView. We investigated the occurrence of 80 pesticide residues in 96 honey samples from apiaries with honeybee poisoning incidences by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and subsequently conducted risk assessments of exposure for in-hive honeybees and Chinese consumers. Six pesticides were detected with residue concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 130.9 µg/kg.

Journal of Food Science, EarlyView. Cadmium (Cd) accumulation in rice protein has long been considered a significant threat to human health. In the present study, a costless and effective method based on gluconic acid (GA) rinsing of rice protein was developed to reduce Cd contamination in rice protein. Moreover, the effect of GA on the structural and functional properties of rice protein was evaluated.