The development of Aspergillus flavus inoculation techniques has played an important part in developing corn (Zea mays L.) germplasm resistant to aflatoxin contamination. Corn genotypes evaluated for aflatoxin resistance in field studies must be artificially inoculated due to the sporadic nature of aflatoxin contamination from year to year. A number of different inoculation techniques are used ...

During the previous survey year (Year 2), a methodological issue arose which meant that our measures were no longer providing a reliable indication of how levels of contamination in chickens at retail were changing over time, or providing like for like comparisons between retailers. This methodological issue is explained in the January-March 16 report: www.food.gov.uk/sites/default/files/campy-...

Trimming procedures are an important part of the sequence analysis pipeline in an EST Sequencing Project. In general, trimming is done in several phases, each one detecting and removing some kind of undesirable artifact, such as low quality sequence, vectors or adapters sequence, and contamination. However, this strategy often results in a phase being unable to recognize its target because part...

The 1986 Chernobyl fallout had dramatic consequences for traditional reindeer husbandry in central and southern Norway, and also for many farmers in these areas. In end July 1986 the Government therefore passed a principal resolution stating that every producer should be economically compensated for all losses due to measures introduced by the authorities because of the Chernobyl deposition. By...

Trace element concentrations in blood plasma or serum have been assayed by numerous investigators using a variety of analytical techniques. For several elements, figures obtained in different centers are widely disparate. Impressive evidence has accumulated that a great deal of the inconsistencies should be ascribed to unsuspected contamination of the samples with exogenous material during thei...

Different definitions of risk too easily lead to differences in the type and level of risk accepted by varying stakeholders involved in the remediation process and redevelopment of contaminated sites as a whole. This can be rooted in the way risk information is interpreted and evaluated: technical risk definitions are largely evidential and based on engineering or technical contents, whereas so...

Alkylphenol polyethoxylate (APEO) derivatives, such as nonylphenol monoethoxylate (NP1EO), nonylphenol diethoxylate (NP2EO), nonylphenol (NP) and octylphenol (OP), have been detected in the surface water, sediment, food and groundwater of numerous countries. Because groundwater is the main source of water for pig herds, the aim of this study was to measure the concentrations of APEO derivatives...

the risk of disease spread through water, fruits and vegetables contaminated through unclean waters varies from region to another. springs and underground water resources are essentially free of germs or they have tolerable levels of germs; unless they are infected by surface water or human excreta. scientific reports have shown that outbreaks of food-borne illnesses especially foods such as fr...

This paper addresses the noticeable increase of 137Cs activity concentrations in soil and fallout in the area surrounding Zagreb (Croatia) that occurred at the time of the 2011 Fukushima accident. This topic is important for public health as 137Cs is highly toxic due to its long half-life of radioactive decay and chemical similarity to potassium. 137Cs concentrations in fallout were much greate...

Data collection in shallow water areas presents several challenges to the scientist. In addition to being redundant and time consuming, this task when performed manually has a high probability of disturbing the test area. Obstacles that are encountered in such environments include difficulty in covering large territories and the presence of inaccessible areas due to a variety of reasons, such a...