Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), notably perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), have been reported in human blood. Furthermore, the occurrence of PFCs in the blood of newborn babies, coupled with the need to study the potential association of PFC exposure with birth outcomes in neonates, suggests the need for determining the sources and magnitude of exposure in infan...

TBHQ has already been evaluated by the former Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) which concluded in 1987 that there was still a need for additional data. The SCF requested an adequate carcinogenicity study and an in vivo mutagenicity study of germ cell effects. At that time, the SCF was of the opinion that TBHQ was not acceptable for use as an antioxidant to food and did not establish an accept...

Fumonisins are mycotoxins produced by Fusarium species that commonly live in maize. Whereas fungi damage plants, fumonisins cause disease both to cattle breedings and human beings. Law limits set fumonisins tolerable daily intake with respect to several maize based feed and food. Chemical techniques assure the most reliable and accurate measurements, but they are expensive and time consuming. A...

This study assesses the dietary exposure of Lebanese adults to 47 pesticide residues from both foods of plant origin and drinks. The study was conducted using the Total Diet Study protocol in two different areas of Lebanon: Greater Beirut (urban) and Keserwan (semi-rural). A total of 1860 individual foods were collected, prepared, and cooked prior to analysis. Composite samples of similar foods...

Aspartame is an intense sweetener which is increasingly used in the UK. It is registered at an acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 40mg/kg, although there are no previous data relating to the metabolism of aspartame in older people. Twelve young and 12 elderly volunteers each received a single dose of approximately 40mg/kg of aspartame. Baseline concentrations of phenylalanine (the main metabolite...

Exposure to lead, cadmium, and mercury is known to be high in many arctic Inuit communities. These metals are emitted from industrial and urban sources, are distributed by long-range atmospheric transport to remote regions, and are found in Inuit country foods. Current community exposure to these metals can be measured in food, but feces and urine are also excellent indicators of total exposure...

The accumulation of As in rice due to groundwater irrigation in paddy fields represents a serious health hazard in South and Southeast Asia. In Taiwan, the fate of As in long-term irrigated paddy fields is poorly understood. Groundwater, surface soil, and rice samples were collected from a paddy field that was irrigated with As-containing groundwater in southwestern Taiwan. The purpose of this ...

OBJECTIVE To examine the effects of a health and nutrition intervention, implemented in primary schools of Crete, on health knowledge, nutrient intakes and physical activity of the intervention population. METHODS The intervention group consisted of 24 schools while the control group consisted of 16 schools. The overall duration of the intervention was six years, while the topics of the inter...

BACKGROUND Metal content in lip products has been an issue of concern. OBJECTIVES We measured lead and eight other metals in a convenience sample of 32 lip products used by young Asian women in Oakland, California, and assessed potential health risks related to estimated intakes of these metals. METHODS We analyzed lip products by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry and...

Some previous studies have suggested that consuming dairy products, particularly the low-fat variety, lowers the incidence of type 2 diabetes. However, no study to our knowledge has focused on an ethnically diverse group of postmenopausal women, a population with a high risk of this disease. We conducted a prospective cohort study of 82,076 postmenopausal women enrolled in the Women's Health In...