Dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCDD/Fs and PCBs) in food from farms close to foot and mouth disease animal pyres.

To control the outbreak of foot and mouth disease, which occurred in the UK in early 2001, a large number of farm animals were slaughtered. Where it was not possible to render or landfill the carcasses, they were destroyed by burning on open pyres, with wood, coal and other materials. Uncontrolled combustion such as this is known to produce small quantities of dioxins and an investigation was made into whether, as a result of the burning, there was an elevation in the concentrations of these compounds in food produced in the areas close to the pyres.

Determination of 4-octylphenol and 4-nonylphenol congeners in composite foods.

A method for the determination of alkylphenols in food using cold solvent extraction with methanol, followed by a two-stage chromatographic purification and GC-MS analysis, was developed. The method was validated and used to measure concentrations of 4-octylphenol and 4-nonylphenol congener totals in UK duplicate diet samples. Individual 4-n-octylphenol and 4-n-nonylphenol congeners were also measured, although these were not detected in any sample.

When food becomes a drug: nonanabolic nutritional supplement use in athletes.

The use of nonanabolic nutritional supplements for the sake of improving athletic performance is common, and the types of supplements used can have significant implications for the medical care of athletes. This review will address the most common and most controversial nonanabolic nutritional supplements, including recommendations regarding their use. Many supplements are marketed and promoted based on various theoretical benefits, often derived from limited animal studies, without any basis for recommending their human use.