Microplastics in bulk atmospheric deposition along the coastal region of Victoria Land, Antarctica.

The increasing global concern over microplastic pollution has driven a surge in research efforts aimed at detecting microplastics across various ecosystems. Airborne microplastics (MPs) have been identified in remote environments worldwide, including Antarctica. However, data on bulk atmospheric deposition remain scarce.

Unlocking the elemental signature of European tea gardens: Implications for tea traceability.

This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the elemental profiles of tea leaves coming from plants grown in several European gardens, with a focus on the bioaccumulation of essential and potentially toxic trace elements in relation to processing and location of tea garden. Samples were collected from various gardens across Europe, including Portugal, the Azores, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. Elemental analysis was conducted on fresh tea leaves, dried leaves, and leaves processed for the production of green and black tea, along with soil samples from the root zones of tea plants.

Mercury bioaccumulation and its relationship with trophic biomarkers in a Mediterranean elasmobranch mesopredator.

Human activity has led to increased concentrations of mercury (Hg) in the world's oceans. Mercury can bioaccumulate and biomagnify in animal tissues via trophic transfer, thus, becoming most pronounced in larger and older predators. Here, we measured Hg concentrations and their relationship with stable isotopes-based proxies of trophic level (δC and δN values) in multiple tissues of Mustelus spp.

Insights on the Nutraceutical Properties of Different Specialty Teas Grown and Processed in a German Tea Garden.

European countries have recently started experimenting with growing and producing their own teas in small quantities, mainly for the specialty tea sector. To characterize European teas, this study investigated a set of five tea types obtained from different varieties/cultivars, representing various oxidation grades (green, white, yellow, oolong, black), all grown and processed in the only tea garden in Europe (in Germany) that focuses on all five types. Hot and cold brews were studied by measuring the total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid contents (TFC), the antioxidant capacity and UV-Vis spectra, also with the objective of discriminating between the different tea types and the different plant varieties.

Determination of Hg and Se in swordfish (Xiphias gladius) from Mediterranean Sea: Implications for nutritional recommendations during pregnancy and childhood.

Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) are important marine predators facing potential mercury (Hg) contamination. This study analyzed Hg levels in swordfish muscle tissue from two Mediterranean Sea stocks. Italian specimens showed significantly higher Hg concentrations (1.

Mercury in honey from the Marche region (central Italy). Risk assessment from human consumption and its use as bioindicator of environmental pollution.

Honey is a natural product made by honeybees () from nectar or honeydew. It is a very popular and appreciated product all over the world as it represents a rapidly available energy source and exerts several beneficial properties for humans. However, it has been demonstrated that honey can be contaminated by potentially toxic elements (PTEs) of natural or anthropogenic origin.

Comparative Analysis of Hot and Cold Brews from Single-Estate Teas () Grown across Europe: An Emerging Specialty Product.

Tea is grown around the world under extremely diverse geographic and climatic conditions, namely, in China, India, the Far East and Africa. However, recently, growing tea also appears to be feasible in many regions of Europe, from where high-quality, chemical-free, organic, single-estate teas have been obtained. Hence, the aim of this study was to characterize the health-promoting properties in terms of the antioxidant capacity of traditional hot brews as well as cold brews of black, green and white teas produced across the European territory using a panel of antioxidant assays.

Essential and Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) Content in European Tea () Leaves: Risk Assessment for Consumers.

Tea () is the second most consumed beverage worldwide, playing a key role in the human diet. Tea is considered a healthy drink, as its consumption has been linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease-related events and death, stroke, metabolic syndrome and obesity. However, several studies have shown that is a hyperaccumulator of Al and other elements that are considered potentially toxic.

The prokaryotic community of Chondrosia reniformis Nardo, 1847: from diversity to mercury detection.

Microbial communities inhabiting sponges are known to take part in many metabolic pathways, including nutrient cycles, and possibly also in the bioaccumulation of trace elements (TEs). Here, we used high-throughput, Illumina sequencing of 16S rRNA genes to characterize the prokaryotic communities present in the cortex and choanosome, respectively the external and internal body region of Chondrosia reniformis, and in the surrounding seawater. Furthermore, we estimated the total mercury content (THg) in these body regions of the sponge and in the corresponding microbial cell pellets.

Mercury levels in Merluccius merluccius muscle tissue in the central Mediterranean Sea: Seasonal variation and human health risk.

In this study we analysed total mercury (THg) levels in European hake (Merluccius merluccius) - an ecologically and commercially important species throughout the Mediterranean - caught in the northern and central Adriatic Sea. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study evaluating THg levels in hake fillets in relation to ecological (season) and biological (body size, sex, sexual maturity, lipid content) parameters. THg levels in muscle showed no sex-related differences; in contrast, significant season-related differences were found in females, with higher levels in spring-summer compared with autumn-winter.

New Eco-Sustainable Feed in Aquaculture: Influence of Insect-Based Diets on the Content of Potentially Toxic Elements in the Experimental Model Zebrafish ().

According to the concept of circular economy, insects represent good candidates as aquafeed ingredients. Nevertheless, there are some potential chemical risks linked with insect consumption. In this study, we reared the teleost , used as an experimental model, with five experimental diets characterized by increasing levels (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) of full-fat (Hi) prepupae, substituting for fish meal (FM) and fish oil (FO).

Plastic electrode decorated with polyhedral anion tetrabutylammonium octamolybdate [N(CH)] MoO for nM phosphate electrochemical detection.

Inorganic phosphorous (as phosphate (PO), is one of the essential nutrients for all living forms, either terrestrial or marine. In oligotrophic seawaters, this macronutrient is limited (10 M) and its ratio with other elements (nitrogen or carbon) is denoting the health state of the marine environment; a small variation of its concentration can produce eutrophication. The gold standard method used for PO detection is based on colorimetric detection of phosphomolybdate.

Physiological responses of Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii) juveniles fed on full-fat insect-based diet in an aquaponic system.

Over the last years, the potential use of Black Soldier Fly meal (BSF) as a new and sustainable aquafeed ingredient has been largely explored in several fish species. However, only fragmentary information is available about the use of BSF meal-based diets in sturgeon nutrition. In consideration of a circular economy concept and a more sustainable aquaculture development, the present research represents the first comprehensive multidisciplinary study on the physiological effects of a BSF diet during sturgeon culture in an aquaponic system.

Seasonal Evolution of Size-Segregated Particulate Mercury in the Atmospheric Aerosol Over Terra Nova Bay, Antarctica.

Size-fractionated particulate mercury (PHg) measurements were performed from November 2017 to January 2018 at Terra Nova Bay (Antarctica) for the first time. Samples were collected every 10 days by a six-stage high-volume cascade impactor with size classes between 10 μm and 0.49 μm.

A Chemically Safe Way to Produce Insect Biomass for Possible Application in Feed and Food Production.

Black soldier fly (, HI, Diptera, Stratiomydae) has great potential as a food and feed ingredient in the European Union (EU). The production of insects as livestock feed or as food ingredients requires strict monitoring of the content of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the growth substrate, to meet the security requirements. This study aims to investigate the presence of PTEs, like cadmium, lead, mercury, arsenic, and nickel, in HI prepupae and in their growth substrates based on coffee roasting by-product and microalgae sp.

Influence of Feeding Substrates on the Presence of Toxic Metals (Cd, Pb, Ni, As, Hg) in Larvae of : Risk Assessment for Human Consumption.

Larvae of L. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) are particularly suitable as novel food for the human consumption; nevertheless, there are some potential safety risks linked with insect consumption. In this study we investigated the presence of Cd, Pb, Ni, As, Hg in new feeding substrates coming from solid residues generated by olive fruits processing, called olive-pomace, and their influence on the metal content in larvae of .