Publications by authors named "Waegeneers N"

The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials (FCM) assessed the safety of the recycling process NGR LSP (EU register number RECYC328). The input is hot washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes mainly originating from collected post-consumer PET containers, with no more than 5% PET from non-food consumer applications. The flakes are dried (step 2), melted in an extruder (step 3) and decontaminated during a melt-state polycondensation step under high temperature and vacuum (step 4).

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The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials assessed the safety of 2,2'-oxydiethylamine, which is intended to be used at up to 14% w/w as a monomer along with adipic acid and caprolactam to make polyamide thin films intended for single use, in contact with all types of food under all conditions of time and temperature. Specific migration of 2,2'-oxydiethylamine was tested from a polyamide film in water and was below the limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.015 mg/kg.

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Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are industrial chemicals encompassing thousands of compounds. Due to their persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic character, PFAS have become environmental contaminants, and exposure to these chemicals may lead to adverse health effects. This study aimed to provide a sensitive analytical method for the quantification of 25 PFAS in food including food for the young population and beverages, and to gather the missing occurrence data for the dietary exposure evaluation for the Belgian population.

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Determining the extent of pollution in the marine environment remains challenging. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and metals can, during dredging operations, be transported from a port or harbour into the open sea, where they may exert a harmful effect on the marine ecosystem. To fully understand the impact of these chemicals, monitoring programs should not only focus on sediment concentrations, but should also take into account the bioaccumulated concentration in the tissue of multiple target organisms.

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Article Synopsis
  • The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials evaluated the safety of two wax additives used in various plastics for food packaging, confirming their safety for consumer use under specified conditions.
  • The substances demonstrated low migration levels into food, indicating minimal transfer of additives, especially in aqueous environments.
  • Genotoxicity tests showed no safety concerns, leading to the conclusion that these additives are safe for food contact, excluding fatty foods, when used at recommended concentrations.
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Total selenium (Se) and Se species concentrations were determined in 50 infant formulas and milk samples commercialized in Brazil and Belgium. Infant formula categories were starter, follow-up, specialized and plant-based (soy and rice), while milk samples included whole, skimmed, semi-skimmed and plant-based products. Total Se content was determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), after microwave digestion.

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Silver-based biocides are applied in face masks because of their antimicrobial properties. The added value of biocidal silver treatment of face masks to control SARS-CoV-2 infection needs to be balanced against possible toxicity due to inhalation exposure. Direct measurement of silver (particle) release to estimate exposure is problematic.

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Since 2019, EU limits apply to cadmium (Cd) concentrations in cacao-derived food products. The dietary risk assessment leading to that regulation used consumption surveys aggregated to a limited number of chocolate product categories and did not consider differences in Cd bioaccessibility. Here, the cacao-related dietary Cd exposure in the Belgian population was estimated with higher resolution and accounting for bioaccessibility.

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Dredging activities can result in the relocation of contaminants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and metals from shipping channels, harbours, and ports into the marine environment where these components may exert a negative effect on the marine ecosystem. In this work, contamination associated with dredging is evaluated at and around dredged spoil disposal sites in the Belgian part of the North Sea, taking into account spatial as well as temporal variation. A homogeneous dispersion of the different contaminants was observed at the different sites.

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Although titanium dioxide (TiO) is a suspected human carcinogen when inhaled, fiber-grade TiO (nano)particles were demonstrated in synthetic textile fibers of face masks intended for the general public. STEM-EDX analysis on sections of a variety of single use and reusable face masks visualized agglomerated near-spherical TiO particles in non-woven fabrics, polyester, polyamide and bi-component fibers. Median sizes of constituent particles ranged from 89 to 184 nm, implying an important fraction of nano-sized particles (< 100 nm).

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Despite the health benefits of food supplements (FS) based on algae or cyanobacteria, the elevated arsenic (As) concentrations in these FS may raise a health concern. In the present study 33 FS containing algae or cyanobacteria were collected and As (species) were analysed to estimate consumer exposure. Based on hazard and exposure data, potential risks were evaluated using inorganic arsenic (As) and the potentially toxic As fraction (As minus arsenobetaine (AB)).

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Titanium dioxide is a white colourant authorised as food additive E 171 in the EU, where it is used in a range of alimentary products. As these materials may contain a fraction of particulates with sizes below 100 nm and current EU regulation requires specific labelling of food ingredient to indicate the presence of engineered nanomaterials there is now a need for standardised and validated methods to appropriately size and quantify (nano)particles in food matrices. A single-particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (spICP-MS) screening method for the determination of the size distribution and concentration of titanium dioxide particles in sugar-coated confectionery and pristine food-grade titanium dioxide was developed.

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Clay products for oral use form a particular group of food supplements in relation to potential arsenic (As) toxicity, because - certainly in case of pure clay- all arsenic in these supplements is expected to be present in the most toxic inorganic form (As). In terms of risk, the most important questions to answer relate to the bioaccessibility and bioavailability of the inorganic arsenic present, rather than to the As species distribution, which often receives most attention in standard foodstuffs. In the present study, clay products for oral use were bought on the Belgian market and analysed for total arsenic (As), arsenic species (As, arsenobetaine, dimethylarsenate and monomethylarsenate)) and bioaccessible arsenic, in order to perform an exposure assessment and risk characterisation.

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Silver (E174) is authorised as a food additive in the EU. The unknown particle size distribution of E174 is a specific concern for the E174 risk assessment. This study characterised the fraction of silver (nano)particles in 10 commercially available pristine E174 food additives and 10 E174-containing products by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and single-particle inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (spICP-MS).

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Article Synopsis
  • E171 (titanium dioxide) is a food colorant approved in the EU, but concerns are rising regarding its potential impact on the intestinal barrier.
  • The study utilized advanced techniques to analyze 15 different E171 samples, focusing on their particle size and structure.
  • Findings revealed significant variations in particle size, shape, and physicochemical forms, which are crucial for assessing the risks associated with E171 and informing European Food Safety Authority guidelines.
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Iodine is an essential trace element, necessary for the production of thyroid hormones, which play a key role in optimal foetal growth and (neuro-) development. To date, iodine deficiency remains a health burden in many countries. We investigated the variability of placental iodine concentrations within and between individuals.

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E174 (silver) is a food additive that may contain silver nanoparticles (AgNP). Validated methods are needed to size and quantify these particles in a regulatory context. However, no validations have yet been performed with food additives or real samples containing food additives requiring a sample preparation step prior to analysis.

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Colloidal iron(III) oxyhydroxides (FeOx) are important reactive adsorbents in nature. This study was set up to determine the size of environmentally relevant FeOx colloids with new methods, i.e.

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Recently, concerns have been raised about potential adverse effects of synthetic amorphous silica, commonly used as food additive (E551), since silica nanoparticles have been detected in food containing E551. We examined the biodistribution and excretion in female Sprague-Dawley rats of NM-200, a well characterized nanostructured silica representative for food applications. A single intravenous injection of NM-200 was applied at a dose of 20 mg/kg, followed by autopsy after 6 and 24 h.

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This study reports results of total arsenic (As) and various As species in 75 samples of cereals and cereal products bought on the Belgian market. In addition to rice, the samples were wheat, pasta, bread and some breakfast cereals. The inorganic species arsenite (As) and arsenate (As), and the organic As compounds dimethyl arsinate (DMA) and monomethyl arsonate (MA) were the only As species detected.

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In this study the concentration of total arsenic (As) and arsenic species (inorganic As, arsenobetaine, dimethylarsinate, and methylarsonate) was monitored in different foodstuffs (rice, vegetables, algae, fish, crustacean, molluscs) before and after preparation using common kitchen practices. By measuring the water content of the foodstuff and by reporting arsenic concentrations on a dry weight base, we were able to distinguish between As release effects due to food preparation and As decrease due to changes in moisture content upon food preparation. Arsenic species were released to the broth during boiling, steaming, frying, or soaking of the food.

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Iron oxyhydroxide nanoparticles (Fe-NPs) are natural vectors of phosphate (PO) in the environment. Their mobility is determined by colloidal stability, which is affected by surface composition. This might be manipulated in engineered NPs for environmental or agricultural applications.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study evaluated the chemical status of five dredged spoil disposal sites in the Belgian North Sea using data from 2005 to 2014, focusing on pollutants like PCBs, PAHs, and heavy metals.
  • - Results showed no decrease in PCB concentrations, with increases noted at two sites, and significant rises in mercury-to-aluminum ratios and concentrations of copper and zinc, potentially linked to antifouling paints.
  • - Although the current chemical status indicates no chronic effects from the disposal, increasing trends in hazardous substances highlight the need for ongoing monitoring to detect negative changes over time.
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Metallic silver is an EU approved food additive referred to as E174. It is generally assumed that silver is only present in bulk form in the food chain. This work demonstrates that a simple treatment with water of "silver pearls", meant for decoration of pastry, results in the release of a subfraction of silver nanoparticles.

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Bush bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) was exposed to atmospheric deposition of As, Cd and Pb in a polluted and a reference area. The atmospheric deposition of these elements was significantly related to the concentrations in leaves, stems and pods at green harvest. Surprisingly there was also a clear relation for As and Pb in the seeds at dry harvest, even though these seeds were covered by the husks.

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