Qualitative detection of formaldehyde and ammonia in fish and other seafoods obtained from Chennai's (India) fish markets

Formaldehyde contamination in seafood industry: an update on detection methods and legislations

Seafood is abundant in high-quality protein, healthy fats (n-3 and n-6 PUFAs), minerals (calcium, magnesium, copper, selenium, and so on), and vitamin D. Functional compounds in seafood can protect against lifestyle-related diseases. Having had all the merits mentioned, it is also a highly putrefiable food item. To maintain quality and prolong seafood's shelf life, various chemicals have been added, including nitrite, sulfur dioxide, and formaldehyde. In this review, we summarize the uses, the incidence of added formalin contamination, and the approved limit for seafood products. Additionally, worldwide regulations or standards for the use of formalin in seafood products, as well as recent changes relevant to new methods, are highlighted. Although strict limits and regulations have been placed on the utilization of formaldehyde for seafood preservation, there are few incidences reported of formalin/formaldehyde detection in seafood products around Asian countries. In this context, various qualitative and quantitative detection methods for formaldehyde have been developed to ensure the presence of formaldehyde within acceptable limits. Besides this, different rules and regulations have been forced by each country to control formaldehyde incidence. Although it is not an issue of formaldehyde incidence in European countries, strict regulations are implemented and followed.

Paper-based fluorescent materials containing on-demand nanostructured brain-cells-inspired AIE self-assembles for real-time visual monitoring of seafood spoilage

Biogenic amines containing NH3 are important indicators for conducting full-scale appraisal of food spoilage and disease diagnosis. However, the currently-used detection methods of NH3 have several limitations such as time-consuming high cost, and inability to provide visual real-time monitoring. Therefore, researchers have attempted to explore strategies for quantitative real-time monitoring of NH3 for food spoilage has attracted widespread attentions. Herein, we developed sustainable, fast response, hypersensitized, user-friendly and molecular-level light-emitting biomass-based materials (AFP-FP) containing on-demand nanostructured brain-cells-inspired aggregation-induced-emission (AIE) self-assembles for real-time visual monitoring of seafood spoilage. The 2-hydroxy-5-methyl-isophthalaldehyde-based AIE probe (AFP) was synthesized using a simple "one-step" route. AFP-FP exhibited high selectivity, sensitivity, repeatable and quantitative recognition (y = 7.292×103x + 7.621×104, R = 0.990) of NH3 with a low detection limit (246 ppb) and fast response (<1 s). Furthermore, we integrated AFP-FP into a user-friendly smartphone color recognition app, enabling its practical application in visual, real-time daylight monitoring of food spoilage.

An update on formaldehyde adulteration in food: sources, detection, mechanisms, and risk assessment

Formaldehyde is added illegally to food to extend its shelf life due to its antiseptic and preservation properties. Several research has been conducted to examine the consequences of adulteration with formaldehyde in food items. These findings suggest that adding formaldehyde to food is considered harmful as it accumulates in the body with long-term consumption. In this review includes study findings on food adulteration with formaldehyde and their assessment of food safety based on the analytical method applied to various geographical regions, food matrix types, and their sources in food items. Additionally, this review sought to assess the risk of formaldehyde-tainted food and the understanding of its development in food and its impacts on food safety in light of the widespread formaldehyde adulteration. Finally, the study would be useful as a manual for implementing adequate and successful risk assessment to increase food safety.

Electrochemical and Optical Sensors for the Detection of Chemical Carcinogens Causing Leukemia

The incidence and mortality due to neoplastic diseases have shown an increasing tendency over the years. Based on GLOBOCAN 2020 published by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), leukemias are the thirteenth most commonly diagnosed cancer in the world, with 78.6% of leukemia cases diagnosed in countries with a very high or high Human Development Index (HDI). Carcinogenesis is a complex process initiated by a mutation in DNA that may be caused by chemical carcinogens present in polluted environments and human diet. The IARC has identified 122 human carcinogens, e.g., benzene, formaldehyde, pentachlorophenol, and 93 probable human carcinogens, e.g., styrene, diazinone. The aim of the following review is to present the chemical carcinogens involved or likely to be involved in the pathogenesis of leukemia and to summarize the latest reports on the possibility of detecting these compounds in the environment or food with the use of electrochemical sensors.

Flow Injection Amperometric Measurement of Formalin in Seafood

Formalin is illegally used as an antibacterial and a preservative in seafood products. It is extremely important for public health reasons to be able to simply, rapidly, and accurately detect formalin in fresh seafood. In this work, we developed a flow injection amperometric (FI-Amp) formalin sensor based on a glassy carbon electrode modified with a composite of palladium particles and carbon microspheres (PdPs-CMs/GCE). The CMs were decorated with PdPs via an electroless deposition method. The surface morphology of the CMs and the PdPs-CMs composite was characterized by scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX). The electrochemical behavior and measurement of formalin at the PdPs-CMs/GCE was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry and amperometry. The modified electrode demonstrated good electrocatalytic performance for the oxidation of formalin. The synthesis method and FI-Amp operating conditions were optimized. Under the optimal conditions, the developed sensor showed a linear range of 0.025 to 15.00 mmol L^-1 and a detection limit of 8 μmol L^-1. Repeatability (RSD < 4.1%, n = 30), reproducibility (RSD = 0.25%, n = 5), stability (RSD = 3.2%, n = 80), and selectivity were good. The fabricated sensor achieved recoveries of formalin in seafood between 96 ± 1 to 105 ± 3 (n = 3).

From small molecules to polymeric probes: recent advancements of formaldehyde sensors

Formaldehyde is a well-known industrial material regularly used in fishery, vegetable markets, and fruit shops for maintaining their freshness. But due to its carcinogenic nature and other toxic effects, it is very important to detect it in very low concentrations. In recent years, amine-containing fluorescent probes have gained significant attention for designing formaldehyde sensors. However, the major drawbacks of these small molecular probes are low sensitivity and long exposure time, which limits their real-life applications. In this regard, polymeric probes have gained significant attention to overcome the aforementioned problems. Several polymeric probes have been utilized as a coating material, nanoparticle, quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), etc., for the selective and sensitive detection of formaldehyde. The main objective of this review article is to comprehensively describe the recent advancements in formaldehyde sensors based on small molecules and polymers, and their successful applications in various fields, especially in situ formaldehyde sensing in biological systems.