Exposure to nickel through commercial premade baby foods: Is there any risk?

Dietary Intake and Exposure Assessment of Trace Elements in Infants' Diets: A Case Study in Kuwait

Different types of infant foods categorized as formulas, cereals, and purees imported from seven different countries and available on the Kuwaiti retail market were collected to determine the elemental content, including essential trace elements namely chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), selenium (Se), and molybdenum (Mo); potentially toxic trace elements such as aluminum (Al), nickel (Ni), tin (Sn), antimony (Sb), and uranium (U); and toxic trace elements including arsenic (As), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg). The samples were analyzed using ICP-MS. An extensive literature search illustrated the uniqueness of this study since seven different essential elements, five different potentially toxic elements, and four different toxic trace elements were measured in a variety of infant foods; in addition, the different trace etlemental levels measured in the investigated infant foods were compared to the ones associated with the different infant foods types reported in the literature. The essential trace element concentrations detected in this study were implemented to calculate their total daily intake, where the calculated daily intake values were compared to their recommended dietary allowance (RDA) to assess the percentage total daily intake for the essential trace elements. Further, the calculated potentially toxic and toxic trace elements daily intake values were used to assess the potential health risks to infants incurred by consuming different infant foods by calculating the hazard quotient (HQ), while the margin of exposure (MOE) was calculated for the toxic ones only. It was concluded that infant formulas and foods should be added to the infant diet in addition to breast milk to meet specific nutritional needs. This study confirms that infants are exposed to toxic trace elements via diet, warranting careful attention to diet choices both to limit this exposure and to avert potentially hazardous adverse health effects to the infants. However, based on the calculated hazard quotients (HQs) and margin of exposures (MOEs), consuming breast milk in addition to almost all different types of infant foods is considered safe and unlikely to contribute to infants' non-cancerous health hazards.

Nickel sources affect soil biological properties but do not affect sorghum growth

Nickel (Ni) is an essential element, but it can be phytotoxic in high concentration, which may be caused by high availability in soil solution. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of sources and doses of Ni applied to a dystrophic Red Latosol cultivated with sorghum on i) the availability of the metal in the soil; ii) the impact on biological and biochemical properties of the soil; iii) the absorption and distribution in sorghum plants; and iv) crop productivity. The experiment was carried out within a completely randomized design with two nickel sources [nickel(II) nitrate, Ni(NO3)2 and nickel(III) oxide, Ni2O3], three doses (35, 70, and 140 mg Ni kg-1 soil), plus controls without Ni, with 3 replications. The concentrations of Ni in the soil, soil microbial biomass (SMB), basal soil respiration (BSR), metabolic quotient (qCO2), fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolysis, and urease activity were determined. The concentrations of Ni in the leaf diagnostic and in the plant (shoot, root, and grains) were also measured. In the soil, the concentrations of available Ni remained between 0.21 and 54.01 mg Ni kg-1. Ni2O3 contributed very little to the increase in available Ni. SMB and the FDA hydrolysis were not affected by the Ni source or Ni dose, but BSR and qCO2 had significant increase with Ni application rates, suggesting the soil microorganisms faced stress. Soil urease activity was affected by Ni dose but not by Ni source. The dose of Ni as Ni(NO3)2 decreased the metal concentration in the plant, while that of Ni2O3 increased it. Nickel source did not affect dry mass production of the plants, but grain yield was affected in a dose-dependent manner when Ni2O3 was the source of Ni.

Nickel in foodstuffs available on the Luxembourgish market and dietary intake

Nickel is a food contaminant of natural or anthropogenic origin. Monitoring of contaminants in food in general allows obtaining an overview on the presence of substances that are undesirable to health. The aim of this study was to analyse nickel content in food of non-animal origin and beverages sold in Luxembourg to determine the exposure of the population to this contaminant. In total, 660 samples were analysed in the timeframe from 2017 to 2021. The results demonstrate high concentrations of nickel in cashew nuts, walnuts, hemp and sunflower seeds, dried peas, oregano, and cocoa powder. Surveillance of contaminants in food allows identifying contributors to the chronic and acute exposure of nickel in order to potentially set official maximum levels in European legislation in the future, allowing for better enforcement actions in case of contaminated products and increasing consumer protection.

Bioaccessibility data of potentially toxic elements in complementary foods for infants: A review

The introduction of complementary foods (CFs) is a critical step in an infant's transition to solid foods, providing essential nutrients beyond breast milk. However, CFs may contain potentially toxic elements (PTEs), such as arsenic and cadmium that pose health risks to infants. In this context, understanding the bioaccessibility of PTEs is vital as it determines the fraction of a contaminant released from the food matrix and available for absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. Efforts have been made to standardize the assessment methodology for bioaccessibility, ensuring consistent and reliable data. Moreover, regulatory agencies have established guidelines for PTEs levels in food. However, important gaps still exist, which motivates many research opportunities on this topic.

Qualitative and Quantitative Investigation of Biochar-Cu0 Composite for Nickel Adsorption

The current investigation deals with the treatment of water pollution that is caused by the leaching of nickel ions from the metallurgical industry and new-energy batteries. Therefore, an eco-friendly treatment of nickel through the use of a composite of cotton stalk biochar with nanozerovalent copper has been presented in this investigation signifying the impact of zerovalent copper in enhancing the adsorption capacity of biochar for nickel adsorption. Thermogravimetric analysis data showed the adsorbent to be significantly stable in the higher thermal range, whereas transmission electron microscopy analysis confirmed the particles to be 27 nm and also showed the cubic geometry of the particles. A much closer scanning electron microscopy analysis shows the morphology of particles to be cubic in shape. Batch adsorption indicated a positive influence of pH increase on adsorption due to the electrostatic attraction between positive nickel ions and post point of zero charge (pHPZC) negative surface of copper biochar composite (pH > 5.5). A high adsorption rate was observed in the first 60 min, whereas adsorption increased with the increase in temperature from 303 to 318 K. Kinetic modeling confirmed the pseudo-first-order to fit best to the data. The apparent activation energy (11.96 kJ mol-1) is indicative of the chemical nature of the process. The adsorption data fitted well to the Langmuir adsorption model. The negative values of apparent ΔG° and the positive values of apparent ΔH° indicate the spontaneity and endothermicity of the process, respectively, whereas the positive values of apparent ΔS° point toward increased randomness during the process. Postadsorption XPS suggests the adsorption of nickel on the surface of biochar composites in the form of Ni(OH)2 and NiO(OH).

Risk Assessment of Nine Coccidiostats in Commercial and Home-Raised Eggs

The poultry industry, in order to prevent and control coccidiosis caused by Eimeria spp., widely uses coccidiostats as feed additives. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the presence of nine coccidiostats in 62 egg samples by UHPLC-MS/MS. Overall, detection frequency and average concentration were 90.3% (56/62) and 106.3 μg kg−1, respectively. Only diclazuril and nicarbazin were detected. Diclazuril, only found in home-raised eggs, showed an overall detection frequency of 8.1% (5/62), with average and maximum concentrations of 0.46 ± 1.90 μg kg−1 and 13.6 μg kg−1, respectively. Nicarbazin presented an overall higher frequency, 88.7% (55/62), with levels up to 744.8 μg kg−1. Additionally, four samples (6.5%) presented both nicarbazin and diclazuril. Home-raised egg samples (n = 28) showed a detection frequency of 89.3%, with nicarbazin found in more samples (85.7% vs. 17.9%) and at higher levels (266.3 ± 169.4 μg kg−1 vs. 0.91 ± 2.78 μg kg−1) when compared to diclazuril. In supermarket samples (n = 34), only nicarbazin was detected in 31 samples (91.1%), with an average of 167.6 ± 62.2 μg kg−1. Considering the average contamination scenario, consumers’ health should not be adversely affected by egg consumption. In every scenario considered, children were the most vulnerable population group.

Microbial-induced calcium carbonate precipitation: Influencing factors, nucleation pathways, and application in waste water remediation

Microbial-induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) is a technique that uses the metabolic action of microorganisms to produce CO₃^2- which combines with free Ca²⁺ to form CaCO₃ precipitation. It has gained widespread attention in water treatment, aimed with the advantages of simultaneous removal of multiple pollutants, environmental protection, and ecological sustainability. This article reviewed the mechanism of MICP at both intra- and extra-cellular levels. It summarized the parameters affecting the MICP process in terms of bacterial concentration, ambient temperature, etc. The current status of MICP application in practical engineering is discussed. Based on this, the current technical difficulties faced in the use of MICP technology were outlined, and future research directions for MICP technology were highlighted. This review helps to improve the design of existing water treatment facilities for the simultaneous removal of multiple pollutants using the MICP and provides theoretical reference and innovative thinking for related research.

Widespread nickel contamination in drinking water supplies of elementary schools in Taichung, Taiwan

Owing to the limited information regarding potential sources of nickel (Ni) in drinking water, incidences of Ni contamination have not been well elucidated in the literature. However, in recent decades, Ni-containing plumbing materials such as stainless steel pipes, brass fittings, and chrome faucets have gained popularity in drinking water distribution systems. As a result of increased use of such materials, Ni levels in drinking water are expected to rise over time, posing long-term exposure risks to consumers. For the first time, this study employed an intensive sequential sampling, from October 2019 to July 2020, to assess Ni levels in drinking water samples collected from dispensers of elementary schools in Taichung, Taiwan. Of the total 580 sequential samples collected from 58 elementary schools, 45 samples from 17 schools exceeded the Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) standard value of 20 μg/L for Ni. Total Ni concentration in 1 L sample, an average of the total Ni concentrations in 10 sequential samples, exceeded in 4 schools. This finding suggests minor Ni contamination in drinking water supplies across the city. The highest Ni concentration was measured in the 1st sequential sample reaching 154 μg/L. Weekend and summer samples exhibited a higher tendency to exceed the standard. Older schools with age above 50 years and schools with a higher student population (≥ 500) were more likely to have Ni contamination. This study showed that drinking water is a potential source of Ni. However, the identification of Ni source, whether within the dispenser or in the distribution system, warrants further research.

Arsenic in Portuguese Rice: Is There Any Risk?

Arsenic is a metalloid with natural and anthropogenic sources and its inorganic form is toxic to humans. Rice is highly consumed worldwide and is prone to arsenic contamination; therefore, this study evaluated the inorganic arsenic content of 70 Portuguese rice samples. These were analysed through inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) with a detection limit of 3.3 µg kg−1. The average contamination was of 29.3 µg kg−1, with brown and short rice presenting higher values than white and long rice. The highest concentration, 100 µg kg−1, equalled the maximum residue limit (MRL) for rice destined for infants’ consumption. The estimated daily intake (EDI) surpassed the benchmark dose (lower confidence limit 10%) (BMDL10) of 0.3 µg kg−1 of bw/day considering children in the 95th percentile of rice consumption and the worst-case scenario concentration. However, other sources also contribute to the EDI and some population groups can exceed the BMDL10.

Risk Assessment of Nine Coccidiostats in Commercial and Home Raised Poultry

For the first time, this paper aimed to evaluate nine ionophore and synthetic coccidiostat residues in poultry muscle samples, obtained from different production types, by solid-liquid extraction followed by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The fully validated methodology was successfully applied to a total of 101 chicken and turkey samples obtained from canteens, supermarkets, and home productions in Portugal. Halofuginone, diclazuril, decoquinate, narasin, lasalocid, and salinomycin were detected in 20.8% of the samples. Home raised samples showed a greater frequency, 47.1%. The synthetic coccidiostats halofuginone, diclazuril, and decoquinate were found in averages of 0.7 μg kg^-1,2.9 μg kg^-1, and 3.7 μg kg^-1, respectively, while averages of 1.2 μg kg^-1, 1.6 μg kg^-1, and 1.3 μg kg^-1 were found regarding the ionophores narasin, lasalocid, and salinomycin. As for the risk assessment, values lower than 8.06% of the acceptable daily intake (ADI) were observed, indicating that exposure to coccidiostats through consumption of poultry meat does not represent risk to consumers.

A review on adsorptive separation of toxic metals from aquatic system using biochar produced from agro-waste

Water is a basic and significant asset for living beings. Water assets are progressively diminishing due to huge populace development, industrial activities, urbanization and rural exercises. Few heavy metals include zinc, copper, lead, nickel, cadmium and so forth can easily transfer into the water system either direct or indirect activities of electroplating, mining, tannery, painting, fertilizer industries and so forth. The different treatment techniques have been utilized to eliminate the heavy metals from aquatic system, which includes coagulation/flocculation, precipitation, membrane filtration, oxidation, flotation, ion exchange, photo catalysis and adsorption. The adsorption technique is a better option than other techniques because it can eliminate heavy metals even at lower metal ions concentration, simplicity and better regeneration behavior. Agricultural wastes are low-cost biosorbent and typically containing cellulose have the ability to absorb a variety of contaminants. It is important to note that almost all agro wastes are no longer used in their original form but are instead processed in a variety of techniques to improve the adsorption capacity of the substance. The wide range of adsorption capacities for agro waste materials were observed and almost more than 99% removal of toxic pollutants from aquatic systems were achieved using modified agro-waste materials. The present review aims at the water pollution due to heavy metals, as well as various heavy metal removal treatment procedures. The primary objectives of this research is to include an overview of adsorption and various agriculture based adsorbents and its comparison in heavy metal removal.

Simultaneous removal of calcium, fluoride, nickel, and nitrate using microbial induced calcium precipitation in a biological immobilization reactor

In this research, an immobilized biofilm reactor was established for the simultaneous removal of calcium (Ca²⁺), fluoride (F^-), nickel (Ni²⁺), and nitrate (NO₃^--N) by microbial induced calcium precipitation (MICP). The operating parameters of the reactor, hydraulic retention time (HRT: 4, 8, and 12 h), influent Ca²⁺ concentration (36.0, 108.0, and 180.0 mg L^-1), and influent Ni²⁺ concentration (0.0, 3.0, and 6.0 mg L^-1) were discussed. Under the HRT of 12 h, influent Ca²⁺ concentration of 180.0 mg L^-1, and influent Ni²⁺ concentration of 3.0 mg L^-1, the removal ratios of Ca²⁺, F^-, Ni²⁺, and NO₃^--N reached 45.31%, 79.55%, 85.11%, and 55.29%, respectively, which was the reactor stable operation performance. The SEM revealed the morphology of calcium-precipitated bio-crystals. XPS showed the Ca²⁺ and Ni²⁺ precipitate components and XRD further revealed the formation of CaCO₃, Ca₅(PO₄)₃OH, and NiCO₃ precipitation. Nitrogen (N₂) was the main gas produced in the reactor. Fluorescence spectroscopy manifested that extracellular polymers played an important role in the organism nucleation. High-throughput sequencing exhibited that Acinetobacter sp. H12 was the dominant bacterial group. This study provided a new insight for simultaneous remediation of Ca²⁺, F^-, Ni²⁺, and NO₃^--N in water bodies.