Tin in canned food: a review and understanding of occurrence and effect

Marketing of Freshwater and Marine Fish Species in Alexandria City, Egypt: Human Health Risk of Specific Metals

Fish intake may constitute a significant route by which humans are exposed to metals, especially people who depend on fish as a source of protein as Alexandrians. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the metal contents in muscles in eight commonly consumed freshwater (Tilapia, Catfish, and Common Carp) and marine fish species (Emperors, Groupers, Mackerels, Silver Pomfret, and Roving Groupers) collected from the local markets located in Alexandria City for a 1-year calendar year, 2022. Seasonal variations in the levels of the tested metals in the fish species, with significant differences between the species, were recorded. Also, the levels of Cu, Zn, Fe, Co, and Cd in all the tested fish species collected during the experiment did not exceed the guideline limits, while Ni, Cr, and Pb in fish collected during October-May, June-September, and February-May 2022, respectively, exceeded the permissible limits settled by FAO and WHO. Additionally, Mackerels and Roving Groupers had high-level contents of Mn that exceeded the permissible limits settled by European Commission. The accumulation of these metals in muscles of different fish species had relative variation in the accumulation, and Cu was the most predominant element in Tilapia, Zn in Catfish, Roving Groupers, and Mackerels, Fe in Common Carp, Groupers, Emperors, and Silver Pomfret, and Co in Tilapia. Consumption of fish with a high Metal Pollution Index (MPI) value may pose a potential public health risk. On the meantime, the calculated values of estimated daily intakes (EDI), hazard index (HI), and target health quotient (THQ) indicated no potential health risk for Alexandrians via the consumption of these fish species because they did not exceed the World Health Organization's acceptable daily intake.

The association of heavy metals/metalloid and stroke-Findings in Shanxi, China and the US NHANES from 2011 to 2020

BACKGROUND

Previous studies provided contradictory evidence regarding the relationship between metal concentrations and ischemic stroke (IS).

METHODS

A total of 100 adults with IS were included in this study, as well as an equal number of controls. Inductively coupled plasma-mass was used to measure metals' concentrations in whole blood and plasma. In order to identify metals that were associated with IS, we applied principal component analysis (PCA) and principal component (PC) regression. Finally, we included 3867 participants from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2020 to estimate the association between urine tin (Sn) and stroke with logistic regression and COX proportional hazard models.

RESULTS

The fourth PC, characterized by copper (Cu) and Sn in whole blood, was associated with a higher risk of IS (OR=19.43, 95 %CI: 4.25, 88.89 for the highest quartile vs. the lowest quartile). A higher risk of IS was linked to the second PC, characterized by Sn, aluminum (Al), titanium (Ti), nickel (Ni) in plasma (OR= 12.85, 95 %CI: 3.91, 42.26 for the highest quartile vs. the lowest quartile). For NHANES, Sn was associated with a higher risk of stroke (OR= 1.69, 95 %CI: 1.07, 2.66 for the highest quartile vs. the lowest quartile). There was no significant relationship between urine Sn and all-cause deaths.

CONCLUSION

In this research, the exposures of Sn, Cu, Al, Ti, and Ni were associated with IS. Specifically, the relationship between Sn and the risk of stroke has been established among both Chinese and US participants.

Tin contamination in sediments of Lake Zurich: source, spread, history and risk assessment

Industrial activities of a silk dyeing factory in Thalwil, on the shore of Lake Zurich, Switzerland, caused extreme Sn contamination of lake sediments. In this study, we determine the contamination source, spread, and age using a multiproxy approach. We used X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) core scanning and further geochemical analyses to assess the contamination spreading and thickness in the sedimentary column. We found elevated Sn levels throughout sediments of Lake Zurich, ranging from 177  g kg - 1 in front of the former silk factory to 0.05  g kg - 1 at the southeast end (background: ca. 0.006  g kg - 1 ). The rapid concentration drop away from the shore suggests quick precipitation of a sparingly soluble inorganic Sn compound, which is confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscope Imaging in tandem with Energy-dispersive XRF spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) data. The Sn XRF profile of a varved core indicates a contamination onset in the early 1890s, a maximum around 1900, and a gradual decrease to low levels in the 1940s. High Sn concentrations in turbidite layers from the deep basin indicate that mass movements physically remobilised Sn. However, in stable conditions, in-situ porewater measurements (conc. < 0.5  μ g L - 1 ) using dialyse plates show little Sn remobilisation into the lake water (0.05  mg a - 1 m - 2 ). The low remobilisation, reducing conditions, and high sulphide contents in the contaminated layers suggest that Sn is firmly bound to the sediments. Combined with the low toxicity of Sn, we conclude that the Sn contamination poses no threat to lake biota or drinking water production.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s00015-024-00471-6.

The levels, single and multiple health risk assessment of 23 metals in enteral nutrition formulas

Enteral nutrition formulas are products that provide macro and micronutrients to patients who cannot receive their nutrition orally. In this study, the levels of 23 metals known to have potential health risks were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in a total of 28 enteral nutrition formula. Metal exposure was calculated according to three different daily energy intake scenarios (Scenario 1 = 50% oral nutrition + 50% enteral nutrition formula, Scenario 2 = 25% oral nutrition + 75% enteral nutrition formula and Scenario 3 = 100% enteral nutrition formula) and evaluated in terms of non-carcinogenic health risks. The mean levels of Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Mo, Se, Li, Be, V, As, Sr, Ag, Cd, Sb, Ba, La, Hg and Pb in the samples analyzed were determined 12,000 ± 3300, 64 ± 1.6, 10 ± 13, 1300 ± 400, 8500 ± 2500, 75 ± 30, 61 ± 21, 0.34 ± 0.36, 0.05 ± 0.08, 7.3 ± 2, 1.6 ± 0.6, 457 ± 166, 0.02 ± 0.1, 0.14 ± 0.12, 0.01 ± 0.1, 74 ± 103, 0.63 ± 0.4, 0.05 ± 0.03 and 0.14 ± 0.7 μg/L. These metals were considered safe in terms of non-carcinogenic health risks when analyzed individually. However, when the target hazard quotient values of all metals were evaluated together, hazard index values were higher than the reference value of 1, for both men and women, indicating potential health risks.

Biodegradable biopolymers: Real impact to environment pollution

Biobased biodegradable polymers (BBP) derived from different renewable resources are commonly considered as attractive alternative to petroleum-based polymers, such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), etc. It is because they can address the issues of serious environmental problems resulted from accumulation of plastic wastes. In the review current methods of obtaining of most abundant BBP, polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), have been studied with an emphasis on the toxicity of compounds used for their production and additives improving consumer characteristics of PLA and PHB based market products. Substantial part of additives was the same used for traditional polymers. Analysis of the data on the response of different organisms and plants on exposure to these materials and their degradation products confirmed the doubts about real safety of BBP. Studies of safer additives are scarce and are of vital importance. Meanwhile, technologies of recycling of traditional petroleum-based polymers were shown to be well-developed, which cannot be said about PLA or PHB based polymers, and their blends with petroleum-based polymers. Therefore, development of more environmentally friendly components and sustainable technologies of production are necessary before following market expansion of biobased biodegradable products.

Food groups consumption and urinary metal mixtures in women from Northern Mexico

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to evaluate the association between food groups and mixtures of urinary metal concentrations in a sample of women; as well as identify the most important metals within each mixture.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional analysis between food groups consumption and mixtures of various metals in urine from 439 women, ≥18 years old, from Northen Mexico. We estimated the dietary intake of 20 food groups through a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Urinary metal concentration of aluminum, antimony, arsenic, barium, cadmium, cesium, chromium, cobalt, copper, lead, manganese, magnesium, molybdenum, nickel, selenium, thallium, tin, vanadium, and zinc, were measured by inductively coupled plasma triple quad. We used weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression with binomial family specification to assess the association of food groups and metal mixtures, as well as to identify the most important ones.

RESULTS

We identified tin, lead, and antimony as the most important metals, in the metal mixtures that were positively associated with the consumption of eggs, non-starchy vegetables, fruits, seafood, corn, oil seeds, chicken, soda, legumes, red and/or processed meats, as well as negatively with the consumption of alliums, corn tortillas and/or vegetable oils.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that food consumption is related to more than one metal in the study sample, and highlights the presence of some of them. Further research is required to identify the possible sources of metals in food, as well as the chronic adverse health effects attributed to their simultaneous presence.

Synthesis and anti-inflammatory activities of two new N-acetyl glucosamine derivatives

N-acetyl glucosamine (NAG) is a natural amino sugar found in various human tissues with previously described anti-inflammatory effects. Various chemical modifications of NAG have been made to promote its biomedical applications. In this study, we synthesized two bi-deoxygenated NAG, BNAG1 and BNAG2 and investigated their anti-inflammatory properties, using an in vivo and in vitro inflammation mouse model induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Among the parent molecule NAG, BNAG1 and BNAG2, BNAG1 showed the highest inhibition against serum levels of IL-6 and TNF α and the leukocyte migration to lungs and peritoneal cavity in LPS challenged mice, as well as IL-6 and TNF α production in LPS-stimulated primary peritoneal macrophages. BNAG2 displayed an anti-inflammatory effect which was comparable to NAG. These findings implied potential application of these novel NAG derivatives, especially BNAG1, in treatment of certain inflammation-related diseases.

Metal-DNA interactions: Exploring the impact of metal ions on key stages of forensic DNA analysis

Forensic DNA analysis continues to be hampered by the complex interactions between metals and DNA. Metal ions may cause direct DNA damage, inhibit DNA extraction and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification or both. This study evaluated the impact of metal ions on DNA extraction, quantitation, and short tandem repeat profiling using cell-free and cellular (saliva) DNA. Of the 11 metals assessed, brass exhibited the strongest PCR inhibitory effects, for both custom and Quantifiler Trio quantitation assays. Metal ion inhibition varied across the two quantitative PCR assays and the amount of DNA template used. The Quantifiler Trio internal PCR control (IPC) only revealed evidence of PCR inhibition at higher metal ion concentrations, limiting the applicability of IPC as an indicator of the presence of metal inhibitor in a sample. Notably, ferrous ions were found to significantly decrease the extraction efficiency of the DNA-IQ DNA extraction system. The amount of DNA degradation and inhibition in saliva samples caused by metal ions increased with a dilution of the sample, suggesting that the saliva matrix provides protection from metal ion effects.

Association between Mediterranean diet and metal mixtures concentrations in pregnant people from the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study

Diet is a primary source of nutrients but also toxic metal exposure. In pregnancy, balancing essential metal exposure while reducing non-essential ones is vital for fetal and maternal health. However, the effect of metal mixtures from diets like the Mediterranean, known for health benefits, remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the association between Mediterranean diet adherence and metals exposure, both individually and as mixtures. The study involved 907 pregnant participants from the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study. We calculated the relative Mediterranean diet score (rMED) through a validated food frequency questionnaire, which includes 8 traditional Mediterranean dietary components. Also, at ~24-28 weeks of gestation, we used ICP-MS to measure speciation of Al, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mo, Ni, Sb, Se, Sn, Zn, and As in urine, as well as Pb, Hg, As, Ni, and Se in toenails. We used multiple linear regression and Weighted Quantile Sum regression to analyze the association between rMED and metal mixtures. The models were adjusted for age, pre-pregnancy BMI, smoking during pregnancy, and educational level. High adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with increased urinary Al (® = 0.26 (95 % confidence interval (CI) = 0.05; 0.46)), Cd (β = 0.12 (95%CI = 0.00; 0.24)), Mo (β = 0.10 (95%CI = 0.00; 0.20)), and AsB (β = 0.88 (95%CI = 0.49; 1.27)) as well as toenail Hg (β = 0.44 (95%CI = 0.22; 0.65)), Ni (β = 0.37 (95%CI = 0.06; 0.67)), and Pb (β = 0.22 (95%CI = 0.03; 0.40)) compared to those with low adherence. The intake of fruits and nuts, fish and seafood, legumes, cereals, meat, and olive oil were found to be related to the metal biomarkers within the rMED. In conclusion, the Mediterranean diet enhances essential metal intake but may also increase exposure to harmful ones.

Residual levels and health risk assessment of trace metals in Chinese resident diet

Large-scale metal contamination across the food web is an intractable problem due to increasing pollutant emissions, atmospheric transport, and dry and wet deposition of elements. The present study focus on several trace metals that are rarely studied but have special toxicity, including tin (Sn), antimony (Sb), gold (Au), hafnium (Hf), palladium (Pd), platinum (Pt), ruthenium (Ru), tellurium (Te) and iridium (Ir). We investigated trace metals residues and distribution characteristics, and further evaluated the potential health risks from major daily food intakes in 33 cities in China. Sn, Sb, Ir, Hf, and Au were frequently detected in food samples with the concentrations ranged from ND (not detected) to 24.78 µg/kg ww (wet weight). Eggs exhibited the highest residual level of all detected metals (13.70 ± 14.70 µg/kg ww in sum), while the lowest concentrations were observed in vegetables (0.53 ± 0.17 µg/kg ww in sum). Sn accounting for more than 50% of the total trace metals concentration in both terrestrial and aquatic animal origin foods. In terrestrial plant origin foods, Sn and Ir were the most abundant elements. Hf and Au were the most abundant elements in egg samples. In addition, Sb and Ir showed a clear trophic dilution effect in terrestrial environments, while in aquatic ecosystems, Sn, Hf, and Au exhibited obvious trophic amplification effects. The calculated average estimated daily intake (EDI) via food consumption in five regions of China was 0.09 µg/(kg·day), implying the health risk of aforementioned elements was acceptable.

Electrochemical Methods for the Analysis of Trace Tin Concentrations-Review

Tin determination allows for the monitoring of pollution and assessment of the impact of human activities on the environment. The determination of tin in the environment is crucial for the protection of human health and ecosystems, and for maintaining sustainability. Tin can be released into the environment from various sources, such as industry, transportation, and electronic waste. The concentration of tin in the environment can be determined by different analytical methods, depending on the form of tin present and the purpose of the analysis. The choice of an appropriate method depends on the type of sample, concentration levels, and the available instrumentation. In this paper, we have carried out a literature review of electrochemical methods for the determination of tin. Electrochemical methods of analysis such as polarography, voltammetry, and potentiometry can be used for the determination of tin in various environmental samples, as well as in metal alloys. The detection limits and linearity ranges obtained for the determination of tin by different electrochemical techniques are collected and presented. The influence of the choice of base electrolyte and working electrode on signals is also presented. Practical applications of the developed tin determination methods in analyzing real samples are also summarized.

Heavy metals in offal and canned food sold in the Malaysian market

Food contaminated with heavy metals poses a serious threat to consumers. This study aims to assess levels of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in offals of chicken, cattle, and pig as well as tin (Sn) in canned food. A total of 378 offal samples was collected from wet markets, while 218 canned food samples were purchased locally. Samples were digested using a microwave before analysis with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Pb was determined, highest in cattle lung (0.11 ± 0.20 mg/kg) followed by cattle spleen (0.09 ± 0.14 mg/kg), and cattle tripe (0.09 ± 0.12 mg/kg). For Cd, the highest concentrations were in cattle liver (0.13 ± 0.12 mg/kg), pig liver (0.08 ± 0.05 mg/kg), and chicken liver (0.03 ± 0.02 mg/kg). Significant variations of Sn levels existed in different canned food categories with 3.21% samples (n = 7) exceeded the maximum level of 250 mg/kg set by Codex Alimentarius. All offal samples were below the Malaysian regulatory limits, indicating their safety for human consumption. However, Sn levels varied significantly among canned food categories, with the highest levels found in canned pineapple chunks in syrup, mixed pineapple cubes in syrup, pineapple slices and longan. Samples exceeding the maximum level set by Codex Alimentarius may pose a risk to consumers.

Identification of Corrosive Volatile Compounds Found in the Headspace of Chicken Noodle Soup Retorted in Metal Cans

This study investigated the development of volatile compounds in the headspace of canned chicken noodle soup (and sought to develop appropriate testing methods). The primary objective of this study was to identify compounds in the soup that were responsible for the initiation of the corrosion in the cans. The long-term goal of these studies is to develop an efficient method to investigate how headspace volatile compounds in foods could cause corrosion defects in metal cans and how these could be corrected without undermining the quality and safety of the food. To determine and to evaluate the volatile compounds in the canned soups, selected ion flow tube-mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) was used. The coatings of the tested cans were carefully stripped off and analyzed using this SIFT-MS method. High levels of sulfur-containing volatile compounds and organic acids were detected in both the soups and the coatings. It was concluded that during the retorting of the sealed cans filled with chicken soup, sulfur-containing volatile compounds formed and entered the headspace of the tested cans and interacted with the coating, leading to the formation of blackened stains.

Dabcyl as a Naked Eye Colorimetric Chemosensor for Palladium Detection in Aqueous Medium

Industrial activity has raised significant concerns regarding the widespread pollution caused by metal ions, contaminating ecosystems and causing adverse effects on human health. Therefore, the development of sensors for selective and sensitive detection of these analytes is extremely important. In this regard, an azo dye, Dabcyl 2, was synthesised and investigated for sensing metal ions with environmental and industrial relevance. The cation binding character of 2 was evaluated by colour changes as seen by the naked eye, UV-Vis and 1H NMR titrations in aqueous mixtures of SDS (0.02 M, pH 6) solution with acetonitrile (99:1, v/v). Out of the several cations tested, chemosensor 2 had a selective response for Pd2+, Sn2+ and Fe3+, showing a remarkable colour change visible to the naked eye and large bathochromic shifts in the UV-Vis spectrum of 2. This compound was very sensitive for Pd2+, Sn2+ and Fe3+, with a detection limit as low as 5.4 × 10-8 M, 1.3 × 10-7 M and 5.2 × 10-8 M, respectively. Moreover, comparative studies revealed that chemosensor 2 had high selectivity towards Pd2+ even in the presence of other metal ions in SDS aqueous mixtures.

High sensitivity for detecting trace Sn2+ in canned food using novel covalent organic frameworks

Tin (Sn) element plays a vital role in the human body, and its detection is a mandatory inspection item for canned food. The application of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) in fluorescence detection has received extensive attentions. In this work, we designed a kind of novel COFs (COF-ETTA-DMTA) with high specific surface area (353.13 m²/g) by solvothermal synthesis using 2,5-dimethoxy-1,4-dialdehyde and tetra (4-aminophenyl) ethylene as precursors. It shows fast response time (about 50 s), low detection limit (228 nM) and good linearity (R² = 0.9968) for the detection of Sn²⁺. Via coordination behavior, the recognition mechanism of COFs toward Sn²⁺ was simulated and verified by the small molecule with the same functional unit. More importantly, this COFs was successfully applied to identify Sn²⁺ in solid canned food (luncheon pork, canned fish, canned red kidney beans) with satisfactory results. This work provides a new approach for determining metal ions with COFs taking the advantage of their natural rich reaction set and specific surface area, improving the detection sensitivity and capacity.

Microbial Control of Raw and Cold-Smoked Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) through a Microwave Plasma Treatment

The control of the pathogenic load on foodstuffs is a key element in food safety. Particularly, seafood such as cold-smoked salmon is threatened by pathogens such as Salmonella sp. or Listeria monocytogenes. Despite strict existing hygiene procedures, the production industry constantly demands novel, reliable methods for microbial decontamination. Against that background, a microwave plasma-based decontamination technique via plasma-processed air (PPA) is presented. Thereby, the samples undergo two treatment steps, a pre-treatment step where PPA is produced when compressed air flows over a plasma torch, and a post-treatment step where the PPA acts on the samples. This publication embraces experiments that compare the total viable count (tvc) of bacteria found on PPA-treated raw (rs) and cold-smoked salmon (css) samples and their references. The tvc over the storage time is evaluated using a logistic growth model that reveals a PPA sensitivity for raw salmon (rs). A shelf-life prolongation of two days is determined. When cold-smoked salmon (css) is PPA-treated, the treatment reveals no further impact. When PPA-treated raw salmon (rs) is compared with PPA-untreated cold-smoked salmon (css), the PPA treatment appears as reliable as the cold-smoking process and retards the growth of cultivable bacteria in the same manner. The experiments are flanked by quality measurements such as color and texture measurements before and after the PPA treatment. Salmon samples, which undergo an overtreatment, solely show light changes such as a whitish surface flocculation. A relatively mild treatment as applied in the storage experiments has no further detected impact on the fish matrix.

Occurrence of Toxic Metals and Metalloids in Muscle and Liver of Italian Heavy Pigs and Potential Health Risk Associated with Dietary Exposure

Muscle and liver tissues from Italian heavy pigs were analyzed to investigate whether the chronic consumption of these products by local consumers could represent a health risk in relation to the contamination by some toxic metals and metalloids (TMMs). The concentrations of Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Sn, U, and Zn were measured with an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer, while Hg analysis was performed by using a mercury analyzer. Fe, Zn, and Cu were the most abundant elements in both tissues, while U was detected only at ultra-trace levels. As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Hg, Pb, U, and Zn showed significantly higher concentrations in livers compared to muscles (p ≤ 0.01), with Cd and Cu being 60- and 9-fold more concentrated in the hepatic tissue. Despite this, concentrations of all TMMs were found to be very low in all the samples to the point that the resulting estimated dietary intakes did not suggest any food safety concern. Indeed, intakes were all below the toxicological health-based guidance values or resulted in low margins of exposure. Nevertheless, in the calculation of the worst-case exposure scenario, the children's estimated intake of Cd, Fe, and Zn through the sole consumption of pig liver contributed to more than 23, 38, and 39% of the tolerable weekly intakes of these elements, while the combined consumption of pig liver and pig muscle to more than 24, 46, and 76%. These findings alert about the probability of exceeding the toxicological guidance values of Cd, Fe, and Zn though the whole diet, suggesting long-term negative health effects for the younger population.

Effect of thermal processing on quality of tender jackfruit in tin-free-steel cans

Thermal processing is the most efficient and economical technique for the long-term preservation of tender jackfruit in ready-to-cook form on a commercial-scale. Although, thermal processing primarily focus on microbiological safety of the product, the associated quality changes need to be examined as it is decisive of consumer acceptance. The present study investigated the effect of two pasteurization (90 and 100 °C) and sterilization temperatures (110 and 121 °C) at different lethality on microbiological, colour, texture, ascorbic acid (AA), total flavonoid (TFC) and phenol (TPC) contents of tender jackfruit processed in tin-free-steel (TFS) cans. Time required for thermal processing was computed from respective heat penetration curve. Thermal processing improved both the TFC and TPC of tender jackfruit, while colour, texture and AA had degraded. Based on microbiological and physicochemical quality analyses, the study adjudged pasteurization at 90 °C for 19 min and sterilization at 121 °C for 8 min as the best temperature-time combination for thermal processing of tender jackfruit in TFS cans.

Rhodamine-based chemosensor for Sn2+ detection and its application in nanofibrous film and bioimaging

A simple rhodamine-based compound CK was designed and synthesized as a fluorescent chemosensor for Sn²⁺ based on Sn²⁺-mediated cyclization. The optical investigation indicated that the probe could quantitatively detect Sn²⁺ in a concentration range of 10-30 μM, with a detection limit of 118 nM. Moreover, probe CK, with low cytotoxicity, was successfully applied for imaging of Sn²⁺ in HeLa cells and mice, exhibiting excellent biocompatibility and cell membrane permeability. For on-site monitoring, CK-hybridized polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning and successfully employed for the visual detection of Sn²⁺ in actual samples. All the results demonstrated that the chemosensor could be a promising tool for the detection of Sn²⁺ in vitro and in vivo.

Confirmation of the systematic presence of tin particles in fallopian tubes or uterine horns of Essure implant explanted patients: A study of 18 cases with the same pathological process

OBJECTIVE

To examine associations between local and systemic symptoms and the wear of the tin weld of Essure implants.

DESIGN

study of a series of cases.

SETTINGS

Two French hospitals.

PARTICIPANTS

Eighteen patients explanted by hysterectomy and salpingectomy for removal of their Essure implants between September 2019 and July 2020, have had a common anatomopathological process.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

anatomopathological examination by optical microscopy and mineralogical analysis of the fallopian tube or uterine horn with scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX). Evaluation of local and systemic symptoms with a questionnaire. Examination of blood metal assays (nickel, chromium, and tin).

RESULTS

anatomopathological examination highlights foreign body granulomas, fibrosis, adenomyosis, nonspecific inflammation, cysts and myomas in the Fallopian tubes, uterine horns, or both and mentions the presence of foreign bodies in seven cases. SEM-EDX analyses showed, systematically, the presence of tin particles integrated in the wall near the weld, generally in clusters, and with a size ranging from about one micron to several dozen microns. The questionnaire shows that the most frequent local symptoms were pelvic pain, urinary disorders, bleeding, and pains during intercourse. The most common systemic symptoms were: asthenia, visual disturbances, amnesia, giddiness, dorsal pains, headaches, and joint pains. The majority of local and systemic symptoms decreased after explantation, but sometimes incompletely. Before explantation, high levels of nickel, tin and chromium were observed in 11/17, 1/7 and 2/17 patients. After explantation, tin levels were high in 3/11 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

our new anatomopathological process systematically demonstrates the presence of tin particles in tissue near the weld. These particles could be responsible for granulomatous inflammations as well as local symptoms. Many of the systemic symptoms are consistent with chronic organotin poisoning but further studies are needed to find out whether tin from the solder can be converted to organotin in the patients' bodies.

Dietary Exposure of the Japanese General Population to Elements: Total Diet Study 2013–2018

Some countries have conducted a total diet study (TDS) focused on the estimation of specific trace elements. Although some results of a Japanese TDS examining trace elements were published, there have been no reports of a nationwide TDS across Japan over a multi-year period to estimate the level of exposure to multiple elements. In the present study, a TDS using a market basket approach was performed to estimate the dietary exposure levels of the general population of Japan to 15 elements, including aluminum (Al), total arsenic (tAs), boron (B), barium (Ba), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), total mercury (THg), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), antimony (Sb), selenium (Se), tin (Sn), and uranium (U). Samples prepared in eight regions across Japan over a 6-year period were analyzed using validated methods. The robust mean exposure estimates for Al, tAs, B, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, THg, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Sn, and U were 48, 4.2, 29, 8.6, 0.35, 0.17, 0.49, 0.14, 4.2, 2.8, 0.15, 0.022, 1.8, 0.10, and 0.021 μg/kg body weight/day, respectively. Although the variability in exposure estimates varied greatly from element to element, the relative standard deviations calculated from the robust means and robust standard deviations were ≤ 50% for all elements except Sn. Compared against the health-based guidance values, none of the robust and precise estimates obtained for the target elements would be associated with urgent health risk concern. In addition, the estimated exposure levels were generally in agreement with previously reported estimates, indicating that health risks associated with exposure to these elements have not changed markedly nationwide in Japan in recent years.

Syntheses of polylactides by means of tin catalysts

Reaction mechanisms and synthetic methods used for the preparation of homo- and copolylactides based on tin(ii) and tin(iv) catalysts are reviewed.

Recent advances in tin ion detection using fluorometric and colorimetric chemosensors

The innovation of chemosensors for tin ions (Sn4+/Sn2+) has evolved as a key research topic in recent decades, garnering a lot of attention due to their environmental, industrial and biological importance.

Easy and rapid chemosensing method for the identification of accumulated tin in algae: a strategy to protect a marine eco-system

A simple and potent chemosensor AFL has been successfully developed to recognize Sn2+ selectively in marine algae or, more precisely, seaweed, as they are at huge risk from marine contamination.

Chemical contaminants in canned food and can-packaged food: a review

Canning, as a preservation technique, is widely used to extend the shelf life as well as to maintain the quality of perishable foods. During the canning process, most of the microorganisms are killed, reducing their impact on food quality and safety. However, the presence of a range of undesirable chemical contaminants has been reported in canned foods and in relation to the canning process. The present review provides an overview of these chemical contaminants, including metals, polymeric contaminants and biogenic amine contaminants. They have various origins, including migration from the can materials, formation during the canning process, or contamination during steps required prior to canning (e.g. the disinfection step). Some other can-packaged foods (e.g. beverages or milk powder), which are not canned foods by definition, were also discussed in this review, as they have been frequently studied simultaneously with canned foods in terms of contamination. The occurrence of these contaminants, the analytical techniques involved, and the factors influencing the presence of these contaminants in canned food and can-packaged food are summarized and discussed.

Impact of metal ions on PCR inhibition and RT-PCR efficiency

Inhibition of PCR by metal ions can pose a serious challenge in the process of forensic DNA analysis. Samples contaminated with various types of metal ions encountered at crime scenes include swabs from metal surfaces such as bullets, cartridge casings, weapons (including guns and knives), metal wires and surfaces as well as bone samples which contain calcium. The mechanism behind the impact of metal ions on DNA recovery, extraction and subsequent amplification is not fully understood. In this study, we assessed the inhibitory effects of commonly encountered metals on DNA amplification. Of the nine tested metals, zinc, tin, iron(II) and copper were shown to have the strongest inhibitory properties having IC50 values significantly below 1 mM. In the second part of the study, three commercially available DNA polymerases were tested for their susceptibility to metal inhibition. We found that KOD polymerase was the most resistant to metal inhibition when compared with Q5 and Taq polymerase. We also demonstrate how the calcium chelator ethylene glycol-bis(2-aminoethylether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) can be used as an easy and non-destructive method of reversing calcium-induced inhibition of PCR reactions.

Release behavior of metals from tin-lined copper cookware into food simulants during cooking and cold storage

The copper pots with an inner coating layer of tin have been remarkably used in many countries for a long time. In this study, leaching of some metals from tin-lined copper pots into food simulators at different pHs (4, 5.5, 7, and 8.5) during boiling processing (95 °C for 1, 2, and 3 h) or refrigerated storage (4 °C for 1, 2, and 3 days) was investigated. Citric acid and sodium hydroxide were used to adjust the pH of food simulators. The leaching concentrations of metals were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometers (ICP-OES). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to indicate the surface morphological properties of cookware. Based on the preliminary experiments, metals including Al, Sn, Cu, Mn, Fe, Ca, Na, Cr, Mg, and Zn were selected to analyze in acidic treatments. Furthermore, Al, Cu, Sn, Na, and Ca were analyzed for neutral and alkaline ones. Results showed that the boiling temperature for 3 h resulted in a much higher migration of metals compared with cold storage for 3 days. Mn and Cr showed the lowest metal concentration during cooking and cold storage, respectively. The concentration of Sn in acidic simulators was remarkably higher than the other metals during both cooking and refrigerated storage. However, Ca during cold storage, as well as Na during both cooking and cold storage, showed the most migration in alkaline solutions, among the other pHs. An acidic simulator with pH 4 showed the most considerable release of metals from copper pots. SEM results indicated more intense surface corrosion by acidic solution (pH 4) than alkaline one. In general, longer cooking and cold storage durations led to increasing metals release. The migration of the studied metals demonstrates the impurities of the tin layer of these cookwares that may lead to acute and/or chronic diseases.

Kinetic Studies on Radical Scavenging Activity of Kaempferol Decreased by Sn(II) Binding

Sn(II) binds to kaempferol (HKaem, 3,4′,5,7-tetrahydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one) at the 3,4-site forming [Sn(II)(Kaem)₂] complex in ethanol. DPPH^• scavenging efficiency of HKaem is dramatically decreased by SnCl₂ coordination due to formation of acid inhibiting deprotonation of HKaem as ligands and thus reduces the radical scavenging activity of the complex via a sequential proton-loss electron transfer (SPLET) mechanism. Moderate decreases in the radical scavenging of HKaem are observed by Sn(CH₃COO)₂ coordination and by contact between Sn and HKaem, in agreement with the increase in the oxidation potential of the complex compared to HKaem, leading to a decrease in antioxidant efficiency for fruits and vegetables with Sn as package materials.

Evaluation of pectin isolated from tomato peel waste as natural tin corrosion inhibitor in sodium chloride/acetic acid solution

The pectin from tomato peel waste (TPP) was employed as tin corrosion inhibitor with the aim to enhance the knowledge regarding the application of natural inhibitors, instead synthetic, and reducing the waste disposal for value-added biopolymers production. To evaluate the TPP anticorrosion activity the commercial apple pectin (CAP) was also utilised. The gravimetric tests show that the highest inhibitive impact (η) of 75.9 % (CAP) and 73.9 % (TPP) are gained at concentration of 20 g L^-1. By electrochemical, potentiodynamic polarization and impedance spectroscopy measurements, the maximum η (60.05-65.5 %) are reached at lower concentration (4 g L^-1), due to tendency of pectins to form viscous solution. The prominent decreases in current density with the shifts of potential in the cathodic direction revealed that pectins provided cathodic protection of tin surface. Similar inhibition impact of pectins, and fine agreement between applied methods confirmed their suitability against tin corrosion.

Antibacterial Liquid Metals: Biofilm Treatment via Magnetic Activation

Antibiotic resistance has made the treatment of biofilm-related infections challenging. As such, the quest for next-generation antimicrobial technologies must focus on targeted therapies to which pathogenic bacteria cannot develop resistance. Stimuli-responsive therapies represent an alternative technological focus due to their capability of delivering targeted treatment. This study provides a proof-of-concept investigation into the use of magneto-responsive gallium-based liquid metal (LM) droplets as antibacterial materials, which can physically damage, disintegrate, and kill pathogens within a mature biofilm. Once exposed to a low-intensity rotating magnetic field, the LM droplets become physically actuated and transform their shape, developing sharp edges. When placed in contact with a bacterial biofilm, the movement of the particles resulting from the magnetic field, coupled with the presence of nanosharp edges, physically ruptures the bacterial cells and the dense biofilm matrix is broken down. The antibacterial efficacy of the magnetically activated LM particles was assessed against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial biofilms. After 90 min over 99% of both bacterial species became nonviable, and the destruction of the biofilms was observed. These results will impact the design of next-generation, LM-based biofilm treatments.

The role of pH in corrosion inhibition of tin using the proline amino acid: theoretical and experimental investigations

Herein, the effect of a mediums' pH on the interfacial interactions between proline (Pro) amino acid and tin metal was studied. In this work, acidic and near-neutral pH values were considered. DFT-based calculations and Monte Carlo simulations were carried out in the aqueous phase to understand the role of pH in Pro/tin interactions. To confirm this role in terms of inhibition efficiency, the CC and AC electrochemical techniques were used. Based on the calculated parameters, it was outlined that the partially protonated Pro form exhibits significant affinity to interact with tin metal in near-neutral media. However, in acidic media, its affinity is decreased, whereas the full protonated form was found to be solvated in the solution and its interaction with the tin surface was not favorable. These findings indicated that the inhibition capability of Pro for tin could be better in near-neutral media than in acidic media. This expected behavior was confirmed experimentally, wherein an inhibition effectiveness of around 65% was obtained for Pro at pH 5, and 16% was observed at pH 2. Additionally, the results highlight the capability of employing computational studies to predict the prevention efficiency of anti-corrosion compounds by varying the solution pH.

Herein, the effect of a mediums' pH on the interfacial interactions between proline (Pro) amino acid and tin metal was studied.

Sn-Triggered Two-Dimensional Fast Protein Assembly with Emergent Functions

The discovery of a general strategy for organizing functional proteins into stable nanostructures with the desired dimension, shape, and function is an important focus in developing protein-based self-assembled materials, but the scalable synthesis of such materials and transfer to other substrates remain great challenges. We herein tackle this issue by creating a two-dimensional metal-protein hybrid nanofilm that is flexible and cost-effective with reliable self-recovery, stability, and multifunctionality. As it differs from traditional metal ions, we discover the capability of Sn²⁺ to initiate fast amyloid-like protein assembly (occurring in seconds) by effectively reducing the disulfide bonds of native globular proteins. The Sn²⁺-initiated lysozyme aggregation at the air/water interface leads to droplet flattening, a result never before reported in a protein system, which finally affords a multifunctional 2D Sn-doped hybrid lysozyme nanofilm with an ultralarge area (e.g., 0.2 m²) within a few minutes. The hybrid film is distinctive in its ease of coating on versatile material surfaces with endurable chemical and mechanical stability, optical transparency, and diverse end uses in antimicrobial and photo-/electrocatalytic scaffolds. Our approach provides not only insights into the effect of tin ions on macroscopic self-assembly of proteins but also a controllable and scalable synthesis of a potential biomimic framework for biomedical and biocatalytic applications.

Rapid direct determination of tin in beverages using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence

This article presents a new method for the simpler and faster determination of tin in beverages using EDXRF. Absorption coefficients for aqueous calibration samples were calculated and shown to be nearly identical to those of the beverage samples, thus permitting the use of aqueous standard solutions for external calibration. Beverage samples could then be measured directly using the external calibration. Determination of tin using this method takes 4 min. The LOD and LOQ were 4 mg L^-1 and 15 mg L^-1 respectively, and the precision was 3.89%. Different canned beverages (cold coffee, various fruit juices) were measured and the results compared to the concentrations obtained using ICP-OES after digestion. The two methods showed good compatibility, thus establishing the newly developed method as a rapid, simple, and accurate method for the determination of tin in beverages.

Levels of tin and organotin compounds in human urine samples from Iowa, United States

Exposure to tin in the general US population is near ubiquitous, as determined using urinary tin levels measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Urinary tin levels are associated with chronic health outcomes, such as diabetes; however, it is unclear if these associations are due to the presence of inorganic and organic forms of tin in urine. To address this knowledge gap, levels of total tin and several organotin compounds (OTCs) were measured in convenience urine samples from pregnant women and adults from Iowa, United States. Total tin and OTC levels in urine samples were quantified using ICP-MS and gas chromatography with pulsed flame photometric detection (GC-PFPD), respectively. ICP-MS detected tin in almost all urine samples from both study populations. Low levels of dibutyltin were detected in two out of fifty human urine samples. Importantly, storage of urine samples in plastic containers, but not HNO3-pretreated glass vials drastically reduced the recoveries of OTCs, in particular, tributyltin. Although their detection frequency is low, exposures to OTC should be considered when studying associations between human exposures to tin compounds and adverse health outcomes; however, urinary OTC levels measured in banked urine samples may not be suitable as biomarkers of OTC exposure.

Sealing effect of surface porosity of Ti-P composite films on tinplates

A novel chrome-free Ti–P composite film was prepared by casting a mixed solution containing titanium and phosphorus species, which is able to seal the pores on the tinplate surface. The obtained film was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The surface porosity sealing effect on tinplates was verified by using a glow discharge spectrometer (GDS), porosity tests, and XPS. The results show that the film on the tinplates is composed of TiO₂, Ti₃(PO₄)₄·nH₂O, and FePO₄. Micropores on the tinplates are reduced apparently after film deposition, and the content of iron exposed in the pores is decreased significantly. An obvious concentration peak of phosphorus at a depth of around 0.75 μm infers that the film can penetrate into the micro-pores. The film lead to a 42.5% decrease in the surface porosity of the tinplates, exhibiting an outstanding surface porosity sealing effect in comparison with pure Ti or P films. Mechanistic analysis using XPS indicates that Ti₃(PO₄)₄·nH₂O and FePO₄ in the film play a role in sealing the surface porosity.

A novel chrome-free Ti–P composite film was coated on tinplates to seal the pores on the tinplate surface.

Aluminum and tin: Food contamination and dietary intake in an Italian population

Aluminum and tin are ubiquitous in the environment. In normal biological systems, however, they are present only in trace amounts and have no recognized biological functions in humans. High exposure to these metals can result in adverse health effects such as neurodegenerative diseases. In non-occupationally exposed subjects, diet is the primary source of exposure. In this study, we aimed at estimating dietary aluminum and tin intake in an Italian adult population. We measured aluminum and tin concentrations through inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry in 908 food samples. We also estimated dietary intake of these two metals, by using a validated semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire administered to 719 subjects (319 men and 400 women) recruited from the general population of the Emilia Romagna region, Northern Italy. We found the highest aluminum levels in legumes, sweets, and cereals, while the highest tin levels were in sweets, meat and seafood. The estimated median daily dietary intake of aluminum was 4.1 mg/day (Interquartile range - IQR: 3.3-5.2), with a major contribution from beverages (28.6%), cereals (16.9%), and leafy vegetables (15.2%). As for tin, we estimated a median intake of 66.8 μg/day (IQR: 46.7-93.7), with a major contribution from vegetables (mainly tomatoes) (24.9%), fruit (15.5%), aged cheese (12.2%), and processed meat (10.4%). This study provides an updated estimate of the dietary intake of aluminum and tin in a Northern-Italy adult population, based on data from a validated food-frequency questionnaire. The intake determined for this population does not exceed the established thresholds of tolerable intake.

Large-Scale, Solution-Synthesized Nanostructured Composites for Thermoelectric Applications

As more than one-half of worldwide consumed energy is wasted as heat every year, high-efficiency thermoelectric materials are highly demanded for the conversion of rejected heat to electricity in a reliable fashion. In the recent few decades, nanoscience has revolutionized thermoelectrics via the quantum confinement effect in electronic structures and grain-boundary scattering of heat carriers. As the gas-phase syntheses of nanomaterials are not easily scalable and solid-state syntheses are not controllable in terms of microstructures at various length scales, significant research efforts have focused on solution syntheses that can build nanostructures with well-defined size, composition, and morphology. Beyond the performance, several novel effects that benefit the portability and cost efficiency have been discovered in the solution-synthesized nanomaterials. Herein, the relevant progress is reviewed and some prospects proposed.

Environmental tin exposure in a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults and children: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2014

Tin is a naturally occurring heavy metal that occurs in the environment in both inorganic and organic forms. Human exposure to tin is almost ubiquitous; however, surprisingly little is known about factors affecting environmental tin exposure in humans. This study analyzed demographic, socioeconomic and lifestyle factors associated with total urinary tin levels in adults (N = 3522) and children (N = 1641) participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2014, a nationally representative health survey in the United States. Urinary tin levels, a commonly used biomarker of environmental tin exposure, were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Detection frequencies of tin were 87.05% in adults and 91.29% in children. Median and geometric mean levels of urinary tin in the adult population were 0.42 μg/L and 0.49 μg/L, respectively. For children, median and geometric mean levels of urinary tin were 0.60 μg/L and 0.66 μg/L, respectively. Age was identified as an important factor associated with urinary tin levels. Median tin levels in the ≥60 year age group were almost 2-fold higher than the 20-39 year age group. Tin levels in children were 2-fold higher than in adolescents. Race/ethnicity and household income were associated with tin levels in both adults and children. In addition, physical activity was inversely associated with urinary tin levels in adults. These results demonstrate that total tin exposures vary across different segments of the general U.S.

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Because the present study does not distinguish between organic and inorganic forms of tin, further studies are needed to better characterize modifiable factors associated with exposures to specific tin compounds, with the goal of reducing the overall exposure of the U.S.

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Re-evaluation of stannous chloride (E 512) as food additive

The Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS) provides a scientific opinion re‐evaluating the safety of stannous chloride and stannous chloride dihydrate (E 512) as food additives. The Panel considered that adequate exposure and toxicity data were available. Stannous chloride is only permitted as food additives in one food category and no reply on the actual use level of stannous chloride (E 512) as a food additive and on its concentration in food was provided by any interested party. According to the Mintel's Global New Products Database (GNPD), stannous chloride was not labelled on any products in the EU nor in Norway. The regulatory maximum level exposure assessment scenario is based on the maximum permitted levels (MPLs) for stannous chloride (E 512), which is 25 mg Sn/kg. The mean exposure to stannous chloride (E 512) from its use as a food additive was below 1.3 μg Sn/kg body weight (bw) per day for all age groups. The 95th percentile of exposure to stannous chloride (E 512) ranged from 0.0 μg Sn/kg bw per day in all groups to 11.2 μg Sn/kg bw per day in adults. Absorption of stannous chloride from the gastrointestinal tract is low there is no concern with respect to carcinogenicity and genotoxicity. Gastrointestinal irritation was reported in humans after ingestion of a bolus dose of 40 mg Sn. The Panel concluded that stannous chloride (E 512) is of no safety concern in this current authorised use and use levels.