Health Risk Assessment of Banned Veterinary Drugs and Quinolone Residues in Shrimp through Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Development of a QuEChERS-HPLC-FLD Procedure for the Simultaneous Detection of Residues of Florfenicol, Its Metabolite Florfenicol Amine, and Three Fluoroquinolones in Eggs

A method utilizing high-performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD) has been developed and refined for the simultaneous detection of florfenicol (FF) and its metabolite florfenicol amine (FFA) along with three fluoroquinolone (ciprofloxacin (CIP), enrofloxacin (ENR), and sarafloxacin (SAR)) residues in different parts of eggs (whole egg, egg yolk, and egg albumen). The QuEChERS ("Quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe") procedure utilized 0.1 M disodium EDTA solution, water, and acetonitrile as extractants; sodium sulfate, sodium chloride, and trisodium citrate as dehydrating salts; and N-propylethylenediamine and C18 as adsorbents. A dual-channel FLD method was utilized to analyze the target compounds using an XBridge BEH C18 chromatographic column (4.6 mm × 150 mm, 5 μm). The mobile phase was employed isocratically using a solution of 0.01 M sodium dihydrogen phosphate, 0.005 M sodium dodecyl sulfate, and 0.1% triethylamine (pH 4.8) in combination with acetonitrile at a ratio of 65:35 (V/V). The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) of the analytes ranged from 0.03 to 1.5 µg/kg and from 0.1 to 5.0 µg/kg, respectively. The recoveries of the analytes in the blank egg samples ranged from 71.9% to 94.8% when reference standard concentrations of the LOQ, half of the maximum residual limit (MRL), MRL, and twice the MRL were added. The parameters of the presented protocol were validated and subsequently applied to the analysis of real samples, demonstrating the applicability and reliability of the method.

Residue, biotransformation, risk assessment and withdrawal time of enrofloxacin in red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii)

Crayfish is a very popular aquatic food in many countries, and enrofloxacin (ENR) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) was the most frequently detected in aquatic products. However, limited information is available on the residue characterization, biotransformation rate and withdrawal period (WT) of ENR and CIP in crayfish and health risk via consumption of ENR and CIP remained crayfish. Herein, a comprehensive investigation was conducted to study residue depletion, biotransformation, ingestion risk, and WT of ENR and its predominate metabolite CIP in crayfish following different routes with repeated doses. The results showed that the elimination half-life (T_1/2) of target compounds in crayfish were all in order of hepatopancreas > muscle > gill, and the order of T_1/2 in different crayfish tissues were intramuscular (IM) route > oral (PO) treatment > immersion (IMMR) administration. The biotransformation rates from ENR to CIP varied from 0.75% to 3.45% in crayfish tissues following different exposure routes. The high dietary risk (RQ > 1) consuming muscle and hepatopancreas of ENR and CIP remained crayfish occurred at early after different administrations. WT is the key to control the drug residue risk, and the longest WT of marker residue of ENR in crayfish was calculated to be 51 d (1275 °C-day).

Occurrence of quinolones in cultured fish from Shandong Province, China and their health risk assessment

The residue levels of 6 quinolones in 160 cultured fish samples from Shandong Province, China were investigated using UPLC-MS/MS. The detection rate was 43.1% and enrofloxacin had the highest detection rate as well as the highest residue concentration. The violation rates were 2.50% for the sum of enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin and 1.25% for ofloxacin. Among the 9 fish species, quinolone contamination problems should receive more attention in Carp, Grass carp, Crucian and Catfish. The health risk assessment showed that when calculated by the maximum concentration, the estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of Carp, Grass carp and Crucian for the high consumption group accounted for more than 10% of the acceptable daily intakes (ADIs), indicating that a large intake of these fish species might pose a potential health risk and health risk monitoring of quinolones in cultured fish should be continually performed.

Analysis of persistent organochlorine pesticides in shellfish and their risk assessment from aquafarms in Taiwan

In Taiwan, freshwater clams (Corbicula fluminea) and hard clams (Meretrix lusoria) are the most frequently raised shellfish in land-based pond aquaculture, but research on the accumulation of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in these shellfish is limited. We detected the levels of 14 OCPs in 62 shellfish from Taiwanese aquafarms by performing gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. OCP residues were detected in 4.84% of the samples including readings of 0.04 mg/kg chlordane (in a freshwater clam), 0.03 mg/g p,p'-DDE (in a freshwater clam), and 0.02 mg/g p,p'-DDE (in a hard clam). However, the associated estimated daily intake values were less than the acceptable daily intake levels of chlordane and p,p'-DDE Therefore, the consumption of these shellfish presents no immediate health risks. Our findings contribute to food safety and serve as a reference for OCP screenings for aquatic shellfish.

Rational Pharmacotherapy in Infectious Diseases: Issues Related to Drug Residues in Edible Animal Tissues

Drugs are used in veterinary medicine to prevent or treat animal diseases. When rationally administered to livestock following Good Veterinary Practices (GVP), they greatly contribute to improving the production of food of animal origin. Since humans can be exposed chronically to veterinary drugs through the diet, residues in food are evaluated for effects following chronic exposures. Parameters such as an acceptable daily intake (ADI), the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL), maximum residue limits (MRLs), and the withdrawal periods (WPs) are determined for each drug used in livestock. Drug residues in food exceeding the MRLs usually appear when failing the GVP application. Different factors related either to the treated animal or to the type of drug administration, and even the type of cooking can affect the level of residues in edible tissues. Residues above the MRLs can have a diverse negative impact, mainly on the consumer's health, and favor antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Drug residue monitoring programmes are crucial to ensure that prohibited or authorized substances do not exceed MRLs. This comprehensive review article addresses different aspects of drug residues in edible tissues produced as food for human consumption and provides relevant information contributing to rational pharmacotherapy in food-producing animals.

Environment and food safety: a novel integrative review

Environment protection and food safety are two critical issues in the world. In this review, a novel approach which integrates statistical study and subjective discussion was adopted to review recent advances on environment and food safety. Firstly, a scientometric-based statistical study was conducted based on 4904 publications collected from the Web of Science Core Collection database. It was found that the research on environment and food safety was growing steadily from 2001 to 2020. Interestingly, the statistical analysis of most-cited papers, titles, abstracts, keywords, and research areas revealed that the research on environment and food safety was diverse and multidisciplinary. In addition to the scientometric study, strategies to protect environment and ensure food safety were critically discussed, followed by a discussion on the emerging research topics, including emerging contaminates (e.g., microplastics), rapid detection of contaminants (e.g., biosensors), and environment friendly food packaging materials (e.g., biodegradable polymers). Finally, current challenges and future research directions were proposed.

A survey of chloramphenicol residues in aquatic products of Shenzhen, South China

Food safety is a top priority of concern for consumers. To promote growth, as well as to treat diseases which occur in aquaculture, antibiotics, even banned veterinary antibiotics, are widely used. This survey investigated the levels of chloramphenicol (CAP) by LC-MS/MS in 291 aquatic samples (all the products in this survey were local sales, exported products were not included), including shellfish, shrimp and fish, from Shenzhen, South China. The CAP concentrations in these samples (based on wet weight) were: shellfish (<LOD-205 µg kg^-1, mean: 68.8 µg kg^-1); shrimp (<LOD-2.2 µg kg^-1, mean: 0.5 µg kg^-1) and fish (<LOD-1.9 µg kg^-1, mean: 0.7 µg kg^-1). The highest concentration of CAP was found in shellfish samples (Mactra veneriformis, 205 µg kg^-1), these levels were greater than those reported in aquatic products from other locations in China. The detection rate of CAP was 37.2% in shellfish samples (64/172), 13.6% in shrimp samples (3/22) and 16.5% in fish samples (16/97). The detection rate of CAP in shellfish samples was higher than that in fish and shrimp samples, and therefore food safety in this region cannot be ignored. The results obtained from the current study indicated a high incidence of CAP in aquatic products in this region and argue for stronger market supervision and regulation in China.

Presence of antibacterial substances, nitrofuran metabolites and other chemicals in farmed pangasius and tilapia in Bangladesh: Probabilistic health risk assessment

•

ANCs in pangasius and tilapia, fish feed, pond sediments and water were analysed comprehensively.

•

Residual ANCs except heavy metals were not found in farmed pangasius and tilapia flesh.

•

Residual toxic heavy metals lead and chromium in fish were above the permissible limit.

•

Heavy metals sourced primarily from fish feed with secondary sources such as groundwater.

•

Lead and chromium concentrations in fish flesh pose potential carcinogenic risks to human health.

Intensive feeding and the use of drugs and other chemicals for enhancing yield characterised commercial pangasius and tilapia aquaculture in Bangladesh. The residual presence of prohibited antibacterial substances, nitrofuran metabolites and other chemicals (ANCs) in fish, and their effect on public health are a concern for consumers. This study collected samples from 15 pangasius and 15 tilapia ponds to assess the contamination of ANCs, including pesticides, dyes and heavy metals in fish flesh, and heavy metals in feed, sediments and water. Antibacterial substances, nitrofuran metabolites and dyes in fish flesh were detected using LC–MS/MS. Organochlorine pesticides and heavy metals were detected applying GC–MS and AAS, respectively. We found very low residue of the most ANCs in pangasius and tilapia flesh, however, both species contained heavy metals, particularly lead (Pb) and chromium (Cr). The level of metal contamination was affected by the age of the pond; the highest concentration of Pb was in pangasius from old ponds (> 10 years), and the highest concentration of Cr was found in pangasius from new ponds (< 10 years), and tilapia from old ponds. The feed sampled in this study, particularly the commercial pellet and farm-made feed, were highly contaminated with heavy metals. Pond water and sediments were contaminated by heavy metals; fish, water and sediment samples from older ponds had higher concentrations of heavy metals. The concentration of these heavy metals in fish flesh above regulatory limits poses potential risks to human health. To ensure the production of safe fish for human consumption, commercial aquaculture in Bangladesh requires a functional regulatory framework.

Analytical Detection of Sulfonamides and Organophosphorus Insecticide Residues in Fish in Taiwan

Exposure to residues of antibiotics (e.g., sulfonamides) and insecticides (e.g., organophosphorus insecticides) in aquacultured food can adversely affect humans and animals and thus affect public health globally. Here, using a validated method, we examined the levels of residues of 12 sulfonamides as well as 18 organophosphorus insecticides in aquacultured fish in Taiwan. A total of 52 fish samples (i.e., 20 tilapia, 16 milk fish, and 16 perch samples) were obtained from Taiwanese aquafarms from June 2018 to October 2019. We detected 0.02 and 0.03 mg/kg of sulfamethazine (a sulfonamide) in one tilapia and one milk fish, respectively, and 0.02, 0.05, and 0.03 mg/kg of chlorpyrifos (an organophosphorus insecticide) in one tilapia, one milk fish, and one perch, respectively; thus, among the samples, 3.85% and 5.77% contained sulfonamides and organophosphorus insecticide residues, respectively. Furthermore, we assessed human health risk based on the estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of these residues: EDIs of sulfonamide and organophosphorus insecticide residues were <1.0% of the acceptable daily intake recommended by the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations/World Health Organization Expert Committee on Food Additives. The risk of exposure to sulfonamide and organophosphorus insecticide residue by consuming aquacultured fish in Taiwan was thus negligible, signifying no immediate health risk related to the consumption of fish. Our findings can constitute a reference in efforts geared toward ensuring food safety and monitoring veterinary drug and insecticide residue levels in aquacultured organisms. Residue levels in fish must be continually monitored to further determine possible effects of these residues on human health.

Analysis of Pollution of Phthalates in Pork and Chicken in Taiwan Using Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry and Assessment of Health Risk

Phthalates are widely used plasticizers that can cause endocrine disruption, mutagenicity, and carcinogenic effects and can contaminate food through various pathways. Investigations are scanty on phthalate pollution of livestock and poultry meat and their dietary exposure to humans. The present study assessed residual levels of phthalates in unpackaged pork (30 samples) and unpackaged chicken (30 samples) and their relevance to meat consumption and health risks in the Taiwanese population. Phthalate quantity was assessed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry; the materials included diisononyl phthalate, diisodecyl phthalate, benzyl butyl phthalate, di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), and di-n-butyl phthalate. The Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) has established values of tolerable daily intake (TDI) for the five phthalates. The major compound detected was DEHP, which ranged from 0.62 to 0.80 mg/kg in two pork samples, and 0.42-0.45 mg/kg in three chicken samples. Collectively, 8.33% of the phthalate-residue-containing samples tested positive for DEHP. The concentrations of DEHP were lower than the screening value of 1.0 mg/kg, as defined by the TFDA. Health risk was calculated as the estimated daily intake (DI) for any likely adverse effects; the DI of DEHP residues was <1% of the TDI value. The estimated risk was insignificant and considered to be safe, indicating that there is no risk to the health of Taiwanese population due to meat consumption. However, it is suggested that a phthalate monitoring program in meat should be instituted for any possible effects in future on human health.