A comparison of different chemical sanitizers for inactivating Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes in solution and on apples, lettuce, strawberries, and cantaloupe

Ozone (3 ppm), chlorine dioxide (3 and 5 ppm), chlorinated trisodium phosphate (100- and 200-ppm chlorine), and peroxyacetic acid (80 ppm) were assessed for reduction of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes in an aqueous model system and on inoculated produce. Initially, sanitizer solutions were inoculated to contain approximately 10(6) CFU/ml of either pathogen, after which aliquots were removed at 15-s intervals over a period of 5 min and approximately plated to determine log reduction times. Produce was dip inoculated to contain approximately 10(6) E. coli O157:H7 or L. monocytogenes CFU/g, held overnight, submerged in each sanitizer solution for up to 5 min, and then examined for survivors. In the model system study, both pathogens decreased > 5 log following 2 to 5 min of exposure, with ozone being most effective (15 s), followed by chlorine dioxide (19 to 21 s), chlorinated trisodium phosphate (25 to 27 s), and peroxyacetic acid (70 to 75 s). On produce, ozone and chlorine dioxide (5 ppm) were most effective, reducing populations approximately 5.6 log, with chlorine dioxide (3 ppm) and chlorinated trisodium phosphate (200 ppm chlorine) resulting in maximum reductions of approximately 4.9 log. Peroxyacetic acid was the least effective sanitizer (approximately 4.4-log reductions). After treatment, produce samples were stored at 4 degrees C for 9 days and quantitatively examined for E. coli O157:H7, L. monocytogenes, mesophilic aerobic bacteria, yeasts, and molds. Populations of both pathogens remained relatively unchanged, whereas numbers of mesophilic bacteria increased 2 to 3 log during storage. Final mold and yeast populations were significantly higher than initial counts for chlorine dioxide- and ozone-treated produce. Using the nonextended triangle test, whole apples exposed to chlorinated trisodium phosphate (200 ppm chlorine) and shredded lettuce exposed to peroxyacetic acid were statistically different from the other treated samples.

Determination of degradation products and pathways of mancozeb and ethylenethiourea (ETU) in solutions due to ozone and chlorine dioxide treatments

The objective of the present study was to determine the degradation products of mancozeb and ethylenethiourea (ETU) and elucidate the possible degradation pathways in solution as a result of chemical oxidation using ozone and chlorine dioxide. This study was developed in a solution at 100 ppm of mancozeb and ETU concentration over the course of 60 min. Two different oxidizing agents used in this study were (1) ozone at 3 ppm and (2) chlorine dioxide at 20 ppm. Ozone was continuously provided throughout the course of the reaction. Degradation products were detected with high-resolution GC-MS. The total analysis time was 4 min per sample combined with rapid GC separation and time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS). Hydrolysis of mancozeb led to m/z 144 ion fragmentation, which is 5-imidazoledithiocarboxylic acid, as a major degradation product. ETU showed M(+) 102, which corresponds to its mass, indicating this compound was stable in distilled water and did not undergo hydrolysis during 60 min. The average retention times of mancozeb and ETU were approximately 181-189 and 210-230 s, respectively. Ozonation of mancozeb produced ETU as a major product. Treatment of ETU with ozone produced several degradation compounds. From prolonged ozonation, the CS(2) or CS group was removed. Overall, several byproducts identified were M(+) 60, M(+) 84, M(+) 163, M(+) 117, and M(+) 267 by ozone and M(+) 117, M(+) 86, and M(+) 163 by chlorine dioxide treatment. Several of these have been reported, but others have never been reported previously.

Chlorine and chlorine dioxide treatment to reduce or remove EBDCs and ETU residues in a solution

Calcium hypochlorite (Ca(OCl)(2)) and chlorine dioxide (ClO(2)), common disinfecting and bleaching chemicals used in the food industry, are potent oxidizing agents. In this paper, the degradation effects of chlorine dioxide on mancozeb and ethylenethiourea (ETU) residues were investigated in a model system and compared with those of liquid chlorine, under various conditions such as differing concentration, pH, reaction time, and temperature. All samples were analyzed for residues by GLC and HPLC. Rate of mancozeb degradation was dependent on pH, with pH 4.6 being the most effective. Mancozeb residues decreased 40-100% with chlorine and chlorine dioxide treatments. ETU residue concentrations in mancozeb solutions were monitored over 60 min. Under controlled conditions, the ETU residue concentrations increased up to 15 min reaction time and then decreased in all three pH ranges. Treatment with both chlorine and chlorine dioxide at pH 4.6, yielded no ETU residues at both 10 and 21 degrees C. The results show that chlorine dioxide gives excellent degradation effects at lower concentrations than liquid chlorine.

Ozone and hydrogen peroxyacetic acid treatment to reduce or remove EBDCs and ETU residues in a solution

Laboratory studies were conducted in a model system to determine the effects of ozone (1 and 3 ppm) and hydrogen peroxyacetic acid (HPA) (5 and 50 ppm) at pH 4.6, 7.0, and 10.7 and at 10 and 21 degrees C on the degradation of mancozeb in solution over a 30 min period. All samples were analyzed for residues by GLC and HPLC. Ozonation and HPA treatment were effective in degrading mancozeb in solution. Rate of mancozeb degradation was dependent on pH, with the fastest rate at pH 7.0. Ethylenethiourea (ETU) residue concentrations in the mancozeb solutions were monitored over 60 min. Under controlled conditions, the ETU residue concentrations increased during the 15 min reaction time and then decreased for all three pH values. At 3 ppm of ozone treatment, no ETU residues were detected at all three pH ranges after 15 min of reaction time. Degradation of ETU by HPA was greatest at pH 4.6, and no ETU residues remained after 5 min at either 5 or 50 ppm. The results showed that ozone and HPA gave excellent degradation of pesticide residues depending on pH and temperature. These experiments indicated the potential for the removal of pesticide residues on fruit and in processed products.

Postharvest treatments for the reduction of mancozeb in fresh apples

The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of chlorine, chlorine dioxide, ozone, and hydrogen peroxyacetic acid (HPA) treatments on the degradation of mancozeb and ethylenethiourea (ETU) in apples. This study was based on model experiments at neutral pH and temperature. Fresh apples were treated with two different levels of mancozeb (1 and 10 microg/mL). Several of the treatments were effective in reducing or removing mancozeb and ETU residues on spiked apples. Mancozeb residues decreased 56-99% with chlorine and 36-87% with chlorine dioxide treatments. ETU was completely degraded by 500 ppm of calcium hypochlorite and 10 ppm of chlorine dioxide at a 1 ppm spike level. However, at a 10 ppm spike level, the effectiveness of ETU degradation was lower than observed at 1 ppm level. Mancozeb residues decreased 56-97% with ozone treatment. At 1 and 3 ppm of ozone, no ETU residue was detected at 1 ppm of spiked mancozeb after both 3 and 30 min. HPA was also effective in degrading the mancozeb residues, with 44-99% reduction depending on treatment time and HPA concentrations. ETU was completely degraded at 500 ppm of HPA after 30 min of reaction time. These treatments indicated good potential for the removal of pesticide residues on fruit and in processed products.

Reduction of azinphos-methyl, chlorpyrifos, esfenvalerate, and methomyl residues in processed apples

McIntosh, Red Delicious, and Golden Delicious from two years of experimental spray programs using azinphos-methyl, chlorpyrifos, esfenvalerate, and methomyl were processed into frozen apple slices, applesauce, single-strength juice, and juice concentrate. Residue levels were expressed as micrograms per 150 g of apple or the equivalent amount of apple product to calculate the percentage change in these pesticides brought about by processing. Producing single-strength apple juice reduced azinphos-methyl, chlorpyrifos, esfenvalerate, and methomyl residues by 97.6, 100, 97.8, and 78.1%, respectively. Production of applesauce reduced all four compounds by >/=95%. Azinphos-methyl, chlorpyrifos, esfenvalerate, and methomyl residues were reduced in apple slices by 94.1, 85.7, 98.6, and 94.7%, respectively. Processing is shown to be very effective in reducing the levels of these pesticides.

The Decomposition of Daminozide (Alar) to Form Unsymmetrical Dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) in Heated, pH Adjusted, Canned Solutions

Processing conditions were chosen to determine the influence of temperature, pH, and processing on model solutions containing daminozide residues. Daminozide (succinamic acid 2, 2-dimethylhydrazide) fortified solutions (12.5 ppm) containing 50mM NaH₂PO₄ and 24% sucrose (w/w) were adjusted to pH 3.0, 3.6, or 4.0 and either heated (100°C) for 0, 5, 10, or 15 min in sealed cans and cooled or heated (80°C) for 0, 5, or 10 min in open cans, sealed, heated (100°C) for 5 min, and cooled. Daminozide degradation due to heating was less than the HPLC detection limit (1.5 ppm) for all of the treatments. Unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) concentration was significantly affected by heating time, pH, and processing. Heating of daminozide solutions in sealed cans produced approximately 1 ppm of UDMH for every minute of heating at 100°C. Heating of daminozide solutions in open cans at 80°C resulted in simultaneous production of UDMH in the solution and loss of UDMH through volatilization. Maximum degradation of daminozide was observed at pH 3.6.