March 2011

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Climate change and food crops: Desert Energy Project

29.03.2010: Ecological disaster and humanitarian violations of corrupt oil production in Nigeria [1]

Nigeria serves as a major supplier of crude oil to the gasoline-thirsty United States, meaning interruptions to supply can affect prices.On October 1, 1960, Nigeria gained its independence from the United Kingdom. During the oil boom of the 1970s billions of dollars benefited the northern military group in detriment of the Nigerian people and its economy. Nigeria re-achieved democracy in 1999 after 33 years of military rule. Since then billions of oil money, disappear in the hands of a corrupt democratic government. Oil business is under the control of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. which works with the Royal Dutch Shell PLC , the US Chevron Corp, FrenchTotal SA and ExxonMobil Corp. Transparency International criticizes their poor accountability records.

Ecological disaster comparable to one Exxon Valdez disaster per year

Oil spills in the Nigerian delta due to leaking pipelines and sporadic sabotages amounte up to 550 million gallons spreading all over the delta at a rate roughly comparable to one Exxon Valdez disaster every year. Environmentalists and community activists blame corroding pipelines of Shell for the spills.

Loss of five to ten per cent of mangroves forests were caused by oil spills. Bad waste management and improper sewage treatment, deforestation, soil degradation, and global warming add to the environmental problems in Nigeria.

An area of mangroves that has been destroyed by petroleum may not be suitable for native mangrove, Rhizophora racemosa. A non-native invasive species of palm, Nypa fruticans, quickly colonizes the area. It has a shallower root system that destabilizes the banks along the waterways, further impacting sediment distribution lower in the delta system.

Mangrove forests have been a major source of wood for local people. Mangroves also provide essential habitat for rare and endangered species like the manatee and pygmy hippopotamus.

Gas flaring, acid rain, pipeline leaks and resulting explosions endanger people life such as happened in October 1998, near the village of Jesse causing the death of over 700 people, Respiratory problems, coughing up blood, skin rashes, tumours, gastrointestinal problems, different forms of cancer, and malnourishment are reported by many authors.

Humanitarian violations [2]

Ethnocentrism, tribalism, and religious persecution play a role in the relationship between Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba ethnic groups marked by corruption and graft.

A US lawsuit accused Shell of playing a role in the 1995 executions of activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and other civilians by Nigeria’s former military regime. Shell reached a $15.5 million settlement to end the lawsuit in 2009, but acknowledged no wrongdoing.

Trace heavy metals associated with oil spills in Niger [3]

Osuji et al. 2004 determined the Ni, V, Cu, Cd, and Pb contamination of soil resulting of the Ebocha-8 oil-spill in Obiobi/Obrikom prospect area of Niger Delta. Tha authors report that Ni, Cu, and Pb were more enhanced at surface depth, because such heavy metals remain absorbed at the 10-cm region, even after many years. However, other factors such as the physicochemical characteristics of soils, such as soil pH and organic-matter content, relative mobility of these metals, intense rainfall and flooding must also be considered when studying soil contamination by oil spills. Absorption by plants may introduce these heavy metals in the food chain.

Accute heath effects of oil spill in Nigeria [4]

Ordinioha and Sawyer 2000, studied the effects of an oil spill in Etiama Nembe, in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Mists and fumes generated by the crude oil spill caused acute health effects, albeit mild and transient. The authors stress the importance of such exposition recognizing and giving adequate attention to the increase in the disease burden imposed on the affected population.

Ha, Lee and Cheong 2008 reviewed the results of studies on the effects of the Hebei Spirit oil spill in Korea and others such as the Exxon Valdes, Braer, Sea Empress, Erika, Nakhodka, Prestige and Tasman Spirit oil spills. Late or mid-term investigated health effects included pulmonary function, endocrine, immunology, genetic toxicity, socio-psychological exposure and the psychosocial health effects resulting of economic and social impact of the spills should always be considered. [5]

Nigeria air polluted by flared gases [6]

Nigeria, like any other developing nation, faces heavy contamination of the air by petroleum hydrocarbons from refineries, flared gases, dusts, and fumes of metal-smelting and cement works, odorous gases of chemical and allied industries, carbon monoxide and oxides of sulphur and nitrogen of internal combustion engines, the charred particulates and sulphur dioxide emissions of the steel industries.

Osuji and Avwiri 2005 call to assess data of atmospheric pollution at the Niger Delta region and other oil and gas producing areas which should adhere to standards or regulations of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) [7] or the erstwhile Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) [8].

Nigeria samples are polluted by hydrocarbons of oil origin [9]

Udoetok and Osuji 2008 report that samples from an oil polluted site in Niger-delta, Nigeria. revealed a high contamination with n-alkanes within the n-C8-n-C23 region. According to the data of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) fractions, there must have been a combustion and/or a bush fire prior to the oil spill incidence. The oil spill origin was confirmed by the benzo (a) anthracene to chrysene ratio of 0.24 confirms the petrogenic origin of the spilled oil because chrysene is a fossil PAH.

[1] Oil firm projects showcased ahead of Nigerian poll. blame Shell for the spills, pointing at the company’s aging pipelines and poor cleanup efforts.Arab News 27.03.2010

http://arabnews.com/world/article332102.ece

[2] Threats to the livelihood of communities by the operations of multinational oil corporations in the oil-producing areas of the Niger Delta. Nigeria Planet

http://www.nigeria-planet.com/Oil-And-Nigeria2.html

[3] Osuji LC, Onojake CM. Trace heavy metals associated with crude oil: a case study of Ebocha-8 oil-spill-polluted site in Niger Delta, Nigeria. Chem Biodivers. 2004 Nov;1(11):1708-15.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17191811

[4] Ordinioha B, Sawyer W. Acute health effects of a crude oil spill in a rural community in Bayelsa State, Nigeria.Niger J Med. 2010 Apr-Jun;19(2):140-4.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20499335

[5] Ha M, Lee WJ, Lee S, Cheong HK. A literature review on health effects of exposure to oil spill. J Prev Med Public Health. 2008 Sep;41(5):345-54.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18827503

[6] Osuji LC, Avwiri GO: Flared gases and other pollutants associated with air quality in industrial areas of Nigeria: an overview. Chem Biodivers. 2005 Oct;2(10):1277-89.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17191928

[7] Guidelines for the Establishment of Hydrocarbon Processing Plants (Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals) in Nigeria.

http://www.dprnigeria.com/forms_procedures/GUIDELINES_FOR_THE_ESTABLISHMENT_OF_HYDROCARBON_

%20PROCESSING_PLANTS_.pdf

[8] Echefu N and .Akpofure E: Environmental impact assessment in Nigeria: regulatory background and procedural framework.

http://www.iaia.org/publicdocuments/EIA/CaseStudies/EIANigeria.pdf

[9] Udoetok IA, Osuji LC. Gas chromatographic fingerprinting of crude oil from Idu-Ekpeye oil spillage site in Niger-delta, Nigeria. Environ Monit Assess. 2008 Jun;141(1-3):359-64.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17912599

26.03.2011: Nanotoxicology

Gardea et al. 2011 write that the toxicity of nanoparticles and nanomaterials in respect to edible plants is not sufficiently known. Nanomaterials. The studies regarding the interaction of nanomaterials with plants such as the effect on seed germination or 15-day-old seedlings and biotransformation of nanomaterials in food crops. The possible transmission and biomagnification of the nanomaterials to the next generation of plants and its effects on the food chain has not been studied. The authors are also concerned with the possible toxic effect of The authors conclude that knowledge of plant toxicity of nanomaterials must be further investigated.

26.03.2011: Nanotoxicology Gardea et al. 2011 write that the toxicity of nanoparticles and nanomaterials in respect to edible plants is not sufficiently known. Nanomaterials. The studies regarding the interaction of nanomaterials with plants such as the effect on seed germination or 15-day-old seedlings and biotransformation of nanomaterials in food crops. The possible transmission and biomagnification of the nanomaterials to the next generation of plants and its effects on the food chain has not been studied. The authors are also concerned with the possible toxic effect of The authors conclude that knowledge of plant toxicity of nanomaterials must be further investigated. %5B1%5D The field of nanotoxicology studies the biocompatibility and potential adverse effects of novel nanomaterials. Carbon nanotubes are widely being used. Their risk to the environment and humans health rise controversies. Ali-Boucetta et al. 2011 criticize toxicology studies based on cell culture models which are unreliable and their results are not conclusive. The authors present novel assay for the study and determination of the cytotoxic profile of carbon nanotubes. The presented assay is rapid, reliable and suitable for the screening of a broad spectrum of carbon nanotube, write the authors. %5B2%5D Hazard assessment of Nanomaterials %5B3%5D The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization %28NEDO%29 Project of Japan assessed the physicochemical properties of titanium dioxide, fullerenes and carbon nanotubes related to inhalation and intratracheal studies. Based on their findings the authors propose an acceptable exposure concentration of titanium dioxide and fullerene of 1.2 mg/m%283%29 and 0.8 mg/m%283%29 respirable dust in working environment, respectively. Bionanotechnology %5B4%5D Bionanotechnology blends the areas of nanotechnology and biological sciences. It includes the fabrication of nanomaterials catalysts of biological sciences and develop further understanding understanding and development of drug-delivery systems, novel biosensors for clinical diagnostics. Bionanotechnology also focuses on high-throughput screening and understanding how nanomaterials interact in vivo. Genotoxicity of quantum dots fluorophores %28Qds%29 %5B5%5D Quantum dots %28QDs%29 are a novel class of inorganic fluorophore have photophysical properties which turn them attractive as a biomarker and are useful in molecular biomedical imaging. Khalil et al. 2011 assessed the genotoxicity of CdSe quantum dots in mice. The authors report that exposure to high doses of CdSe quantum dots which were turned water soluble using mercaptoacetic acid %28MAA-QDs%29, doped or not with cobalt may cause genetic damage. The authors suggest that this genotoxicity results from free radical- induced oxidative stress. Detection of low bacterial concentration with nanotructured porous SIO2 device %5B6%5D Massad-Ivanir et al. 2011 developed a biosensing platform for bacteria detection %28E. coli K12 as a model system%29 based on nanostructured oxidized porous Silicon %28PsiO2%29. The biosensor is designed to directly capture the target bacteria cells on its surface with no prior sample processing with a detection limit of E. coli K12 bacteria is 104 cell/ml, within several minutes. %5B1%5D Rico CM, Majumdar S, Duarte-Gardea M, Peralta-Videa JR, Gardea-Torresdey JL: Interaction of Nanoparticles with Edible Plants and Their Possible Implications in the Food Chain J. Agric. Food Chem., Article ASAP. March 15, 2011.
http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf104517j American Chemical Society %5B2%5D Ali-Boucetta H, Al-Jamal KT, Kostarelos K: Cytotoxic Assessment of Carbon Nanotube Interaction with Cell Cultures. Methods Mol Biol. 2011;726:299-312. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21424457 %5B3%5D Morimoto Y, Kobayashi N, Shinohara N, Myojo T, Tanaka I, Nakanishi J: Hazard assessments of manufactured nanomaterials. J Occup Health. 2010 Dec 14;52%286%29:325-34. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21422717 %5B4%5D Honek JF, Francq A, Carty AJ. Research Spotlight: Bionanotechnology: small can have a big impact in the medical sciences: a WIN-win situation. Part 1. Future Med Chem. 2010 Oct;2%2810%29:1515-22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21426145 %5B5%5D Khalil WK, Girgis E, Emam AN, Mohamed M, Rao KV. Genotoxicity evaluation of nanomaterials: DNA damage, micronuclei and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine induced by magnetic doped CdSe quantum dots in male mice. Chem Res Toxicol. 2011 Mar 22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21425850 %5B6%5D Massad-Ivanir N, Shtenberg G, Tzur A, Krepker M, Segal E. Engineering Nanostructured Porous SIO2 Surfaces for Bacteria Detection via %E2%80%9CDirect-Cell-Capture%E2%80%9D. Anal Chem. 2011 Mar 22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21425788

[1]

The field of nanotoxicology studies the biocompatibility and potential adverse effects of novel nanomaterials. Carbon nanotubes are widely being used. Their risk to the environment and humans health rise controversies. Ali-Boucetta et al. 2011 criticize toxicology studies based on cell culture models which are unreliable and their results are not conclusive. The authors present novel assay for the study and determination of the cytotoxic profile of carbon nanotubes. The presented assay is rapid, reliable and suitable for the screening of a broad spectrum of carbon nanotube, write the authors. 26.03.2011: Nanotoxicology Gardea et al. 2011 write that the toxicity of nanoparticles and nanomaterials in respect to edible plants is not sufficiently known. Nanomaterials. The studies regarding the interaction of nanomaterials with plants such as the effect on seed germination or 15-day-old seedlings and biotransformation of nanomaterials in food crops. The possible transmission and biomagnification of the nanomaterials to the next generation of plants and its effects on the food chain has not been studied. The authors are also concerned with the possible toxic effect of The authors conclude that knowledge of plant toxicity of nanomaterials must be further investigated. %5B1%5D The field of nanotoxicology studies the biocompatibility and potential adverse effects of novel nanomaterials. Carbon nanotubes are widely being used. Their risk to the environment and humans health rise controversies. Ali-Boucetta et al. 2011 criticize toxicology studies based on cell culture models which are unreliable and their results are not conclusive. The authors present novel assay for the study and determination of the cytotoxic profile of carbon nanotubes. The presented assay is rapid, reliable and suitable for the screening of a broad spectrum of carbon nanotube, write the authors. %5B2%5D Hazard assessment of Nanomaterials %5B3%5D The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization %28NEDO%29 Project of Japan assessed the physicochemical properties of titanium dioxide, fullerenes and carbon nanotubes related to inhalation and intratracheal studies. Based on their findings the authors propose an acceptable exposure concentration of titanium dioxide and fullerene of 1.2 mg/m%283%29 and 0.8 mg/m%283%29 respirable dust in working environment, respectively. Bionanotechnology %5B4%5D Bionanotechnology blends the areas of nanotechnology and biological sciences. It includes the fabrication of nanomaterials catalysts of biological sciences and develop further understanding understanding and development of drug-delivery systems, novel biosensors for clinical diagnostics. Bionanotechnology also focuses on high-throughput screening and understanding how nanomaterials interact in vivo. Genotoxicity of quantum dots fluorophores %28Qds%29 %5B5%5D Quantum dots %28QDs%29 are a novel class of inorganic fluorophore have photophysical properties which turn them attractive as a biomarker and are useful in molecular biomedical imaging. Khalil et al. 2011 assessed the genotoxicity of CdSe quantum dots in mice. The authors report that exposure to high doses of CdSe quantum dots which were turned water soluble using mercaptoacetic acid %28MAA-QDs%29, doped or not with cobalt may cause genetic damage. The authors suggest that this genotoxicity results from free radical- induced oxidative stress. Detection of low bacterial concentration with nanotructured porous SIO2 device %5B6%5D Massad-Ivanir et al. 2011 developed a biosensing platform for bacteria detection %28E. coli K12 as a model system%29 based on nanostructured oxidized porous Silicon %28PsiO2%29. The biosensor is designed to directly capture the target bacteria cells on its surface with no prior sample processing with a detection limit of E. coli K12 bacteria is 104 cell/ml, within several minutes. %5B1%5D Rico CM, Majumdar S, Duarte-Gardea M, Peralta-Videa JR, Gardea-Torresdey JL: Interaction of Nanoparticles with Edible Plants and Their Possible Implications in the Food Chain J. Agric. Food Chem., Article ASAP. March 15, 2011. http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf104517jAmerican Chemical Society %5B2%5D Ali-Boucetta H, Al-Jamal KT, Kostarelos K: Cytotoxic Assessment of Carbon Nanotube Interaction with Cell Cultures. Methods Mol Biol. 2011;726:299-312. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21424457 %5B3%5D Morimoto Y, Kobayashi N, Shinohara N, Myojo T, Tanaka I, Nakanishi J: Hazard assessments of manufactured nanomaterials. J Occup Health. 2010 Dec 14;52%286%29:325-34. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21422717 %5B4%5D Honek JF, Francq A, Carty AJ. Research Spotlight: Bionanotechnology: small can have a big impact in the medical sciences: a WIN-win situation. Part 1. Future Med Chem. 2010 Oct;2%2810%29:1515-22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21426145 %5B5%5D Khalil WK, Girgis E, Emam AN, Mohamed M, Rao KV. Genotoxicity evaluation of nanomaterials: DNA damage, micronuclei and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine induced by magnetic doped CdSe quantum dots in male mice. Chem Res Toxicol. 2011 Mar 22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21425850 %5B6%5D Massad-Ivanir N, Shtenberg G, Tzur A, Krepker M, Segal E. Engineering Nanostructured Porous SIO2 Surfaces for Bacteria Detection via %E2%80%9CDirect-Cell-Capture%E2%80%9D. Anal Chem. 2011 Mar 22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21425788
[2]

Hazard assessment of Nanomaterials 26.03.2011: Nanotoxicology Gardea et al. 2011 write that the toxicity of nanoparticles and nanomaterials in respect to edible plants is not sufficiently known. Nanomaterials. The studies regarding the interaction of nanomaterials with plants such as the effect on seed germination or 15-day-old seedlings and biotransformation of nanomaterials in food crops. The possible transmission and biomagnification of the nanomaterials to the next generation of plants and its effects on the food chain has not been studied. The authors are also concerned with the possible toxic effect of The authors conclude that knowledge of plant toxicity of nanomaterials must be further investigated. %5B1%5D The field of nanotoxicology studies the biocompatibility and potential adverse effects of novel nanomaterials. Carbon nanotubes are widely being used. Their risk to the environment and humans health rise controversies. Ali-Boucetta et al. 2011 criticize toxicology studies based on cell culture models which are unreliable and their results are not conclusive. The authors present novel assay for the study and determination of the cytotoxic profile of carbon nanotubes. The presented assay is rapid, reliable and suitable for the screening of a broad spectrum of carbon nanotube, write the authors. %5B2%5D Hazard assessment of Nanomaterials %5B3%5D The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization %28NEDO%29 Project of Japan assessed the physicochemical properties of titanium dioxide, fullerenes and carbon nanotubes related to inhalation and intratracheal studies. Based on their findings the authors propose an acceptable exposure concentration of titanium dioxide and fullerene of 1.2 mg/m%283%29 and 0.8 mg/m%283%29 respirable dust in working environment, respectively. Bionanotechnology %5B4%5D Bionanotechnology blends the areas of nanotechnology and biological sciences. It includes the fabrication of nanomaterials catalysts of biological sciences and develop further understanding understanding and development of drug-delivery systems, novel biosensors for clinical diagnostics. Bionanotechnology also focuses on high-throughput screening and understanding how nanomaterials interact in vivo. Genotoxicity of quantum dots fluorophores %28Qds%29 %5B5%5D Quantum dots %28QDs%29 are a novel class of inorganic fluorophore have photophysical properties which turn them attractive as a biomarker and are useful in molecular biomedical imaging. Khalil et al. 2011 assessed the genotoxicity of CdSe quantum dots in mice. The authors report that exposure to high doses of CdSe quantum dots which were turned water soluble using mercaptoacetic acid %28MAA-QDs%29, doped or not with cobalt may cause genetic damage. The authors suggest that this genotoxicity results from free radical- induced oxidative stress. Detection of low bacterial concentration with nanotructured porous SIO2 device %5B6%5D Massad-Ivanir et al. 2011 developed a biosensing platform for bacteria detection %28E. coli K12 as a model system%29 based on nanostructured oxidized porous Silicon %28PsiO2%29. The biosensor is designed to directly capture the target bacteria cells on its surface with no prior sample processing with a detection limit of E. coli K12 bacteria is 104 cell/ml, within several minutes. %5B1%5D Rico CM, Majumdar S, Duarte-Gardea M, Peralta-Videa JR, Gardea-Torresdey JL: Interaction of Nanoparticles with Edible Plants and Their Possible Implications in the Food Chain J. Agric. Food Chem., Article ASAP. March 15, 2011. http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf104517jAmerican Chemical Society %5B2%5D Ali-Boucetta H, Al-Jamal KT, Kostarelos K: Cytotoxic Assessment of Carbon Nanotube Interaction with Cell Cultures. Methods Mol Biol. 2011;726:299-312. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21424457 %5B3%5D Morimoto Y, Kobayashi N, Shinohara N, Myojo T, Tanaka I, Nakanishi J: Hazard assessments of manufactured nanomaterials. J Occup Health. 2010 Dec 14;52%286%29:325-34. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21422717 %5B4%5D Honek JF, Francq A, Carty AJ. Research Spotlight: Bionanotechnology: small can have a big impact in the medical sciences: a WIN-win situation. Part 1. Future Med Chem. 2010 Oct;2%2810%29:1515-22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21426145 %5B5%5D Khalil WK, Girgis E, Emam AN, Mohamed M, Rao KV. Genotoxicity evaluation of nanomaterials: DNA damage, micronuclei and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine induced by magnetic doped CdSe quantum dots in male mice. Chem Res Toxicol. 2011 Mar 22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21425850 %5B6%5D Massad-Ivanir N, Shtenberg G, Tzur A, Krepker M, Segal E. Engineering Nanostructured Porous SIO2 Surfaces for Bacteria Detection via %E2%80%9CDirect-Cell-Capture%E2%80%9D. Anal Chem. 2011 Mar 22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21425788
[3]

The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) Project of Japan assessed the physicochemical properties of titanium dioxide, fullerenes and carbon nanotubes related to inhalation and intratracheal studies. Based on their findings the authors propose an acceptable exposure concentration of titanium dioxide and fullerene of 1.2 mg/m(3) and 0.8 mg/m(3) respirable dust in working environment, respectively.

Bionanotechnology 26.03.2011: Nanotoxicology Gardea et al. 2011 write that the toxicity of nanoparticles and nanomaterials in respect to edible plants is not sufficiently known. Nanomaterials. The studies regarding the interaction of nanomaterials with plants such as the effect on seed germination or 15-day-old seedlings and biotransformation of nanomaterials in food crops. The possible transmission and biomagnification of the nanomaterials to the next generation of plants and its effects on the food chain has not been studied. The authors are also concerned with the possible toxic effect of The authors conclude that knowledge of plant toxicity of nanomaterials must be further investigated. %5B1%5D The field of nanotoxicology studies the biocompatibility and potential adverse effects of novel nanomaterials. Carbon nanotubes are widely being used. Their risk to the environment and humans health rise controversies. Ali-Boucetta et al. 2011 criticize toxicology studies based on cell culture models which are unreliable and their results are not conclusive. The authors present novel assay for the study and determination of the cytotoxic profile of carbon nanotubes. The presented assay is rapid, reliable and suitable for the screening of a broad spectrum of carbon nanotube, write the authors. %5B2%5D Hazard assessment of Nanomaterials %5B3%5D The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization %28NEDO%29 Project of Japan assessed the physicochemical properties of titanium dioxide, fullerenes and carbon nanotubes related to inhalation and intratracheal studies. Based on their findings the authors propose an acceptable exposure concentration of titanium dioxide and fullerene of 1.2 mg/m%283%29 and 0.8 mg/m%283%29 respirable dust in working environment, respectively. Bionanotechnology %5B4%5D Bionanotechnology blends the areas of nanotechnology and biological sciences. It includes the fabrication of nanomaterials catalysts of biological sciences and develop further understanding understanding and development of drug-delivery systems, novel biosensors for clinical diagnostics. Bionanotechnology also focuses on high-throughput screening and understanding how nanomaterials interact in vivo. Genotoxicity of quantum dots fluorophores %28Qds%29 %5B5%5D Quantum dots %28QDs%29 are a novel class of inorganic fluorophore have photophysical properties which turn them attractive as a biomarker and are useful in molecular biomedical imaging. Khalil et al. 2011 assessed the genotoxicity of CdSe quantum dots in mice. The authors report that exposure to high doses of CdSe quantum dots which were turned water soluble using mercaptoacetic acid %28MAA-QDs%29, doped or not with cobalt may cause genetic damage. The authors suggest that this genotoxicity results from free radical- induced oxidative stress. Detection of low bacterial concentration with nanotructured porous SIO2 device %5B6%5D Massad-Ivanir et al. 2011 developed a biosensing platform for bacteria detection %28E. coli K12 as a model system%29 based on nanostructured oxidized porous Silicon %28PsiO2%29. The biosensor is designed to directly capture the target bacteria cells on its surface with no prior sample processing with a detection limit of E. coli K12 bacteria is 104 cell/ml, within several minutes. %5B1%5D Rico CM, Majumdar S, Duarte-Gardea M, Peralta-Videa JR, Gardea-Torresdey JL: Interaction of Nanoparticles with Edible Plants and Their Possible Implications in the Food Chain J. Agric. Food Chem., Article ASAP. March 15, 2011. http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf104517jAmerican Chemical Society %5B2%5D Ali-Boucetta H, Al-Jamal KT, Kostarelos K: Cytotoxic Assessment of Carbon Nanotube Interaction with Cell Cultures. Methods Mol Biol. 2011;726:299-312. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21424457 %5B3%5D Morimoto Y, Kobayashi N, Shinohara N, Myojo T, Tanaka I, Nakanishi J: Hazard assessments of manufactured nanomaterials. J Occup Health. 2010 Dec 14;52%286%29:325-34. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21422717 %5B4%5D Honek JF, Francq A, Carty AJ. Research Spotlight: Bionanotechnology: small can have a big impact in the medical sciences: a WIN-win situation. Part 1. Future Med Chem. 2010 Oct;2%2810%29:1515-22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21426145 %5B5%5D Khalil WK, Girgis E, Emam AN, Mohamed M, Rao KV. Genotoxicity evaluation of nanomaterials: DNA damage, micronuclei and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine induced by magnetic doped CdSe quantum dots in male mice. Chem Res Toxicol. 2011 Mar 22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21425850 %5B6%5D Massad-Ivanir N, Shtenberg G, Tzur A, Krepker M, Segal E. Engineering Nanostructured Porous SIO2 Surfaces for Bacteria Detection via %E2%80%9CDirect-Cell-Capture%E2%80%9D. Anal Chem. 2011 Mar 22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21425788
[4]

Bionanotechnology blends the areas of nanotechnology and biological sciences. It includes the fabrication of nanomaterials catalysts of biological sciences and develop further understanding understanding and development of drug-delivery systems, novel biosensors for clinical diagnostics. Bionanotechnology also focuses on high-throughput screening and understanding how nanomaterials interact in vivo.

Genotoxicity of quantum dots fluorophores (Qds) 26.03.2011: Nanotoxicology Gardea et al. 2011 write that the toxicity of nanoparticles and nanomaterials in respect to edible plants is not sufficiently known. Nanomaterials. The studies regarding the interaction of nanomaterials with plants such as the effect on seed germination or 15-day-old seedlings and biotransformation of nanomaterials in food crops. The possible transmission and biomagnification of the nanomaterials to the next generation of plants and its effects on the food chain has not been studied. The authors are also concerned with the possible toxic effect of The authors conclude that knowledge of plant toxicity of nanomaterials must be further investigated. %5B1%5D The field of nanotoxicology studies the biocompatibility and potential adverse effects of novel nanomaterials. Carbon nanotubes are widely being used. Their risk to the environment and humans health rise controversies. Ali-Boucetta et al. 2011 criticize toxicology studies based on cell culture models which are unreliable and their results are not conclusive. The authors present novel assay for the study and determination of the cytotoxic profile of carbon nanotubes. The presented assay is rapid, reliable and suitable for the screening of a broad spectrum of carbon nanotube, write the authors. %5B2%5D Hazard assessment of Nanomaterials %5B3%5D The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization %28NEDO%29 Project of Japan assessed the physicochemical properties of titanium dioxide, fullerenes and carbon nanotubes related to inhalation and intratracheal studies. Based on their findings the authors propose an acceptable exposure concentration of titanium dioxide and fullerene of 1.2 mg/m%283%29 and 0.8 mg/m%283%29 respirable dust in working environment, respectively. Bionanotechnology %5B4%5D Bionanotechnology blends the areas of nanotechnology and biological sciences. It includes the fabrication of nanomaterials catalysts of biological sciences and develop further understanding understanding and development of drug-delivery systems, novel biosensors for clinical diagnostics. Bionanotechnology also focuses on high-throughput screening and understanding how nanomaterials interact in vivo. Genotoxicity of quantum dots fluorophores %28Qds%29 %5B5%5D Quantum dots %28QDs%29 are a novel class of inorganic fluorophore have photophysical properties which turn them attractive as a biomarker and are useful in molecular biomedical imaging. Khalil et al. 2011 assessed the genotoxicity of CdSe quantum dots in mice. The authors report that exposure to high doses of CdSe quantum dots which were turned water soluble using mercaptoacetic acid %28MAA-QDs%29, doped or not with cobalt may cause genetic damage. The authors suggest that this genotoxicity results from free radical- induced oxidative stress. Detection of low bacterial concentration with nanotructured porous SIO2 device %5B6%5D Massad-Ivanir et al. 2011 developed a biosensing platform for bacteria detection %28E. coli K12 as a model system%29 based on nanostructured oxidized porous Silicon %28PsiO2%29. The biosensor is designed to directly capture the target bacteria cells on its surface with no prior sample processing with a detection limit of E. coli K12 bacteria is 104 cell/ml, within several minutes. %5B1%5D Rico CM, Majumdar S, Duarte-Gardea M, Peralta-Videa JR, Gardea-Torresdey JL: Interaction of Nanoparticles with Edible Plants and Their Possible Implications in the Food Chain J. Agric. Food Chem., Article ASAP. March 15, 2011. http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf104517jAmerican Chemical Society %5B2%5D Ali-Boucetta H, Al-Jamal KT, Kostarelos K: Cytotoxic Assessment of Carbon Nanotube Interaction with Cell Cultures. Methods Mol Biol. 2011;726:299-312. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21424457 %5B3%5D Morimoto Y, Kobayashi N, Shinohara N, Myojo T, Tanaka I, Nakanishi J: Hazard assessments of manufactured nanomaterials. J Occup Health. 2010 Dec 14;52%286%29:325-34. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21422717 %5B4%5D Honek JF, Francq A, Carty AJ. Research Spotlight: Bionanotechnology: small can have a big impact in the medical sciences: a WIN-win situation. Part 1. Future Med Chem. 2010 Oct;2%2810%29:1515-22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21426145 %5B5%5D Khalil WK, Girgis E, Emam AN, Mohamed M, Rao KV. Genotoxicity evaluation of nanomaterials: DNA damage, micronuclei and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine induced by magnetic doped CdSe quantum dots in male mice. Chem Res Toxicol. 2011 Mar 22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21425850 %5B6%5D Massad-Ivanir N, Shtenberg G, Tzur A, Krepker M, Segal E. Engineering Nanostructured Porous SIO2 Surfaces for Bacteria Detection via %E2%80%9CDirect-Cell-Capture%E2%80%9D. Anal Chem. 2011 Mar 22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21425788
[5]

Quantum dots (QDs) are a novel class of inorganic fluorophore have photophysical properties which turn them attractive as a biomarker and are useful in molecular biomedical imaging. Khalil et al. 2011 assessed the genotoxicity of CdSe quantum dots in mice. The authors report that exposure to high doses of CdSe quantum dots which were turned water soluble using mercaptoacetic acid (MAA-QDs), doped or not with cobalt may cause genetic damage. The authors suggest that this genotoxicity results from free radical- induced oxidative stress.

Detection of low bacterial concentration with nanotructured porous SIO2 device 26.03.2011: Nanotoxicology Gardea et al. 2011 write that the toxicity of nanoparticles and nanomaterials in respect to edible plants is not sufficiently known. Nanomaterials. The studies regarding the interaction of nanomaterials with plants such as the effect on seed germination or 15-day-old seedlings and biotransformation of nanomaterials in food crops. The possible transmission and biomagnification of the nanomaterials to the next generation of plants and its effects on the food chain has not been studied. The authors are also concerned with the possible toxic effect of The authors conclude that knowledge of plant toxicity of nanomaterials must be further investigated. %5B1%5D The field of nanotoxicology studies the biocompatibility and potential adverse effects of novel nanomaterials. Carbon nanotubes are widely being used. Their risk to the environment and humans health rise controversies. Ali-Boucetta et al. 2011 criticize toxicology studies based on cell culture models which are unreliable and their results are not conclusive. The authors present novel assay for the study and determination of the cytotoxic profile of carbon nanotubes. The presented assay is rapid, reliable and suitable for the screening of a broad spectrum of carbon nanotube, write the authors. %5B2%5D Hazard assessment of Nanomaterials %5B3%5D The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization %28NEDO%29 Project of Japan assessed the physicochemical properties of titanium dioxide, fullerenes and carbon nanotubes related to inhalation and intratracheal studies. Based on their findings the authors propose an acceptable exposure concentration of titanium dioxide and fullerene of 1.2 mg/m%283%29 and 0.8 mg/m%283%29 respirable dust in working environment, respectively. Bionanotechnology %5B4%5D Bionanotechnology blends the areas of nanotechnology and biological sciences. It includes the fabrication of nanomaterials catalysts of biological sciences and develop further understanding understanding and development of drug-delivery systems, novel biosensors for clinical diagnostics. Bionanotechnology also focuses on high-throughput screening and understanding how nanomaterials interact in vivo. Genotoxicity of quantum dots fluorophores %28Qds%29 %5B5%5D Quantum dots %28QDs%29 are a novel class of inorganic fluorophore have photophysical properties which turn them attractive as a biomarker and are useful in molecular biomedical imaging. Khalil et al. 2011 assessed the genotoxicity of CdSe quantum dots in mice. The authors report that exposure to high doses of CdSe quantum dots which were turned water soluble using mercaptoacetic acid %28MAA-QDs%29, doped or not with cobalt may cause genetic damage. The authors suggest that this genotoxicity results from free radical- induced oxidative stress. Detection of low bacterial concentration with nanotructured porous SIO2 device %5B6%5D Massad-Ivanir et al. 2011 developed a biosensing platform for bacteria detection %28E. coli K12 as a model system%29 based on nanostructured oxidized porous Silicon %28PsiO2%29. The biosensor is designed to directly capture the target bacteria cells on its surface with no prior sample processing with a detection limit of E. coli K12 bacteria is 104 cell/ml, within several minutes. %5B1%5D Rico CM, Majumdar S, Duarte-Gardea M, Peralta-Videa JR, Gardea-Torresdey JL: Interaction of Nanoparticles with Edible Plants and Their Possible Implications in the Food Chain J. Agric. Food Chem., Article ASAP. March 15, 2011. http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf104517jAmerican Chemical Society %5B2%5D Ali-Boucetta H, Al-Jamal KT, Kostarelos K: Cytotoxic Assessment of Carbon Nanotube Interaction with Cell Cultures. Methods Mol Biol. 2011;726:299-312. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21424457 %5B3%5D Morimoto Y, Kobayashi N, Shinohara N, Myojo T, Tanaka I, Nakanishi J: Hazard assessments of manufactured nanomaterials. J Occup Health. 2010 Dec 14;52%286%29:325-34. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21422717 %5B4%5D Honek JF, Francq A, Carty AJ. Research Spotlight: Bionanotechnology: small can have a big impact in the medical sciences: a WIN-win situation. Part 1. Future Med Chem. 2010 Oct;2%2810%29:1515-22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21426145 %5B5%5D Khalil WK, Girgis E, Emam AN, Mohamed M, Rao KV. Genotoxicity evaluation of nanomaterials: DNA damage, micronuclei and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine induced by magnetic doped CdSe quantum dots in male mice. Chem Res Toxicol. 2011 Mar 22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21425850 %5B6%5D Massad-Ivanir N, Shtenberg G, Tzur A, Krepker M, Segal E. Engineering Nanostructured Porous SIO2 Surfaces for Bacteria Detection via %E2%80%9CDirect-Cell-Capture%E2%80%9D. Anal Chem. 2011 Mar 22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21425788
[6]

Massad-Ivanir et al. 2011 developed a biosensing platform for bacteria detection (E. coli K12 as a model system) based on nanostructured oxidized porous Silicon (PsiO2). The biosensor is designed to directly capture the target bacteria cells on its surface with no prior sample processing with a detection limit of E. coli K12 bacteria is 104 cell/ml, within several minutes.

[1] Rico CM, Majumdar S, Duarte-Gardea M, Peralta-Videa JR, Gardea-Torresdey JL: Interaction of Nanoparticles with Edible Plants and Their Possible Implications in the Food Chain J. Agric. Food Chem., Article ASAP. March 15, 2011.

26.03.2011: Nanotoxicology Gardea et al. 2011 write that the toxicity of nanoparticles and nanomaterials in respect to edible plants is not sufficiently known. Nanomaterials. The studies regarding the interaction of nanomaterials with plants such as the effect on seed germination or 15-day-old seedlings and biotransformation of nanomaterials in food crops. The possible transmission and biomagnification of the nanomaterials to the next generation of plants and its effects on the food chain has not been studied. The authors are also concerned with the possible toxic effect of The authors conclude that knowledge of plant toxicity of nanomaterials must be further investigated. %5B1%5D The field of nanotoxicology studies the biocompatibility and potential adverse effects of novel nanomaterials. Carbon nanotubes are widely being used. Their risk to the environment and humans health rise controversies. Ali-Boucetta et al. 2011 criticize toxicology studies based on cell culture models which are unreliable and their results are not conclusive. The authors present novel assay for the study and determination of the cytotoxic profile of carbon nanotubes. The presented assay is rapid, reliable and suitable for the screening of a broad spectrum of carbon nanotube, write the authors. %5B2%5D Hazard assessment of Nanomaterials %5B3%5D The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization %28NEDO%29 Project of Japan assessed the physicochemical properties of titanium dioxide, fullerenes and carbon nanotubes related to inhalation and intratracheal studies. Based on their findings the authors propose an acceptable exposure concentration of titanium dioxide and fullerene of 1.2 mg/m%283%29 and 0.8 mg/m%283%29 respirable dust in working environment, respectively. Bionanotechnology %5B4%5D Bionanotechnology blends the areas of nanotechnology and biological sciences. It includes the fabrication of nanomaterials catalysts of biological sciences and develop further understanding understanding and development of drug-delivery systems, novel biosensors for clinical diagnostics. Bionanotechnology also focuses on high-throughput screening and understanding how nanomaterials interact in vivo. Genotoxicity of quantum dots fluorophores %28Qds%29 %5B5%5D Quantum dots %28QDs%29 are a novel class of inorganic fluorophore have photophysical properties which turn them attractive as a biomarker and are useful in molecular biomedical imaging. Khalil et al. 2011 assessed the genotoxicity of CdSe quantum dots in mice. The authors report that exposure to high doses of CdSe quantum dots which were turned water soluble using mercaptoacetic acid %28MAA-QDs%29, doped or not with cobalt may cause genetic damage. The authors suggest that this genotoxicity results from free radical- induced oxidative stress. Detection of low bacterial concentration with nanotructured porous SIO2 device %5B6%5D Massad-Ivanir et al. 2011 developed a biosensing platform for bacteria detection %28E. coli K12 as a model system%29 based on nanostructured oxidized porous Silicon %28PsiO2%29. The biosensor is designed to directly capture the target bacteria cells on its surface with no prior sample processing with a detection limit of E. coli K12 bacteria is 104 cell/ml, within several minutes. %5B1%5D Rico CM, Majumdar S, Duarte-Gardea M, Peralta-Videa JR, Gardea-Torresdey JL: Interaction of Nanoparticles with Edible Plants and Their Possible Implications in the Food Chain J. Agric. Food Chem., Article ASAP. March 15, 2011. http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf104517jAmerican Chemical Society %5B2%5D Ali-Boucetta H, Al-Jamal KT, Kostarelos K: Cytotoxic Assessment of Carbon Nanotube Interaction with Cell Cultures. Methods Mol Biol. 2011;726:299-312. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21424457 %5B3%5D Morimoto Y, Kobayashi N, Shinohara N, Myojo T, Tanaka I, Nakanishi J: Hazard assessments of manufactured nanomaterials. J Occup Health. 2010 Dec 14;52%286%29:325-34. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21422717 %5B4%5D Honek JF, Francq A, Carty AJ. Research Spotlight: Bionanotechnology: small can have a big impact in the medical sciences: a WIN-win situation. Part 1. Future Med Chem. 2010 Oct;2%2810%29:1515-22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21426145 %5B5%5D Khalil WK, Girgis E, Emam AN, Mohamed M, Rao KV. Genotoxicity evaluation of nanomaterials: DNA damage, micronuclei and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine induced by magnetic doped CdSe quantum dots in male mice. Chem Res Toxicol. 2011 Mar 22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21425850 %5B6%5D Massad-Ivanir N, Shtenberg G, Tzur A, Krepker M, Segal E. Engineering Nanostructured Porous SIO2 Surfaces for Bacteria Detection via %E2%80%9CDirect-Cell-Capture%E2%80%9D. Anal Chem. 2011 Mar 22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21425788
http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf104517jAmerican Chemical Society

[2] Ali-Boucetta H, Al-Jamal KT, Kostarelos K: Cytotoxic Assessment of Carbon Nanotube Interaction with Cell Cultures. Methods Mol Biol. 2011;726:299-312.

26.03.2011: Nanotoxicology Gardea et al. 2011 write that the toxicity of nanoparticles and nanomaterials in respect to edible plants is not sufficiently known. Nanomaterials. The studies regarding the interaction of nanomaterials with plants such as the effect on seed germination or 15-day-old seedlings and biotransformation of nanomaterials in food crops. The possible transmission and biomagnification of the nanomaterials to the next generation of plants and its effects on the food chain has not been studied. The authors are also concerned with the possible toxic effect of The authors conclude that knowledge of plant toxicity of nanomaterials must be further investigated. %5B1%5D The field of nanotoxicology studies the biocompatibility and potential adverse effects of novel nanomaterials. Carbon nanotubes are widely being used. Their risk to the environment and humans health rise controversies. Ali-Boucetta et al. 2011 criticize toxicology studies based on cell culture models which are unreliable and their results are not conclusive. The authors present novel assay for the study and determination of the cytotoxic profile of carbon nanotubes. The presented assay is rapid, reliable and suitable for the screening of a broad spectrum of carbon nanotube, write the authors. %5B2%5D Hazard assessment of Nanomaterials %5B3%5D The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization %28NEDO%29 Project of Japan assessed the physicochemical properties of titanium dioxide, fullerenes and carbon nanotubes related to inhalation and intratracheal studies. Based on their findings the authors propose an acceptable exposure concentration of titanium dioxide and fullerene of 1.2 mg/m%283%29 and 0.8 mg/m%283%29 respirable dust in working environment, respectively. Bionanotechnology %5B4%5D Bionanotechnology blends the areas of nanotechnology and biological sciences. It includes the fabrication of nanomaterials catalysts of biological sciences and develop further understanding understanding and development of drug-delivery systems, novel biosensors for clinical diagnostics. Bionanotechnology also focuses on high-throughput screening and understanding how nanomaterials interact in vivo. Genotoxicity of quantum dots fluorophores %28Qds%29 %5B5%5D Quantum dots %28QDs%29 are a novel class of inorganic fluorophore have photophysical properties which turn them attractive as a biomarker and are useful in molecular biomedical imaging. Khalil et al. 2011 assessed the genotoxicity of CdSe quantum dots in mice. The authors report that exposure to high doses of CdSe quantum dots which were turned water soluble using mercaptoacetic acid %28MAA-QDs%29, doped or not with cobalt may cause genetic damage. The authors suggest that this genotoxicity results from free radical- induced oxidative stress. Detection of low bacterial concentration with nanotructured porous SIO2 device %5B6%5D Massad-Ivanir et al. 2011 developed a biosensing platform for bacteria detection %28E. coli K12 as a model system%29 based on nanostructured oxidized porous Silicon %28PsiO2%29. The biosensor is designed to directly capture the target bacteria cells on its surface with no prior sample processing with a detection limit of E. coli K12 bacteria is 104 cell/ml, within several minutes. %5B1%5D Rico CM, Majumdar S, Duarte-Gardea M, Peralta-Videa JR, Gardea-Torresdey JL: Interaction of Nanoparticles with Edible Plants and Their Possible Implications in the Food Chain J. Agric. Food Chem., Article ASAP. March 15, 2011. http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf104517jAmerican Chemical Society %5B2%5D Ali-Boucetta H, Al-Jamal KT, Kostarelos K: Cytotoxic Assessment of Carbon Nanotube Interaction with Cell Cultures. Methods Mol Biol. 2011;726:299-312. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21424457 %5B3%5D Morimoto Y, Kobayashi N, Shinohara N, Myojo T, Tanaka I, Nakanishi J: Hazard assessments of manufactured nanomaterials. J Occup Health. 2010 Dec 14;52%286%29:325-34. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21422717 %5B4%5D Honek JF, Francq A, Carty AJ. Research Spotlight: Bionanotechnology: small can have a big impact in the medical sciences: a WIN-win situation. Part 1. Future Med Chem. 2010 Oct;2%2810%29:1515-22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21426145 %5B5%5D Khalil WK, Girgis E, Emam AN, Mohamed M, Rao KV. Genotoxicity evaluation of nanomaterials: DNA damage, micronuclei and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine induced by magnetic doped CdSe quantum dots in male mice. Chem Res Toxicol. 2011 Mar 22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21425850 %5B6%5D Massad-Ivanir N, Shtenberg G, Tzur A, Krepker M, Segal E. Engineering Nanostructured Porous SIO2 Surfaces for Bacteria Detection via %E2%80%9CDirect-Cell-Capture%E2%80%9D. Anal Chem. 2011 Mar 22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21425788
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21424457

[3] Morimoto Y, Kobayashi N, Shinohara N, Myojo T, Tanaka I, Nakanishi J: Hazard assessments of manufactured nanomaterials. J Occup Health. 2010 Dec 14;52(6):325-34.

26.03.2011: Nanotoxicology Gardea et al. 2011 write that the toxicity of nanoparticles and nanomaterials in respect to edible plants is not sufficiently known. Nanomaterials. The studies regarding the interaction of nanomaterials with plants such as the effect on seed germination or 15-day-old seedlings and biotransformation of nanomaterials in food crops. The possible transmission and biomagnification of the nanomaterials to the next generation of plants and its effects on the food chain has not been studied. The authors are also concerned with the possible toxic effect of The authors conclude that knowledge of plant toxicity of nanomaterials must be further investigated. %5B1%5D The field of nanotoxicology studies the biocompatibility and potential adverse effects of novel nanomaterials. Carbon nanotubes are widely being used. Their risk to the environment and humans health rise controversies. Ali-Boucetta et al. 2011 criticize toxicology studies based on cell culture models which are unreliable and their results are not conclusive. The authors present novel assay for the study and determination of the cytotoxic profile of carbon nanotubes. The presented assay is rapid, reliable and suitable for the screening of a broad spectrum of carbon nanotube, write the authors. %5B2%5D Hazard assessment of Nanomaterials %5B3%5D The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization %28NEDO%29 Project of Japan assessed the physicochemical properties of titanium dioxide, fullerenes and carbon nanotubes related to inhalation and intratracheal studies. Based on their findings the authors propose an acceptable exposure concentration of titanium dioxide and fullerene of 1.2 mg/m%283%29 and 0.8 mg/m%283%29 respirable dust in working environment, respectively. Bionanotechnology %5B4%5D Bionanotechnology blends the areas of nanotechnology and biological sciences. It includes the fabrication of nanomaterials catalysts of biological sciences and develop further understanding understanding and development of drug-delivery systems, novel biosensors for clinical diagnostics. Bionanotechnology also focuses on high-throughput screening and understanding how nanomaterials interact in vivo. Genotoxicity of quantum dots fluorophores %28Qds%29 %5B5%5D Quantum dots %28QDs%29 are a novel class of inorganic fluorophore have photophysical properties which turn them attractive as a biomarker and are useful in molecular biomedical imaging. Khalil et al. 2011 assessed the genotoxicity of CdSe quantum dots in mice. The authors report that exposure to high doses of CdSe quantum dots which were turned water soluble using mercaptoacetic acid %28MAA-QDs%29, doped or not with cobalt may cause genetic damage. The authors suggest that this genotoxicity results from free radical- induced oxidative stress. Detection of low bacterial concentration with nanotructured porous SIO2 device %5B6%5D Massad-Ivanir et al. 2011 developed a biosensing platform for bacteria detection %28E. coli K12 as a model system%29 based on nanostructured oxidized porous Silicon %28PsiO2%29. The biosensor is designed to directly capture the target bacteria cells on its surface with no prior sample processing with a detection limit of E. coli K12 bacteria is 104 cell/ml, within several minutes. %5B1%5D Rico CM, Majumdar S, Duarte-Gardea M, Peralta-Videa JR, Gardea-Torresdey JL: Interaction of Nanoparticles with Edible Plants and Their Possible Implications in the Food Chain J. Agric. Food Chem., Article ASAP. March 15, 2011. http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf104517jAmerican Chemical Society %5B2%5D Ali-Boucetta H, Al-Jamal KT, Kostarelos K: Cytotoxic Assessment of Carbon Nanotube Interaction with Cell Cultures. Methods Mol Biol. 2011;726:299-312. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21424457 %5B3%5D Morimoto Y, Kobayashi N, Shinohara N, Myojo T, Tanaka I, Nakanishi J: Hazard assessments of manufactured nanomaterials. J Occup Health. 2010 Dec 14;52%286%29:325-34. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21422717 %5B4%5D Honek JF, Francq A, Carty AJ. Research Spotlight: Bionanotechnology: small can have a big impact in the medical sciences: a WIN-win situation. Part 1. Future Med Chem. 2010 Oct;2%2810%29:1515-22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21426145 %5B5%5D Khalil WK, Girgis E, Emam AN, Mohamed M, Rao KV. Genotoxicity evaluation of nanomaterials: DNA damage, micronuclei and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine induced by magnetic doped CdSe quantum dots in male mice. Chem Res Toxicol. 2011 Mar 22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21425850 %5B6%5D Massad-Ivanir N, Shtenberg G, Tzur A, Krepker M, Segal E. Engineering Nanostructured Porous SIO2 Surfaces for Bacteria Detection via %E2%80%9CDirect-Cell-Capture%E2%80%9D. Anal Chem. 2011 Mar 22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21425788
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21422717

[4] Honek JF, Francq A, Carty AJ. Research Spotlight: Bionanotechnology: small can have a big impact in the medical sciences: a WIN-win situation. Part 1. Future Med Chem. 2010 Oct;2(10):1515-22.

26.03.2011: Nanotoxicology Gardea et al. 2011 write that the toxicity of nanoparticles and nanomaterials in respect to edible plants is not sufficiently known. Nanomaterials. The studies regarding the interaction of nanomaterials with plants such as the effect on seed germination or 15-day-old seedlings and biotransformation of nanomaterials in food crops. The possible transmission and biomagnification of the nanomaterials to the next generation of plants and its effects on the food chain has not been studied. The authors are also concerned with the possible toxic effect of The authors conclude that knowledge of plant toxicity of nanomaterials must be further investigated. %5B1%5D The field of nanotoxicology studies the biocompatibility and potential adverse effects of novel nanomaterials. Carbon nanotubes are widely being used. Their risk to the environment and humans health rise controversies. Ali-Boucetta et al. 2011 criticize toxicology studies based on cell culture models which are unreliable and their results are not conclusive. The authors present novel assay for the study and determination of the cytotoxic profile of carbon nanotubes. The presented assay is rapid, reliable and suitable for the screening of a broad spectrum of carbon nanotube, write the authors. %5B2%5D Hazard assessment of Nanomaterials %5B3%5D The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization %28NEDO%29 Project of Japan assessed the physicochemical properties of titanium dioxide, fullerenes and carbon nanotubes related to inhalation and intratracheal studies. Based on their findings the authors propose an acceptable exposure concentration of titanium dioxide and fullerene of 1.2 mg/m%283%29 and 0.8 mg/m%283%29 respirable dust in working environment, respectively. Bionanotechnology %5B4%5D Bionanotechnology blends the areas of nanotechnology and biological sciences. It includes the fabrication of nanomaterials catalysts of biological sciences and develop further understanding understanding and development of drug-delivery systems, novel biosensors for clinical diagnostics. Bionanotechnology also focuses on high-throughput screening and understanding how nanomaterials interact in vivo. Genotoxicity of quantum dots fluorophores %28Qds%29 %5B5%5D Quantum dots %28QDs%29 are a novel class of inorganic fluorophore have photophysical properties which turn them attractive as a biomarker and are useful in molecular biomedical imaging. Khalil et al. 2011 assessed the genotoxicity of CdSe quantum dots in mice. The authors report that exposure to high doses of CdSe quantum dots which were turned water soluble using mercaptoacetic acid %28MAA-QDs%29, doped or not with cobalt may cause genetic damage. The authors suggest that this genotoxicity results from free radical- induced oxidative stress. Detection of low bacterial concentration with nanotructured porous SIO2 device %5B6%5D Massad-Ivanir et al. 2011 developed a biosensing platform for bacteria detection %28E. coli K12 as a model system%29 based on nanostructured oxidized porous Silicon %28PsiO2%29. The biosensor is designed to directly capture the target bacteria cells on its surface with no prior sample processing with a detection limit of E. coli K12 bacteria is 104 cell/ml, within several minutes. %5B1%5D Rico CM, Majumdar S, Duarte-Gardea M, Peralta-Videa JR, Gardea-Torresdey JL: Interaction of Nanoparticles with Edible Plants and Their Possible Implications in the Food Chain J. Agric. Food Chem., Article ASAP. March 15, 2011. http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf104517jAmerican Chemical Society %5B2%5D Ali-Boucetta H, Al-Jamal KT, Kostarelos K: Cytotoxic Assessment of Carbon Nanotube Interaction with Cell Cultures. Methods Mol Biol. 2011;726:299-312. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21424457 %5B3%5D Morimoto Y, Kobayashi N, Shinohara N, Myojo T, Tanaka I, Nakanishi J: Hazard assessments of manufactured nanomaterials. J Occup Health. 2010 Dec 14;52%286%29:325-34. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21422717 %5B4%5D Honek JF, Francq A, Carty AJ. Research Spotlight: Bionanotechnology: small can have a big impact in the medical sciences: a WIN-win situation. Part 1. Future Med Chem. 2010 Oct;2%2810%29:1515-22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21426145 %5B5%5D Khalil WK, Girgis E, Emam AN, Mohamed M, Rao KV. Genotoxicity evaluation of nanomaterials: DNA damage, micronuclei and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine induced by magnetic doped CdSe quantum dots in male mice. Chem Res Toxicol. 2011 Mar 22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21425850 %5B6%5D Massad-Ivanir N, Shtenberg G, Tzur A, Krepker M, Segal E. Engineering Nanostructured Porous SIO2 Surfaces for Bacteria Detection via %E2%80%9CDirect-Cell-Capture%E2%80%9D. Anal Chem. 2011 Mar 22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21425788
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21426145

[5] Khalil WK, Girgis E, Emam AN, Mohamed M, Rao KV. Genotoxicity evaluation of nanomaterials: DNA damage, micronuclei and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine induced by magnetic doped CdSe quantum dots in male mice. Chem Res Toxicol. 2011 Mar 22.

26.03.2011: Nanotoxicology Gardea et al. 2011 write that the toxicity of nanoparticles and nanomaterials in respect to edible plants is not sufficiently known. Nanomaterials. The studies regarding the interaction of nanomaterials with plants such as the effect on seed germination or 15-day-old seedlings and biotransformation of nanomaterials in food crops. The possible transmission and biomagnification of the nanomaterials to the next generation of plants and its effects on the food chain has not been studied. The authors are also concerned with the possible toxic effect of The authors conclude that knowledge of plant toxicity of nanomaterials must be further investigated. %5B1%5D The field of nanotoxicology studies the biocompatibility and potential adverse effects of novel nanomaterials. Carbon nanotubes are widely being used. Their risk to the environment and humans health rise controversies. Ali-Boucetta et al. 2011 criticize toxicology studies based on cell culture models which are unreliable and their results are not conclusive. The authors present novel assay for the study and determination of the cytotoxic profile of carbon nanotubes. The presented assay is rapid, reliable and suitable for the screening of a broad spectrum of carbon nanotube, write the authors. %5B2%5D Hazard assessment of Nanomaterials %5B3%5D The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization %28NEDO%29 Project of Japan assessed the physicochemical properties of titanium dioxide, fullerenes and carbon nanotubes related to inhalation and intratracheal studies. Based on their findings the authors propose an acceptable exposure concentration of titanium dioxide and fullerene of 1.2 mg/m%283%29 and 0.8 mg/m%283%29 respirable dust in working environment, respectively. Bionanotechnology %5B4%5D Bionanotechnology blends the areas of nanotechnology and biological sciences. It includes the fabrication of nanomaterials catalysts of biological sciences and develop further understanding understanding and development of drug-delivery systems, novel biosensors for clinical diagnostics. Bionanotechnology also focuses on high-throughput screening and understanding how nanomaterials interact in vivo. Genotoxicity of quantum dots fluorophores %28Qds%29 %5B5%5D Quantum dots %28QDs%29 are a novel class of inorganic fluorophore have photophysical properties which turn them attractive as a biomarker and are useful in molecular biomedical imaging. Khalil et al. 2011 assessed the genotoxicity of CdSe quantum dots in mice. The authors report that exposure to high doses of CdSe quantum dots which were turned water soluble using mercaptoacetic acid %28MAA-QDs%29, doped or not with cobalt may cause genetic damage. The authors suggest that this genotoxicity results from free radical- induced oxidative stress. Detection of low bacterial concentration with nanotructured porous SIO2 device %5B6%5D Massad-Ivanir et al. 2011 developed a biosensing platform for bacteria detection %28E. coli K12 as a model system%29 based on nanostructured oxidized porous Silicon %28PsiO2%29. The biosensor is designed to directly capture the target bacteria cells on its surface with no prior sample processing with a detection limit of E. coli K12 bacteria is 104 cell/ml, within several minutes. %5B1%5D Rico CM, Majumdar S, Duarte-Gardea M, Peralta-Videa JR, Gardea-Torresdey JL: Interaction of Nanoparticles with Edible Plants and Their Possible Implications in the Food Chain J. Agric. Food Chem., Article ASAP. March 15, 2011. http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf104517jAmerican Chemical Society %5B2%5D Ali-Boucetta H, Al-Jamal KT, Kostarelos K: Cytotoxic Assessment of Carbon Nanotube Interaction with Cell Cultures. Methods Mol Biol. 2011;726:299-312. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21424457 %5B3%5D Morimoto Y, Kobayashi N, Shinohara N, Myojo T, Tanaka I, Nakanishi J: Hazard assessments of manufactured nanomaterials. J Occup Health. 2010 Dec 14;52%286%29:325-34. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21422717 %5B4%5D Honek JF, Francq A, Carty AJ. Research Spotlight: Bionanotechnology: small can have a big impact in the medical sciences: a WIN-win situation. Part 1. Future Med Chem. 2010 Oct;2%2810%29:1515-22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21426145 %5B5%5D Khalil WK, Girgis E, Emam AN, Mohamed M, Rao KV. Genotoxicity evaluation of nanomaterials: DNA damage, micronuclei and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine induced by magnetic doped CdSe quantum dots in male mice. Chem Res Toxicol. 2011 Mar 22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21425850 %5B6%5D Massad-Ivanir N, Shtenberg G, Tzur A, Krepker M, Segal E. Engineering Nanostructured Porous SIO2 Surfaces for Bacteria Detection via %E2%80%9CDirect-Cell-Capture%E2%80%9D. Anal Chem. 2011 Mar 22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21425788
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21425850

[6] Massad-Ivanir N, Shtenberg G, Tzur A, Krepker M, Segal E. Engineering Nanostructured Porous SIO2 Surfaces for Bacteria Detection via “Direct-Cell-Capture”. Anal Chem. 2011 Mar 22.

26.03.2011: Nanotoxicology Gardea et al. 2011 write that the toxicity of nanoparticles and nanomaterials in respect to edible plants is not sufficiently known. Nanomaterials. The studies regarding the interaction of nanomaterials with plants such as the effect on seed germination or 15-day-old seedlings and biotransformation of nanomaterials in food crops. The possible transmission and biomagnification of the nanomaterials to the next generation of plants and its effects on the food chain has not been studied. The authors are also concerned with the possible toxic effect of The authors conclude that knowledge of plant toxicity of nanomaterials must be further investigated. %5B1%5D The field of nanotoxicology studies the biocompatibility and potential adverse effects of novel nanomaterials. Carbon nanotubes are widely being used. Their risk to the environment and humans health rise controversies. Ali-Boucetta et al. 2011 criticize toxicology studies based on cell culture models which are unreliable and their results are not conclusive. The authors present novel assay for the study and determination of the cytotoxic profile of carbon nanotubes. The presented assay is rapid, reliable and suitable for the screening of a broad spectrum of carbon nanotube, write the authors. %5B2%5D Hazard assessment of Nanomaterials %5B3%5D The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization %28NEDO%29 Project of Japan assessed the physicochemical properties of titanium dioxide, fullerenes and carbon nanotubes related to inhalation and intratracheal studies. Based on their findings the authors propose an acceptable exposure concentration of titanium dioxide and fullerene of 1.2 mg/m%283%29 and 0.8 mg/m%283%29 respirable dust in working environment, respectively. Bionanotechnology %5B4%5D Bionanotechnology blends the areas of nanotechnology and biological sciences. It includes the fabrication of nanomaterials catalysts of biological sciences and develop further understanding understanding and development of drug-delivery systems, novel biosensors for clinical diagnostics. Bionanotechnology also focuses on high-throughput screening and understanding how nanomaterials interact in vivo. Genotoxicity of quantum dots fluorophores %28Qds%29 %5B5%5D Quantum dots %28QDs%29 are a novel class of inorganic fluorophore have photophysical properties which turn them attractive as a biomarker and are useful in molecular biomedical imaging. Khalil et al. 2011 assessed the genotoxicity of CdSe quantum dots in mice. The authors report that exposure to high doses of CdSe quantum dots which were turned water soluble using mercaptoacetic acid %28MAA-QDs%29, doped or not with cobalt may cause genetic damage. The authors suggest that this genotoxicity results from free radical- induced oxidative stress. Detection of low bacterial concentration with nanotructured porous SIO2 device %5B6%5D Massad-Ivanir et al. 2011 developed a biosensing platform for bacteria detection %28E. coli K12 as a model system%29 based on nanostructured oxidized porous Silicon %28PsiO2%29. The biosensor is designed to directly capture the target bacteria cells on its surface with no prior sample processing with a detection limit of E. coli K12 bacteria is 104 cell/ml, within several minutes. %5B1%5D Rico CM, Majumdar S, Duarte-Gardea M, Peralta-Videa JR, Gardea-Torresdey JL: Interaction of Nanoparticles with Edible Plants and Their Possible Implications in the Food Chain J. Agric. Food Chem., Article ASAP. March 15, 2011. http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf104517jAmerican Chemical Society %5B2%5D Ali-Boucetta H, Al-Jamal KT, Kostarelos K: Cytotoxic Assessment of Carbon Nanotube Interaction with Cell Cultures. Methods Mol Biol. 2011;726:299-312. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21424457 %5B3%5D Morimoto Y, Kobayashi N, Shinohara N, Myojo T, Tanaka I, Nakanishi J: Hazard assessments of manufactured nanomaterials. J Occup Health. 2010 Dec 14;52%286%29:325-34. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21422717 %5B4%5D Honek JF, Francq A, Carty AJ. Research Spotlight: Bionanotechnology: small can have a big impact in the medical sciences: a WIN-win situation. Part 1. Future Med Chem. 2010 Oct;2%2810%29:1515-22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21426145 %5B5%5D Khalil WK, Girgis E, Emam AN, Mohamed M, Rao KV. Genotoxicity evaluation of nanomaterials: DNA damage, micronuclei and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine induced by magnetic doped CdSe quantum dots in male mice. Chem Res Toxicol. 2011 Mar 22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21425850 %5B6%5D Massad-Ivanir N, Shtenberg G, Tzur A, Krepker M, Segal E. Engineering Nanostructured Porous SIO2 Surfaces for Bacteria Detection via %E2%80%9CDirect-Cell-Capture%E2%80%9D. Anal Chem. 2011 Mar 22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21425788
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21425788

23.03.2011: Schistosomiasis, a widespread disease

Schistosoma mekongi [1]

Schistosomiasis is caused by a variety of flatworm species. The blood fluke Schistosoma mekongi is known as a cause oif schistosomiasis in the Mekong River basin in South-East Asia where a mass treatment program in the mid-1990s reduced the prevalence of the disease.

Attwood, Fatih and Upatham 2008 compared DNA sequences of Schistosoma mekongi from the Mekong river and its tributaries in Cambodia, Laos and Malaysia. The authors fopund that Schistosoma mekongi is not confined the lower Mekong River, but migrates northwards from Vietnam, towards Cambodia and Laos. Human population at risk of infection could be up to 10 times greater than previously estimated. The authors expect the disease to spread into Laos.

Schistosoma mekongi is found affecting communities along the Mekong River in northern Cambodia and Laos causing severe intestinal and hepatosplenic disease with high mortality rates Control programmes with praziquantel and information and education campaigns, reduced the numbers of infection, but small foci still exist. According Muth and colleagues 2010 the snail intermediate host, Neotricula aperta, present in the Mekong River and tributaries, may migrate further on. The authors call therefore for guidelines for the control of Sachistosoma mekongi and bilateral efforts between Cambodia and Laos. [2]

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to avoid spread of the schistosomiasis to non-endemic areas [3]

Kato-Hayashi et al. 2010 developed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers specific for human schistosome species (479 bp, Schistosoma mansoni; 365 bp, S. haematobium; 614 bp, S. japonicum; 303 bp, S. mekongi). The authors could detect schistosome DNA in animals one day post infection. This increases the effectiveness of the diagnosis in face of increased importation of schistosomiasis to non-endemic regions by travellers, immigrants and foreign workers coming from endemic areas.

Schistosoma haematobium, a human parasite, and Schistosoma bovis from ruminants are known in Kenya to inhabit the same Bulinus snails, live in the same freshwater habitat, and have similar cercariae. Barber, Mkoji and Loker 2000 described the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) region of the ribosomal gene complex (rDNA) of Kenyan, allowing successful identification of a single S. haematobium cercaria. The method used by the authors may help epidemiological studies to determine whether snails are transmitting a human or an animal schistosome, or both. [4]

Leshem et al 2009 report infection of twelve Israeli travellers infected by Schistosoma mekongi in southern Laos. This report includes also some cases which were infected in northern Laos. [5]

Decreasing efficacy of artesunate in treatment and prevention of schistosomiasis [6]

Artesunate has been extensively used to treat and prevent Schistosoma japonicum infections in China with a high efficacy. Hua et al. 2010 report that the sensitivity of the fluke to artesunate has decreased from 100% to 13,5% during the last 10 years. Identical resistance to the medication have been found in Schistosoma mekongi and Schistosoma mansoni.

Mathematical models of Schistosoma transmission [7]

Ishikawa H, Ohmae reviewed epidemiology and environmental factors related to Schistosoma japonicum and Schistosoma mekongi infections. The authors focused on recent advances in mathematical models of Schistosoma transmission, stressing the usefulness of such models to predict the effects of control measures on suppression of the disease.

[1] Attwood SW, Fatih FA, Upatham ES (2008) DNA-Sequence Variation Among Schistosoma mekongi Populations and Related Taxa; Phylogeography and the Current Distribution of Asian Schistosomiasis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2(3): e200. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0000200

http://www.plosntds.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pntd.0000200

[2] Muth S, Sayasone S, Odermatt-Biays S, Phompida S, Duong S, Odermatt P: Schistosoma mekongi in Cambodia and Lao People's Democratic Republic. Adv Parasitol. 2010;72:179-203.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20624532

[3] Kato-Hayashi N, Kirinoki M, Iwamura Y, Kanazawa T, Kitikoon V, Matsuda H, Chigusa Y.Identification and differentiation of human schistosomes by polymerase chain reaction. Exp Parasitol. 2010 Mar;124(3):325-9.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19948171

[4] Barber KE, Mkoji GM, Loker ES: PCR-RFLP analysis of the ITS2 region to identify Schistosoma haematobium and S. bovis from Kenya. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2000 Apr;62(4):434-40.

http://www.ajtmh.org/cgi/reprint/62/4/434

[5] Leshem E, Meltzer E, Marva E, Schwartz E: Travel-related schistosomiasis acquired in Laos. Israel. Emerg Infect Dis. 2009 Nov;15(11):1823-6.

http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/15/11/1823.htm

[6] Hua HY, Liang YS, Zhang Y, Wei JF, Guo HX: The sensitivity of artesunate against Schistosoma japonicum decreased after 10 years of use in China. Parasitol Res. 2010 Sep;107(4):873-8.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20549236

[7] Ishikawa H, Ohmae H: Modeling the dynamics and control of transmission of Schistosoma japonicum and S. mekongi in Southeast Asia. Korean J Parasitol. 2009 Mar;47(1):1-5

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19290084

22.03.2011: Export of Japanese food following the nuclear accident of Fukushima [1]

Some countries will monitor food imports from Japan. Large part of the country are not affected at all by this event and therefore there should be no concern with food produced in those areas, However, today the food industry is so tightly interconnected that it is impossible to determine the origine of the specific food. According to Japanese authorities, at this point in time, there is no indication that any food has been contaminated and exported. Japan’s ministry of health, plans to stop the sale of all food products from the Fukushima area.

Milk,spinach, oilseed rape and drinking water from the affected area was found to be contaminated with radionuclides. Drinking water of Tokio was also contaminated with radioctive caesium and iodine, but detected levels were low and presented no health risk. In Taiwan elevated radiation was found in beans from Japan.

Abu Dahbi asked all its border points to detain all food products from Japan to conduct the necessary tests to ensure their safety. The UAE is one of many countries that have stepped up efforts to ensure contaminated food does not reach consumers. [2]

The US Food and Drug Administration announced that it was collecting information on where imported products come from to avoid food with elevated radioactive levels.

Playing down the radiation risk

According to Yukio Edano, Japan’s chief cabinet secretary although the radiation levels exceeded the limits allowed by the Japanese government, there is no immediate health risk. He calculates that the radiation of the milk consumed during one year equals the radiation of one CAT scan and spinach would be one fifth of that amount.

Iodine 131 has a half life of only eight days, which means it is likely to break down in the environment in a few weeks. Radioactive iodine if absorbed from contaminated foods causes damage to the thyroid. Children and young people are particularly at risk. Potassium iodine tablets can saturate the thyroid and avoid the accumulation of iodine 131 in this part of the human body.

Caesium 137, has a half life is measured in 30 years and it takes several centuries to breaks down totally. Restrictions on the sale of milk or dairy beef as far as Scotland .are still today necessary following the disaster of Chernobyl. Strontium 90 has a long half life.

Iodine and Ceasium nuclides in sea water

Analysis of sea water samples at Fukushima produced values of 126,7 and 24,8 times the allowed limit for radioactive iodine and caesium respectively. TEPCO employee says that it would take one years drinking such water in order to accumulate 1 millisievert. the intervention exemption level adopted by WHO in their Guidelines for radiation in food.

Average natural background radiation

The average natural background in the United States is about 3 mSv/yr) with the majority, around 2 mrem/yr. However, according to the soil content of uranium, some regions of the world are exposed to more than10mSv/yr. It is therefore wise to keep man-made radiation sources as low as possible.

Euratom Guidelines: Maximum Dose Bq/kg or Bq/l

	Iodine	Caesium
Infant Foods	150	400
Dairy Products	500	1.000
Other Foods	2.000	1.250
Beverages	500	1.000

Codex Alimentarius Gudelines [3]

There are internationally agreed Guideline Levels (GLs) that apply to radioactivity contained in foods destined for international trade. These GLs are published by the Joint FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission. Food below these GLs is safe for people to eat, and when the GLs are exceeded, national governments must decide whether and under what circumstances the food should be allow to be distributed within their territory or jurisdiction.

The Guideline Levels apply to radionuclides contained in foods destined for human consumption and traded internationally, which have been contaminated following a nuclear or radiological emergency1. These guideline levels apply to food after reconstitution or as prepared for consumption, i.e., not to dried or concentrated foods, and are based on an intervention exemption level of 1 mSv in a year.

[1] Food Contamination concerns following the Japanese nuclear crisis. 19 March 2011

http://www.wpro.who.int/media_centre/jpn_earthquake/FAQs/faqs_foodcontamination.htm

[2] Japan's food imports stopped at the border The National. Mar 21, 2011

http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/japans-food-imports-stopped-at-the-border

[3] General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Food and Feed. CODEX STAN 193-1995

http://www.codexalimentarius.net/web/more_info.jsp?id_sta=17

17.03.2011: Bird flu in Japan farm near Tokyo [1]

Japan struggles with an epidemics of bird flu in its poultry farms at Chiba City, near Tokyo. The culling of 35,000 birds at the farm began yesterday and the movements of another 869,000 birds within a 10-kilometer radius were restricted.

[1] Bird flu case confirmed in Chiba, culling of 35,000 birds. IBNlive.17.03.2011.

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/bird-flu-case-confirmed-in-chiba-culling-of-35000-birds/609566.htm

17.03.2011: Steven Chu, a scientist betraying humanity [1]

On the aftermath of the nuclear accident of Fukushima, in March 2011, Energy Secretary Steven Chu says that US regulators should press ahead with approving construction licenses for new nuclear power plants, despite Japan’s nuclear crisis.

Chu said lessons could be learned from Japan, but this is not a reason to delay expansion in the US. Such news are being disseminated by the Arab media to avoid the population to oppose nuclear power plants project in Abu Dhabi and ongoing projects in other Arabian countries.

What about two nuclear power plants in the "Diablo Cannyon" which are part of four units in California in the proximities of the San Andreas fault between LA and San Francisco? An Earthquake of magnitude similar to that of Japan is overdue.

Steven Chu 20.03.2011: The Indian Point Energy Center, located just 34 miles from New York City."We believe that reactor is safe. There is constant scrutiny of the reactors in all of our plants around the United States." [5]

Picture: Heavy damage following an explosion at Fukushima nuclear power plant

Steven Chu became a game ball of the energy corporations. A phase out of oil, coal, natural gas and nuclear energy is not to be expected in this legislation. Once again the United States bolsters its international image of “bad guy” giving a bad example of disrespect toward environment protection.

Instead of changing George W. Bush energy concept the Obama administration promises to study distribution policies for potassium iodide to protect against the effects of radiation as a response to ongoing nuclear disaster of Fukushima. [2]

USA nuclear power plants are of the series of Fukushima

Meanwhile 31 nuclear power plants are running red between Miami and Seatle. All of them are of the of the General Electric series of Fukushima plants.

USA does not have any repository for its nuclear waste and keeps it in the nuclear plants at site, so as happens at Fukushima where spent fuel rods are possibly going to explode.

The administration of Obama revives the nuclear program of George W. Bush. The only change Obama brought is climate change.

German nuclear power plants [3]

The German police association and the cockpit pilot association warns from terrorist attacks. German nuclear power plants are not able to resist the impact of an aircraft. Both associations find such a scenario realistic.

Arabian countries getting dependent on uranium [4]

Abu Dhabi accepted a $20 billion bid from a South Korean consortium to build four commercial nuclear power reactors, total 5.6 GWe, by 2020.

In December 2006 the six member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) - Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE, Qatar and Oman - announced that the Council was commissioning a study on the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

Alternative

The Arab world could easily change their economy to solar and wind energy. The wealth on sunshine in their deserts could provide electricity and hydrogen for the entire world. Unfortunately the disagreement between their religious currents prevent a cooperation between their countries.

[1] Don’t delay new nuclear plants: US energy chief. Arab News March 16, 2011.

http://arabnews.com/economy/article318336.ece

[2] U.S. to review drug supply after Japan reactor breach

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/16/us-japan-quake-iodide-distribution-idUSTRE72F09G20110316

[3] Deutsche AKW nicht sicher vor Terroranschlaegen. Handelsblatt 17.03.2011.

http://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/deutsche-akw-nicht-sicher-vor-terroranschlaegen/3960628.html?p3960628

[4] Nuclear Power in the United Arab Emirates. January 2011.

http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/UAE_nuclear_power_inf123.html

[5] Energy Secretary Steven Chu: Indian Point Nuclear Plant Near New York City Will Be Reviewed

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/20/steven-chu-indian-point-nuclear-plant-new-york_n_838108.html

16.03.2011: Contamination of foods and feedstuffs by nuclear accidents

The accident of Chernobyl provided a lot of knowledge on contamination of the food chain. These information can now be applied in the actual Japan nuclear disaster. It is important to avoid milk of cattle which received grass and fodder of the contaminated region. As most of the radioactive particles end up in the ocean it is imperious to avoid sea foods of any kind. Do not drink tap water. More personal protection measures are described below.

The food chain safety will be compromised in the next decades by the situation in Fukushima. Primarily drinking water in Japan and Pacific fish and seafood will bear an increased load of radionuclides.

Maximum permitted levels for foodstuffs and feedstuffs of European Regulation [1]

	Dairy products	Others

Isotopes of strontium (Sr-90)	125	750
Isotopes of iodine (I-131)	500	2.000
Alfa-emitting isotopes of plutonium and transplutonium (Pu-239, Am-241)	20	80
All other nuclides of half-life greater than10 days (Cs-134, Cs-137)	1.000	1.250

Baby foods Dairy produces Other foodstuffs Liquid foodstuffs [2]

	Baby foods	Dairy products	Other foodstuffs	Liquid foodstuffs
Isotopes Strontium (Sr-90)	75	125	750	125
Isotopes of iodine (I-131)	150	500	2.000	500
Alpha-emitting isotopes of plutonium and transplutonium elements, notably Pu-239, Am-241	1	20	80	20
All other nuclides of half-life greater than 10 days, notably Cs-134, Cs-137	400	1.000	1.250	1.000

Maximum permitted levels are set too high [3]

Green MEPs believe the maximum permitted levels of radioactive contamination are set far too high and would leave the European public exposed to unacceptably high doses of radioactive contamination. Strontium-90 is absorbed by bone, which leads to bone cancer and leukemia, caesium-137 spreads throughout the body but favours muscle tissue, plutonium is primarily toxic when inhaled and causes lung cancer and thyroid cancer broke among children in Chernobyl which drank milk which was iodine-131 contaminated.

Minor Foodstuffs [4]

For the minor foodstuffs given in the Annex of Regulation 944/89, the maximum permitted levels to be applied are 10 times those applicable to 'other foodstuffs except minor foodstuffs' fixed in the Regulation No 3954/87. Minor foodstuffs are those of minor dietary importance which make only a marginal contribution to food consumption by the population.

List of minor foodstuffs: Garlic, truffels, capers (fresh, chilled, dried or as powder), manioc, arrowroot, salep, Jerusalem artichokes, sweet potatoes and similar roots and tubers with high starch or inulin content, fresh or dried, sago pith, peel of citrus fruit, curry and other spices, natural gums, agar-agar and other mucilages and thickeners, fats and oils and their fractions of fish or marine mammals, cocoa, yeasts baking powders, vitamins, essential oils.

Information to the public in case of a nuclear accident [5]

In case of a nuclear accident the public should be provided with the following informations.

- Information on the type of emergency which has occurred and, where possible, its characteristics (e.g. its origin, extent and probable development);

.- The various types of radiological emergency covered and their consequences for the general public and the environment. Basic facts about radioactivity and its effects on human beings and on the environment.

- Emergency measures envisaged to alert, protect and assist the general public in the event of a radiological emergency.

- Appropriate information on action to be taken by the general public in the event of a radiological emergency.

- an invitation to the population concerned to tune in to radio or television,

Advice on personal protection

Have iodine supplementation. Do not go outside, stay indoors. Close windows and make the house airtight. Do not turn on ventilators. Hang laundry indoors.

Use wet cloth to breath through.. Change often cloth. Use waterproof clothing to go outside. Wash hands often. Do not drink milk. Eat canned food. Avoid to drink tap water. Avoid seafood.

Export ban of foods and feedstuffs which exceed maximum radiation levels [6]

It is not acceptable to allow products with contamination levels in excess of the maximum permitted levels relating to products for consumption in the Community to be exported to third countries.

Maximum permitted levels of radionuclides for feedstuffs [7]

Maximum permitted levels of radioactive contamination of feedstuffs following a nuclear accident or any other case of radiological emergency:

Feedstuffs for max Bq/Kg

Pigs 1.250

Poultry, lamb, calves 2.500

Others 5.000

Radiation levels [8]

The International Atomic Energy Agency said after Tuesday's blast that radiation dosages of up to 400 millisieverts per hour had been recorded at the site.

Exposure to over 100 millisieverts a year is a level which can lead to cancer, according to the World Nuclear Association.

4.000 mSv (short exposure) causes 50% death rate.

7.000 mSv (short exposure) causes death

1.000 mSv/hour radiation level near Fukushima power plant 16.03.2011.

250 mSv (short exposure) causes radiation sickness (nausea, vomiting headache)

100 mSv (exposure during 1 year) causes 1% cancer

2,4 mSv (cosmic radiation of 1 year according UN)

[1] Council Regulation (Euratom) No 3954/87 of 22 December 1987 laying down maximum permitted levels of radioactive contamination of foodstuffs and of feedingstuffs following a nuclear accident or any other case of radiological emergency.

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:31987R3954:EN:HTML

[2] Council Regulation (Euratom) No 2218/89 of 18 July 1989 amending Regulation (Euratom) No 3954/87 laying down maximum permitted levels of radioactive contamination of foodstuffs and of feedingstuffs following a nuclear accident or any other case of radiological emergency

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:31989R2218:EN:HTML

[3] Radioactive foodstuffs: EU rules on radioactive contamination of foods need to be strengthened, EP wants greater say. The Greens 13.01.2011.

http://www.greens-efa.eu/cms/pressreleases/dok/367/367212.radioactive_foodstuffs@en.htm

[4] Commission Regulation (Euratom) 944/89 (OJ L101, p17, 13/04/1989) of 12 April 1989 laying down maximum permitted levels of radioactive contamination in minor foodstuffs foll owing a nuclear accident or any other case of radiological activity.

http://www.fsai.ie/uploadedFiles/Commission_Regulation_Euratom_944_89.pdf

[5] Council Directive (Euratom) 89/618 (OJ L357, p31, 07/12/89) of 27 November 1989 on informing the general public about health protection measures to be applied and steps to be taken in the event of a radiological emergency.

http://www.fsai.ie/uploadedFiles/Council_Directive_Euratom_89_618.pdf

[6] Council Regulation (EEC) No 2219/89 of 18 July 1989 on the special conditions for exporting foodstuffs and feedingstuffs following a nuclear accident or any other case of radiological emergency

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:31989R2219:EN:HTML

[7] Commission Regulation (Euratom) No 770/90 of 29 March 1990 laying down maximum permitted levels of radioactive contamination of feedingstuffs following a nuclear accident or any other case of radiological emergency

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:31990R0770:EN:HTML

[8] BBC News: Radiation fears after Japan blast. 15.03.2011.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-12740843

13.03.2011: The accident of the nuclear power plant of Fukushima

Worldwide 99 accidents have been reported at nuclear power plants. Fifty-seven accidents have occurred since the Chernobyl disaster, and almost two-thirds (56 out of 99) of all nuclear-related accidents have occurred in the USA. Relatively few accidents involved fatalities. [1]

The accidents at the nuclear power plants in Japan creates the necessity to install worldwide nuclear accidents emergency response. For that valuable experience was gather from Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the explosion of Chernobyl.

Kukushima nuclear power plant is 40 years old. Experts say that in case of an explosion, similar to Chernobyl, fall-out of the lower layers of the atmosphere will contaminate whole Japan. The upper region of the atmosphere has east winds. Nuclides which get to these layers will be driven to the Pacific and may reach USA.

Immediate threat was radioactive iodine, with a half-life of eight days. Potassium iodine tablets may saturate the thyroid gland and are to avoid radioactive iodine to accumulate what may develop thyroid cancer. The contamination of atmosphere and soil with strontium-90 and caesium-137 has half-lives of about 30 years. Caesium-137 is being retained by the clay material of surface layers of the soil. However, contamination also migrates into underground aquifers and closed bodies of water such as lakes and ponds Plants like tress, mushrooms, grass, fruits, vegetables, insects ruminants and fish absorb radionuclides which enter the food chain.

After 20 years more than 80% of the activity of the fallout of Chernobyl was found by Ramzaev et al 2007 analysing the first 5 cm of the vegetation-soil cores of the forested landscapes. The low annual temperatures, clay-rich soil type with neutral pH, and presence of thick lichen-moss carpet are the factors which may hinder 137Cs transport down the soil profile. [2]

The team of Ramzaev also looked at the migration of caesium 137 and strontium 90 originated from underground nuclear explosions in the Russian Arctic. They found vertical migration of (90)Sr to be more rapid than that for (137)Cs, the depth was, however, limited to the top 10-20 cm due to permafrost conditions. The horizontal migration rate of radiostrontium in the aqueous phase exceeds the radiocaesium migration rate by many times, report the authors.[3]

More than 20 years after Chernobyl [4]

Twenty four years after the catastrophe, restriction orders remain in place in the production, transportation and consumption of food contaminated by Chernobyl fallout. In the UK, they remain in place on 369 farms covering 750 km(2) and 200,000 sheep. In parts of Sweden and Finland, restrictions are in place on stock animals, including reindeer, in natural and near-natural environments. "In certain regions of Germany, Austria, Italy, Sweden, Finland, Lithuania and Poland, wild game (including boar and deer), wild mushrooms, berries and carnivorous fish from lakes reach levels of several thousand Bq per kg of caesium-137", while "in Germany, caesium-137 levels in wild boar muscle reached 40,000 Bq/kg. The average level is 6,800 Bq/kg, more than ten times the EU limit of 600 Bq/kg", according to the TORCH 2006 report.

No safe level of radiation exposure

The current theory is that the relationship between dose and detrimental effect is linear without threshold down to zero dose. In other words, there is no safe level of radiation exposure, says the TORCH Report and concludes:

Cancer deaths, thyroid cancer, other solid cancers with long latency periods are beginning to appear 20 years after the accident. Belarus, Ukraine and Russia were heavily contaminated, but more than half of Chernobyl’s fallout was deposited outside these countries contaminating about 40% of Europe’s surface area.

Decisison support systems [5]

Several nuclear accident decision support systems are available which can be applied to complex networks of lakes, rivers and tributaries, such as MOIRA-PLUS. It is a computerised system for management support to Identify optimal remedial strategies for restoring radionuclide contaminated aquatic ecosystems and drainage areas in Italy. Monte 2011 presents an application of the decision system to 10 lakes and 18 rivers in Italy contaminated with (137)Cs of Chernobyl origin.

Assessment of the environmental and radiological consequences of a nuclear accident requires the management of a great deal of data and information as well as the use of predictive models. Computerised Decision Support Systems are essential to handle high volume of data in the management of freshwater ecosystems. [6]

Phase out of nuclear power plants in Germany

The nuclear accident in Japan reignites the discussion about nuclear power plants in Germany. Politicians of the Green Party bring forward the argument that the construction of German nuclear power plants present similar safety risks as those which caused the accident of Fukushima.

Nuclear Waste safety

at repository in Germany

"Asse 2" repository is not

safe for million years.

Source: Wikipedia

Nuclear Waste in USA

USA has no repository.

Radioactive waste is stored

at landfills. No protection

Source: EPA

More details at Desert Energy Project with clean energy for a global economy [7]

http://www.desertenergyproject.net/7%20Nuclear%20Danger.pdf

Emergency management in different countries [8]

Emergency Management is the generic name of an interdisciplinary field dealing with the strategic organizational management processes used to protect critical assets of an organization from hazard risks that can cause disasters or catastrophes, and to ensure their continuance within their planned lifetime. The whole system is based on theoretical rules which collapse whenever unexpected problems arise. Nuclear power plants should therefore not be constructed any more. Alternatives such as solar energy and wind turbines should be promoted as the clean energy for the next centuries.

[1] Wikipedia: Nuclear and radiation accidents

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_and_radiation_accidents

[2] Ramzaev V, Mishine A, Golikov V, Brown JE, Strand P.Surface ground contamination and soil vertical distribution of 137Cs around two underground nuclear explosion sites in the Asian Arctic, Russia.J Environ Radioact. 2007;92(3):123-43.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17156902

[3] Ramzaev V, Mishine A, Basalaeva L, Brown J: Radiostrontium hot spot in the Russian Arctic: ground surface contamination by (90)Sr at the "Kraton-3" underground nuclear explosion site.J Environ Radioact. 2007;95(2-3):107-25.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17400344

[4] Fairlie I. Sumner D, Nyagu A: The Other Report on Chernobyl (TORCH)

http://www.greens-efa.org/cms/topics/dokbin/118/118559.torch_executive_summary@en.pdf

[5] Hofman D, Monte L, Boyer P, Brittain J, Donchyts G, Gallego E, Gheorghiu D, Haekanson L, Heling R, Kerekes A, Kocsy G, Lepicard S, Slavik O, Slavnicu D, Smith J, Zheleznyak M: Computerised Decision Support Systems for the management of freshwater radioecological emergencies: assessment of the state-of-the-art with respect to the experiences and needs of end-users. J Environ Radioact. 2011 Feb;102(2):119-27.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21145146

[6] Monte L: Regional-scale application of the decision support system MOIRA-PLUS: an example of assessment of the radiological impact of the Chernobyl accident on the fresh water ecosystem in Italy. J Environ Radioact. Volume 102, Issue 2, February 2011, Pages 73-83. Doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2010.10.002

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21030118

[7] Desert Energy Project.net: Nuclear Danger.

http://www.desertenergyproject.net/7%20Nuclear%20Danger.pdf

[8] Wikipedia: Emergency management

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_management

11.03.2011: Scrapie infectious prions in biosolids [1]

Milles et al. 2011 studied the prion infectiousness of Class B biosolids under mesophilic (37°C) and thermophilic (60°C). The authors report a 2.43-log(10) reduction in prion infectivity under mesophilic temperatures after 15 days and a 3.41-log(10) reduction after 10 days under thermophilic conditions. The authors stress that there must be additional factors aside of temperature treatment which reduce the number of infectious prions, because reduction was higher in the biosolid samples compared with control in phosphate buffered saline

Biosolids are nutrient-rich organic materials resulting from the treatment of sewage sludge. When treated and processed, these residuals can be recycled and applied as fertilizer or compost to improve and maintain productive soils and stimulate plant growth. Manure is an agricultural waste not generally captured in collection programs, but nonetheless, is generated in high volumes and can offer multiple beneficial uses including nutrients for crop production and organic matter to improve soil properties. [2]

EPA issued regulations in 1993 that limit the pollutants and pathogens in biosolids, entitled ‘‘The Standards for the Use or Disposal of Sewage Sludge,’’ (40 CFR part 503) [3]. If biosolids are included as part of the compost or fertilizer, part 503 land application requirements in effect ensure that any biosolids that are land applied, through compost or fertilizers, contain pathogens and metals that are below specified levels to protect the health of humans, animals, and plants. [4]

EPA Class A and B biosolids pathogen control guidelines 2002 [5]

Biosolids are divided into Class A and Class B on this basis of their pathogen content and

control. Class A biosolids must undergo more extensive treatment than Class B biosolids to reduce pathogens, including bacteria, enteric viruses, and viable helminth ova, to below detectable amounts.

The Class B pathogen requirements were developed from the 1979 40 CFR 257 regulations for processes to significantly reduce pathogens, reducing pathogenic viruses, Salmonella bacteria, and indicator bacteria (fecal coliform) by at least 1 log (90%) (EPA 1989).

[1] Miles SL, Takizawa K, Gerba CP, Pepper IL: Survival of infectious prions in Class B biosolids. J Environ Sci Health A Tox Hazard Subst Environ Eng. 2011 Mar;46(4):364-70.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21391030 .

[2] EPA: Sewage Sludge (Biosolids)

http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/wastewater/treatment/biosolids/index.cfm

[3] EPA: Pathogen and Vector Attraction Reduction Requirements. Guide to the Part 503 Rule 107.

http://water.epa.gov/scitech/wastetech/biosolids/upload/2002_06_28_mtb_biosolids_503pe_503pe_5.pdf

[4] EPA: Compost and Fertilizer Made From Recovered Organic Materials.

http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/tools/cpg/products/compost.htm

[5] EPA: Biosolids applied to land. Advancing Standards and Practices. 2002.

http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/biosolids/nas/complete.pdf

11.03.2011: Organic aerosols intermediate volatility forming secondary organic aerosols [1]

The BP Deepwater Horizon rig explosion on April 20, 2010 caused an enormous oil spill together with a plume of air pollution within hours containing the lightest chemicals. Heavier compounds in the oil took longer to evaporate, spread out much more widely and contributed most to the formation of air pollution particles forming secondary organic aerosol. These particles are a major portion of air pollution but are not sufficiently being studied.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) performed two measures of air pollution particles, including organic aerosol in June 2010 over the spill area. Heavier compounds had been usually not measured because available monitoring equipment were focused on the lighter, more volatile materials.

Organic aerosols come from organic material and are linked to asthma, cardiovascular disease and even premature death. Organic aerosols make up about half the air pollution particles in cities. There was about the same amount of organic aerosol in the plume above the Gulf as there is in U.S. urban air.

Hugh Coe point to the importance of aerosols which are particles smaller than 1 µm. These particles scatter the sunlight and play a role in cloud formation. Anthropogenic activities alter quality and numbers of such particles, exerting a direct effect on climate. Semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) and organic compounds of intermediate volatility (IVOCs) found in crude oil are precursors of such aerosols. The airborne measurments of de Gouw et al. provided knowledge on the oxidation of IVOCs and SVOCs in the atmosphere during the formation organic particles. [2]

NOAA is looking for a quantification of the fraction of aerosol particles that can act as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) to be used in large-scale models. [3]

[1] de Gouw JA, Middlebrook AM, Warneke C, Ahmadov R, Atlas EL, Bahreini R, Blake DR, Brock CA, Brioude J, Fahey DW, Fehsenfeld FC, Holloway JS, Le Henaff M, Lueb RA, McKeen SA, Meagher JF, Murphy DM, Paris C, Parrish DD, Perring AE, Pollack IB, Ravishankara AR, Robinson AL, Ryerson TB, Schwarz JP, Spackman JR, Srinivasan A, Watts LA: Organic Aerosol Formation Downwind from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. 11 March 2011: Vol. 331 no. 6022 pp. 1295-1299 DOI: 10.1126/science.1200320

http://www.sciencemag.org/content/331/6022/1295.abstract?sa_campaign=Email/toc/11-March-2011/10.1126/scienc e.1200320

[2] Hugh Coe Aerosol Chemistry and the Deepwater Horizon Spill11 March 2011: Vol. 331 no. 6022 pp. 1273-1274. DOI: 10.1126/science.1203019

http://www.sciencemag.org/content/331/6022/1273.summary

[3] Ervens B, M. J. Cubison, E. Andrews, G. Feingold, J. A. Ogren, J. L. Jimenez, P. K. Quinn, T. S. Bates, J. Wang, Q. Zhang, H. Coe, M. Flynn and J. D. Allan (2010), CCN predictions using simplified assumptions of organic aerosol composition and mixing state: a synthesis from six different locations, Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 10 (10), 4795-4807.

http://www.atmos-chem-phys.org/10/4795/2010/acp-10-4795-2010.pdf

10.03.2011: EFSA safety report on caramel colours and their by-products [1]

Caramel colours are added to food to give a deeper shade of brown and are widely used in a large variety of foods such as non-alcoholic flavoured drinks, confectionary, soups, seasonings, and beer. They are complex mixtures of compounds produced by carefully controlled heat treatment of sugars. They are classified into four classes depending on the reagent used in their manufacture (ammonia, sulphite or no reagent), and generally known by the E numbers E150a, E150b, E150c, and E150d.

The European Food Safety Authority sets Acceptable Daily Intakes (ADIs) for all caramel colours. EFSA is concerned about the safety of by-products, such as furan and 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural (5-HMF), which are formed during the manufacturing of caramel colours and vary considerably depending on the production process.

The Panel recommended to keep the levels of the by-products in caramel colours as low as technologically possible as defined in Commission Directive 2008/128/CE laying down specific purity criteria concerning colours for use in foodstuffs [2]. However, the caramel specifications which are defined there should be updated to include also maximum levels for these constituents. Purity criteria and tests on caramel colours had been developed by Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) specification for Caramel Colours. [3]

The Panel also states that caramel colours are neither genotoxic, nor carcinogenic and that there is no evidence to show that they have any adverse effects on human reproduction or for the developing child.

ADIs for caramel colours

An Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of 300 mg per kg body weight per day (mg/kg bw/day) applicable to E150a, E150b, and E150d colours, and ADI of 100 mg/kg bw/day for caramel E150c. the Panel has set a more restrictive ADI for E150c considering possible effects on the immune system of one of its constituents, 2-acetyl-4-tetrahydroxibutylimidazole (THI).

The Panel also points out that adults and children who are high consumers of foods containing these colours could exceed the ADIs established for three of these colours (E150a, E150c, E150d) if they are used at the maximum levels reported by industry.

By-products

The scientists on the Panel also looked at other constituents resulting from the production process, namely 2-acetyl-4-tetrahydroxibutylimidazole (THI) present in E150c, and 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI) present in E150c and E150d, for which EU specifications already foresee sufficient protective maximum levels for their presence in the colours.

However, the Panel considered it would be prudent to keep their levels in caramel colours as low as technologically feasible, recommending further research to reduce the formation of of these by-products during the production of caramel colours.

Council Directive 89/107/EEC [4] states that all food additives must be kept under continuous observation and must be re-evaluated whenever necessary in the light of changing conditions of use and new scientific information.

According to CSPI the artificial caramel colours in colas and some other products is made by Reacting sugars with ammonia and sulfites under high pressure and temperatures result in the formation of 2-methylimidazole and 4 methylimidazole (MEI), which cause lung, liver, or thyroid cancer or leukemia in laboratory mice or rats. Some opinions say these diseases were caused by high doses [5]. The beverage industry says that 2-MEI and 4-MEI are everywhere and see no reason to avoid the use of such caramel colours. If its everywhere it is time to start to get out of food chain. The consumer can set a sign avoiding to drink brown cola.

[1] EFSA reviews safety of caramel colours. 08.03.2011.

http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/press/news/ans110308.htm

[2] Commission Directive 2008/128/CE laying down specific purity criteria concerning colours for use in foodstuffs.

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2009:006:0020:0063:EN:PDF

[3] Caramel Colours: Prepared at the 55th JECFA (2000) and published in FNP 52 Add 8 (2000), superseding specifications prepared at the 31st JECFA (1987).

http://www.fao.org/ag/agn/jecfa-additives/specs/Monograph1/Additive-102.pdf

[4] Council Directive 89/107/EEC of 21 December 1988 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning food additives authorized for use in foodstuffs intended for human consumption.

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:31989L0107:EN:HTML

[5] FDA Urged to Prohibit Carcinogenic "Caramel Coloring". CSPI Says Artificial Caramel Coloring is Quite Different from Real Caramel. 16.02.2011.

http://www.cspinet.org/new/201102161.html

09.03.2011: Size of apples vary according to cell division [1]

Malladi and Hirst 2010 found that endoreduplication was causing an anomaly in some Gala apple trees, causing apples to grow 38 percent heavier and 15 percent larger in diameter than regular Gala apples. This anomaly caused cells to grow without splitting. The Gand Gala had the same number of cells as the smaller Gala apples, however Grand Gala cells were larger. The authors write that due to endoreduplication the cells in Gand Gala duplicate their nucleus material but do not split the cell as it happens in Gala apples.

Higher gene MdCDKA1 at 8 DAFB expression and reduced MdCYCA2 expression regulates the mitotic cell cycle as well as endoreduplication during early fruit development in Grand Gala apples.

There is a commercial interest to find out what genes are responsible for a weight gain of apples because bigger apples attain better price on the market.

Endoreduplication is replication of the nuclear genome without cell division resdulting in polyploidy. Endoreduplication is often found in plants. According to Barow 2006 endopolyploidy provides support of high synthetic demands in certain cells and complements small genomes. In seed plants endopolyploidy has an impact on growth and development and are an adaptation to drought stress. Endopolyploidy is found in some tissues where cell size is important for specific cell functions. [2]

Cookson et al 2006 defined the DEL1 gene to be involved in endoreduplication of plant leave cells under drought stress. [3]

[1] Malladi A, Hirst PM: Increase in fruit size of a spontaneous mutant of 'Gala' apple (Malusxdomestica Borkh.) is facilitated by altered cell production and enhanced cell size. Journal of Experimental Botany, 2010; 61 (11): 3003 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erq134

http://jxb.oxfordjournals.org/content/61/11/3003.long

[2] Barow M: Endopolyploidy in seed plants. Bioessays. 2006 Mar;28(3):271-81

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16479577

[3] Cookson SJ, Radziejwoski A, Granier C: Cell and leaf size plasticity in Arabidopsis: what is the role of endoreplication? . Plant, Cell and Environment 2006 29: 1273–83.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-3040.2006.01506.x/full

08.03.2011: Apple polyphenols extand lifespan of fruit flies by 10 per cent [1]

Polyphenols include plant antioxidants such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, proanthocyanidins and resveratrol. Chen et al. 2011 report that oxidative stress may be involved in the ageing process and some other diseases. Antioxidants of fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, broccoli, blueberries, and apples may help to reduce the effects of the free radicals extending the life span in animals such as fruit flies. The authors found that apple polyphenols increased the average lifespan of fruit flies and improved their motility like walking, climbing and moving Polyphenols of apples also reduced the level of age related markers up-regulation of genes SOD1, SOD2, and CAT and down-regulation of MTH in old flies. The authors write that apple polyphenols interact with interaction with gene expressions of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), methuselah (MTH), Rpn11, and cytochrome c oxidase (CcO) subunits III and Vib

The authors concluded that the antiaging activity of apple polyphenols is linked to its interaction with genes SOD, CAT, MTH, and Rpn11.

Several foregoing studies had referred to beneficial effects of certain polyphenols. In 2003 Huxley and Neil wrote that high dietary intake of flavonols from a small number of fruits and vegetables, tea and red wine may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease [2]. Cutler et al. 2008 found that flavonoids of certain plant foods may reduce the risk of lung cancer among current and past women smokers, probably due to the antioxidant, antiestrogenic and antiproliferative properties of these compounds. [3].

The effect of polyphenols on blood sugar was studied by Hanhineva and colleagues 2010. The authors point out that quercetin and other flavonoids inhibit carbohydrate-digesting enzymes and polyphenols reduce the absorption of glucose. Other possible mechanisms cited by the authors are stimulation of insulin secretion, modulation of glucose release from the liver, activation of insulin receptors and glucose uptake in the insulin-sensitive tissues, and modulation of intracellular signalling pathways and gene expression. The authors call for more studies and human trials on the effect of polyphenols on type 2 diabetes [4].

Berries such chokeberries, cranberries, blueberries, and strawberries were found in different studies to be rich in anthocyanins, micronutrients and fibre. These compounds reduce cardiovascular risks, LDL oxidation, lipid peroxidation and improve the total plasma antioxidant capacity, the dyslipidemia, and the glucose metabolism. Basu, Rhone and lyons 2010 write that these beneficial effects may derive from an upregulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase, decreased activities of carbohydrate digestive enzymes, decreased oxidative stress, and inhibition of inflammatory gene expression and foam cell formation [5].

[1] Peng C, Chan HY, Huang Y, Yu H, Chen ZY: Apple Polyphenols Extend the Mean Lifespan of Drosophila melanogaster. J Agric Food Chem. 2011 Mar 9;59(5):2097-106. Epub 2011 Feb 14.

http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf1046267

[2] Huxley RR, Neil HA: The relation between dietary flavonol intake and coronary heart disease mortality: a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2003 Aug;57(8):904-8.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12879084

[3] Cutler GJ, Nettleton JA, Ross JA, Harnack LJ, Jacobs DR Jr, Scrafford CG, Barraj LM, Mink PJ, Robien K: Dietary flavonoid intake and risk of cancer in postmenopausal women: the Iowa Women's Health Study. Int J Cancer. 2008 Aug 1;123(3):664-71.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2572165/

[4] Hanhineva K, Törrönen R, Bondia-Pons I, Pekkinen J, Kolehmainen M, Mykkänen H, Poutanen K: Impact of dietary polyphenols on carbohydrate metabolism. Int J Mol Sci. 2010 Mar 31;11(4):1365-402.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2871121/

[5] Basu A, Rhone M, Lyons TJ: Berries: emerging impact on cardiovascular health. Nutr Rev. 2010 Mar;68(3):168-77.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20384847

07.03.2011: Food industry is not committed to healthy food [1]

Reduction of fat, sugar and salt was driven by marketing slogans using claims which were easy to fulfil. The new products were primary developed in the fat reduced mayonnaise dressings, fat spreads and beverages. Ketchup light was “created” replacing fructose syrup with artificial sweetener and a bit of guargum achieving cost reduction. Very little was achieved in meat products .

Low fat yoghurt

Consumer say that Aldi stores never offered yoghurt with 0,1% fat. This product had once been sold by LIDL where it was accepted by the consumer but suddenly it was taken from market and the 3% fat yoghurt is being aggressively offered. It is hard to find some yoghurt with 0,1% fat at NETTO Stores. It is immediately outsold and high fat yoghurt has to be used as an alternative to 30% fat dressings. Only niche products are now introduced on market, most of them are bound to disappear soon after being linked to exotic herbs or ingredients with vague health claims linked to low fat, such as drinks based on milk.

The concentration of retailer corporations reduces the diversity of food types which are sold. The customer gets used to a standardisation of articles which are similar in taste and packaging formate at all grocery stores, varying only by the layout of the label.

Reformulating a product to reduce fat, sugar or salt should not try to copy all sensory characteristics. The taste should differ from the unhealthy product so that the consumer get aware of the healthy difference. However, it is important to reduce the price accordingly to the reduction of the ingredients where water takes their place seen wit the example of kethup or fat spreads. As far as meat products concerns, lower fat means less lard and more lean meat which implies of higher price.

Food industry should face the challenge to disrupt standardisation of food products and be truly committed to the reduction of the three killer: fat, sugar salt not only in the niche sector but in the primary foods.

[1] The low fat world is flat… Special Edition Fat Foods. Food Navigator 23.02.2011

http://www.foodnavigator.com/Financial-Industry/The-low-fat-world-is-flat

06.03.2011: Optogenetics [1]

Optogenetics is an emerging field combining optical and genetic techniques to study neuronal circuits in live animal at the high speeds (millisecond-timescale)within intact mammals and other animals. Optogenetics uses light-activated channels and enzymes that allow manipulation of neural activity with millisecond precision while maintaining cell-type resolution in the brains of intact animals. This allows to study the causal impact of biochemical signalling in behaving mammals, in a targetable and temporally precise manner. In comparison, traditional genetics targets "on" or "of" function changes in cell proteins, to understand their function.

Genetically targeted photostimulation methods rely on the use of opsins and a variety of technical achievments tried to attain photonic control of neuronal firing, later several microbial opsins were introduced, such as Channelrhodopsin-2, a single-component light-activated cation channel from algae. Millisecond-scale temporal control in mammals, required only one gene to be expressed in order to work, and could be activated by visible-spectrum light with a chromophore (retinal) that was already present and supplied to ChR2 by the mammalian brain tissue. ChR2, related microbial proteins and customized conditionally-active viruses are used to introduce the light-sensitive particles to neurons in the brain of living animals. These proteins are used to control the activity of neurons avoiding several of the non-specific effects of electrical or pharmacological brain stimulation. [2]

Microbial opsins being used are cation channels such as Channelrhodopsins ChR2 and VChR1 to excite neurons, and chloride pump such as Halorhodopsin (NpHR), Archaerhodopsin (Arch), and fungal opsins such as Leptosphaeria maculans opsin (Mac) to inhibit neurons. [3]

G-protein coupled receptors are linked vertebrate opsins which can target intracellular messengers such as cGMP, cAMP and IP3 [4]. Stierl et al 2011 propose photoactivated adenylate cyclases (PACs) from Euglena and marine bacteria to control cAMP . Expressed in the fly nervous system, [5]

Kokaia and Soerensen 2011 that microbial opsonin genes channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) may be used as light- activated ion channels and halorhodopsin (NpHR) as pumps when exposed to light and trigger action in ChR2-expressing neurons, and inhibition in NpHR-expressing neurons. The authors stress the possibility to restore the dopamine-related movement system in parkinsonian animals, amelioration of blindness and recovery of breathing after spinal cord injury are a few examples of such perspectives. [6]

[1] Airan RD, Thompson KR, Fenno LE, Bernstein H, Deisseroth K: Temporally precise in vivo control of intracellular signalling. Nature. 2009 Apr 23;458(7241):1025-9. Epub 2009 Mar 18.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19295515

[2] LaLumiere RT: A new technique for controlling the brain: optogenetics and its potential for use in research and the clinic. Brain Stimul. 2011 Jan;4(1):1-6.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21255749

[3] Yizhar O, Fenno L, Zhang F, Hegemann P, Diesseroth K.Microbial opsins: a family of single-component tools for optical control of neural activity.Cold Spring Harb Protoc. 2011 Mar 1;2011:top102. doi: 10.1101/pdb.top102.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21363959

[4] Tobin AB: G-protein-coupled receptor phosphorylation: where, when and by whom.Br J Pharmacol. 2008 Mar;153 Suppl 1:S167-76. Epub 2008 Jan 14.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1038/sj.bjp.0707662/full

[5] Stierl M, Stumpf P, Udwari D, Gueta R, Hagedorn R, Losi A, Gärtner W, Petereit L, Efetova M, Schwarzel M, Oertner TG, Nagel G, Hegemann P: Light modulation of cellular cAMP by a small bacterial photoactivated adenylyl cyclase, bPAC, of the soil bacterium Beggiatoa. J Biol Chem. 2011 Jan 14;286(2):1181-8.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21030594

[6] Kokaia M, Sørensen AT: The treatment of neurological diseases under a new light: the importance of optogenetics. Drugs Today (Barc). 2011 Jan;47(1):53-62.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21373649

05.03.2011: Vitamin A derived light sensing system in cells [1]

Phototransduction is a process by which light is converted into electrical signals in the rod cells, cone cells and photosensitive ganglion cells of the retina of the eye.

The retina is formed by rods and cone cells. These cells contain a chromophore, which are formed by membrane protein called opsin, connected with the aldehyde of Vitamin A1 (11-cis retinal). Retinol cannot be synthesised by humans and must be supplied by vitamin A in the diet. Deficiency of all-trans retinol can lead to night blindness.

Rod cells deal with low light level and do not mediate color vision. Cone cells can code the colour of an image. There are three different types of cones. Each cone type responds best to certain wavelengths, or colours, of light because each type has a slightly different opsin.

Opsins transform a photon of light into an electrochemical signal, triggering the visual transduction cascade. Another opsin found in the mammalian retina, melanopsin, is involved in circadian rhythms and pupillary reflex but not in image-forming. Opsins can change their conformation from a resting state to a signalling state upon light absorption, which activates the G protein, thereby resulting in a signalling cascade that produces physiological responses. [2]

Vitamin B2 phototransduction light sensing Cryptochrome photoreceptors [3]

The light sensing process so far had been exclusively linked to retinal. Holmes et al. 2011 discovered a second form of phototransduction light sensing in cells. This light sensing system uses cryptochromes coupled to a B2 vitamin derivate. Cryptochromes are blue-light photoreceptors found in circadian and arousal neurons.

The research targeted the cryptochrome (CRY) gene of large lateral ventral arousal neurons (l-LNv) in Drosophila melanogaster. The authors report that cry-null lines are light unresponsive, but light response is restored when CRY expression is reactivated, requiring a flavin redox-based mechanism which also depends on potassium channel conductance, but is independent of the classical circadian CRY-TIMELESS interaction. Neurons not light responsive could be activated when they were genetically induced to express cryptochrome.

[1] Wikipedia: Visual phototransduction

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phototransduction

[2] Yoshinori Shichida, Take Matsuyama: Evolution of opsins and phototransduction October 12, 2009 364:2881-2895; doi:10.1098/rstb.2009.0051

Philosophical Transactions. The Royal Society 2009.

http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1531/2881.full.pdf+html

[3]Fogle KJ, Parson , Dahm NA,. Holmes TC: CRYPTOCHROME Is a Blue-Light Sensor That Regulates Neuronal Firing Rate. Science, 3 March 2011 DOI: 10.1126/science.1199702

http://www.sciencemag.org/content/early/2011/03/02/science.1199702

04.03.2011: Celery allergen [1]

Celery (Apium graveolens), together with peanuts, is a potent allergenic vegetable. Three celery allergens are known: Api g 1, Api g 4, and Api g 5. Gadermaier et al. 2010 identifed a new lipid transfer protein (nsLTP).from celery stalks consisting of a single isoallergen designated as Api g 2.0101 with a typical α-helical fold and high thermal stability and gastrointestinal digestion. Thermal denaturation did not affect the IgE binding of Api g 2. Therefore, patients with Api g 2 allergy may develop serious reactions responding to cooked celery stalks Api g 2-specific IgE antibodies cross-reacted with peach and mugwort pollen nsLTPs. The authors suggest to include the recombinant Api g 2 in the current panel of allergens for molecule-based diagnosis in celery allergy.

According to Harrer et al. 2010 the data on plant food allergies at the molecular level, the allergen structure,and stability, together with immunological methods at the level of IgE and T-cell reactivity can be integrated in computational algorithms to predict allergenicity of novel foods. Lipid-transfer proteins are important food allergens, being used in herbs and spice mixes. Over fifty allergenic non-specific lipid transfer protein (nsLTPs) are already know. All these data can be used in molecule-based diagnosis and future development of specific immunotherapy in plant food allergy. [2]

Faeste et al. 2010 developed a detection method for celery in food, using a sandwich celery ELISA using polyclonal anticelery antibodies, however, it may only be used for screening foods because of its cross-reactivity with potato and carrot proteins. It is based on the detection of nanoLC-ion-trap MS/MS proteins which are present in celery, potatoes and carrots. The authors also describe a novel patatin (Sola t 1)-like protein in celery and a flavin adenine dinucleotide binding domain-containing protein (Api g 5)-like protein in carrot. The authors suggest that further development of the MS-based screening method may be used to detect celery allergens in foods. Such a method is not yet available but it is needed to comply with the mandatory labelling of celery proteins in preprocessed foods.[3]

Microarrays for the determination of antibodies and cell activation tests [4]

Ferrer et al. 2009 stresses the importance microarray technique to determine specific IgE against multiple allergens and allows the determination of IgG and IgM against the same allergens.. Microarray procedures are being developed not only for the determination of antibodies but also for cell activation tests and determination of cross-reactions. Microarray technique can help to improve the safety and efficacy of immunotherapy and increase knowledge on the physiopathology of allergic diseases.

Diagnosis of IgE-mediated allergies was improved with the development of flow-assisted analysis of allergen-specific activated basophils and component-resolved diagnosis (CRD). De Knop et al. 2010 reviewed the component-resolved allergy diagnosis by microarray, which allows an analysis of individual sensitization profiles with multiplexed purified and recombinant allergens which may facilitate the formulation of diagnostic algorithms. The authors, however, stresses that this method needs further assessment and it should be considered part of a complementary diagnostic and should not be used as final tool. [5]

[1] Gadermaier G, Egger M, Girbl T, Erler A, Harrer A, Vejvar E, Liso M, Richter K, Zuidmeer L, Mari A, Ferreira F: Molecular characterization of Api g 2, a novel allergenic member of the lipid-transfer protein 1 family from celery stalks. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2010 Dec 20.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21174327

[2] Harrer A, Egger M, Gadermaier G, Erler A, Hauser M, Ferreira F, Himly M: Characterization of plant food allergens: an overview on physicochemical and immunological techniques.

Mol Nutr Food Res. 2010 Jan;54(1):93-112. Doi: 10.1002/mnfr.200900096

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19960453

[3] Faeste CK, Jonscher KR, Sit L, Klawitter J, Løvberg KE, Moen LH: Differentiating cross-reacting allergens in the immunological analysis of celery (Apium graveolens) by mass spectrometry. J AOAC Int. 2010 Mar-Apr;93(2):451-61.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20480890

[4] Ferrer M, Sanz ML, Sastre J, Bartra J, del Cuvillo A, Montoro J, Jáuregui I, Dávila I, Mullol J, Valero A: Molecular diagnosis in allergology: application of the microarray technique. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol. 2009;19 Suppl 1:19-24.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19476050

[5] De Knop KJ, Bridts CH, Verweij MM, Hagendorens MM, De Clerck LS, Stevens WJ, Ebo DG: Component-resolved allergy diagnosis by microarray: potential, pitfalls, and prospects. Adv Clin Chem. 2010;50:87-101.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20521442

03.03.2011: Food emergecy preparednes plan for Arabian countries [1]

The Guardian cites poverty, repression, decades of injustice and mass unemployment as the causes of the political instability of the Middles East and the north of Africa. The Blue Peace report [2] describes the situation of Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, the Palestinian territories and Israel. Jon Alterman, director of the Middle East programme at the Washington-based Centre for Strategic Studies, predicts that existing political construct to break down when, food prices and water scarcity increases further.

Several Arab governments, alerted to the security threats try to improve preparedness for emergency situations. The director general of the UAE's National Crisis and Emergency Management Authority submitted a proposal to the Cabinet to build emergency reserves of food, water and medicine.

A 10 days survival program for Arab Countries

The governments should create a preparedness program for food and water for 10 days for their population. Turmoil, natural catastrophes or external interferences may interrupt food supply of the countries which broadly depend from food and water imports.

The food and water preparedness program

The government should use the available infrastructure of the retailing system. For that the government should make a commercial agreement that all retailers maintain a minimum of 10 days turnover of staple food in all outlets. For that an annual fee of 10% of the value of the stored food is paid by the government, covering to extra costs of financing, transporting, storage, handling and selling of the commissioned food.

Foods to be included in the preparedness program

The staple food should include bottled water, canned meat and canned fish, rice, beans, peas, maize flower, wheat flower, noodles, fats and oils, margarine, UHT milk, infant formula, backing soda, salt and spices.

Amount of commissioned food at each outlet

The amount must be determined by each outlet, based on their average daily selling volume calculated for 10 days. It must be of interest of the retailers to cooperate in this program as additional 10% revenues are an additional income and the company is engaged in a public safety program which brings stability to the country and also adds to the security of their business. In case of an emergency the outlets can perform the distribution of the food to their customers. The government must create a commission which controls that amounts of commissioned foods are present in all outlets.

[1] What does the Arab world do when its water runs out? The Guardian. 20.02.2011.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/feb/20/arab-nations-water-running-out

[2] Euro-Mediterranean Information System on know-how in the Water sector. The Blue Peace: Rethinking Middle East Water, 2011. (EMWIS)

http://www.emwis.org/thematicdirs/news/2011/02/new-strategic-foresight-group-report-blue-peace-rethinking-middle-east-water

03.03.2011: Fossil energy interests paralyse America, says new book [1]

The United States miss the transition to 21st century energy sources, says Robert Repetto, author of the book "America's Climate Problem: The Way Forward"

Repetto writes that the Fossil energy interests are spending "hundreds of millions of dollars" lobbying U.S. politicians in Congress and funding groups to confuse the public about the serious risks climate change poses. America is locked in a climate-policy stalemate, while right-wing and libertarian "think tanks" like the Competitive Enterprise Institute create an atmosphere of doubt and uncertainty, just like the tobacco companies did regarding the health effects of smoking.

According to Repetto the Senator James Inhofe received 768,000 dollars in contributions from fossil energy and mining interests to oppose to action on climate change.

Repetto calls for tougher regulations and tighter enforcement to make coal a less attractive energy source than alternative energy options. He says that it is fals that action on climate change will hurt jobs and the economy. The car technology and coal-powered electricity system is over a century old. History shows that energy coming from water mills were replaced 50 years later by steam power which was then followed by electrical power. All fears of transition proved to be unsupportable.

The authors stresses the need to change to renewable energies and increases energy efficiency. He points to the fact that Europe already has built over 800 offshore wind projects, the U.S. has none and is being left behind.

Persist stubbornly on greenhouse gases Aside from loosing leadership in technology, the countries which stubbornly persist on using fossil energy will be seen as ugly countries. The rage of the poor people which suffer the most from climate catastrophes will be directed against such culture.

The American people has a low capacity to understand the radical change which started in the heart of the poor. America must understand that it has to abandon the carbon-based economy and its ailing Bank and exchange system.

The American way of thinking is demonstrated by Thomas L. Friedman. He reduces the whole problem to a a price equation: "We need clean energy that is cheaper than the true cost to society of fossil fuels, when you measure the climate change those fuels cause, the pollution they trigger, and the energy wars they engender." Mr. Friedman did not understand that actual green energies are by many times cheaper than fossil energy, counting the damage and the suffering the western countries already have caused to the poor. He analysis the situation from the comfortable position of a country which exploits energy regardless of the damage it causes to other nations. [2]

[1] Fossil Fuel Lobby Following the Playbook of Big Tobacco. IPS 02.03.2011.

Stephen Leahy interviews environmental economist ROBERT REPETTO

http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=54690

[2] Friedman TL: Hot Flat and Crowded Pinguin Books 2009

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March 2011 - OurFood-news