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We have performed the measurement of the 27Al(α, n) cross section at IFIN-HH for a range of energies from 2.5 to 5.2 MeV, using an array of 28 3He counters arranged in 3 concentric rings (ELIGANT-TN). Here we present the experimental setup and discuss the role of the 13C contamination which effects the measurements in the low-energy region. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy carried out before and after the experiment suggested an increase in the 13C concentration during the experiment.

The book highlights the current practices and future trends in structural characterization of impurities and degradants. It begins with an overview of mass spectrometry techniques as related to the analysis of impurities and degradants, followed by studies involving characterization of process related impurities (including potential genotoxic impurities), and excipient related impurities in formulated products.  Both general practitioners in pharmaceutical research and specialists in analytical chemistry field will benefit from this book that will detail step-by-step approaches and new strategies to solve challenging problems related to pharmaceutical research.

Background Food safety in the food market is one of the key areas of focus in public health, because it affects people of every age, race, gender, and income level around the world. The local and international food marketing continues to have significant impacts on food safety and health of the public. Food supply chains now cross multiple national borders which increase the internationalization of health risks. This systematic review of literature was, therefore, conducted to identify common public health risks related to food safety issues in the food market. Methods All published and unpublished quantitative, qualitative, and mixed method studies were searched from electronic databases using a three step searching. Analytical framework was developed using the PICo (population, phenomena of interest, and context) method. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using mixed methods appraisal tool (MMAT) version 2018. The included full-text articles were qualitatively analyzed using emergent thematic analysis approach to identify key concepts and coded them into related non-mutually exclusive themes. We then synthesized each theme by comparing the discussion and conclusion of the included articles. Emergent themes were identified based on meticulous and systematic reading. Coding and interpreting the data were refined during analysis. Results The analysis of 81 full-text articles resulted in seven common public health risks related with food safety in the food market. Microbial contamination of foods, chemical contamination of foods, food adulteration, misuse of food additives, mislabeling, genetically modified foods (GM foods), and outdated foods or foods past their use-by dates were the identified food safety–related public health risks in the food market. Conclusion This systematic literature review identified common food safety–related public health risks in the food market. The results imply that the local and international food marketing continues to have significant impacts on health of the public. The food market increases internationalization of health risks as the food supply chains cross multiple national borders. Therefore, effective national risk-based food control systems are essential to protect the health and safety of the public. Countries need also assure the safety and quality of their foods entering international trade and ensure that imported foods conform to national requirements.

Food contaminants in traditional Lanna cuisine persist as a public health issue since there is no readily apparent method to prevent this contamination. Hence, this study was conducted to develop a practical strategy for reducing food hazards in traditional Lanna cuisine, according to the farm-to-fork framework across upstream, midstream, and downstream operations. In the upstream operation, 80 sample analyses in a fresh market using the chemical test-kits were conducted, and 31 samples of produce were collected to analyze them for Paraquat contamination. In the midstream operation, a biological contamination analysis was conducted on 25 of the food handlers. In the downstream operation, which refers to the consumers, this study included a questionnaire to measure the level of agreement for the different factors by using the One Way ANOVA at the 0.05 level of significance. According to the “Laab Nuer Model” for traditional Lanna cuisine, one needs to consider the following at every stage:1) Uncontaminated market produce, including monitoring the raw material in the market, providing the activities linked to appropriate agricultural practices, and supporting the higher price if farmers adhere to good agricultural practices; 2) Good Restaurants including the monitoring of their raw materials, participating in food safety practices, and providing food safety training; 3) Paying Attention to the Consumer including training in food safety in the younger generation and promoting food safety. To significantly decrease the impact of foodborne illness in this and other locations, this model should be implemented widely, for example, in supermarkets and flea markets.

Freshwater salinization is an emerging global problem impacting safe drinking water, ecosystem health and biodiversity, infrastructure corrosion, and food production. Freshwater salinization originates from diverse anthropogenic and geologic sources including road salts, human-accelerated weathering, sewage, urban construction, fertilizer, mine drainage, resource extraction, water softeners, saltwater intrusion, and evaporative concentration of ions due to hydrologic alterations and climate change. The complex interrelationships between salt ions and chemical, biological, and geologic parameters and consequences on the natural, social, and built environment are called Freshwater Salinization Syndrome (FSS). Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of salinization issues (past, present, and future), and we investigate drivers and solutions. We analyze the expanding global magnitude and scope of FSS including its discovery in humid regions, connections to human-accelerated weathering and mobilization of ‘chemical cocktails.’ We also present data illustrating: (1) increasing trends in salt ion concentrations in some of the world’s major freshwaters, including critical drinking water supplies; (2) decreasing trends in nutrient concentrations in rivers due to regulations but increasing trends in salinization, which have been due to lack of adequate management and regulations; (3) regional trends in atmospheric deposition of salt ions and storage of salt ions in soils and groundwater, and (4) applications of specific conductance as a proxy for tracking sources and concentrations of groups of elements in freshwaters. We prioritize FSS research needs related to better understanding: (1) effects of saltwater intrusion on ecosystem processes, (2) potential health risks from groundwater contamination of home wells, (3) potential risks to clean and safe drinking water sources, (4) economic and safety impacts of infrastructure corrosion, (5) alteration of biodiversity and ecosystem functions, and (6) application of high-frequency sensors in state-of-the art monitoring and management. We evaluate management solutions using a watershed approach spanning air, land, and water to explore variations in sources, fate and transport of different salt ions (e.g. monitoring of atmospheric deposition of ions, stormwater management, groundwater remediation, and managing road runoff). We also identify tradeoffs in management approaches such as unanticipated retention and release of chemical cocktails from urban stormwater management best management practices (BMPs) and unintended consequences of alternative deicers on water quality. Overall, we show that FSS has direct and indirect effects on mobilization of diverse chemical cocktails of ions, metals, nutrients, organics, and radionuclides in freshwaters with mounting impacts. Our comprehensive review suggests what could happen if FSS were not managed into the future and evaluates strategies for reducing increasing risks to clean and safe drinking water, human health, costly infrastructure, biodiversity, and critical ecosystem services.

Contamination by chemicals from the environment is a major global food safety issue, posing a serious threat to human health. These chemicals belong to many groups, including metals/metalloids, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), persistent organic pollutants (POPs), perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs), radioactive elements, electronic waste, plastics, and nanoparticles. Some of these occur naturally in the environment, whilst others are produced from anthropogenic sources. They may contaminate our food—crops, livestock, and seafood—and drinking water and exert adverse effects on our health. It is important to perform assessments of the associated potential risks. Monitoring contamination levels, enactment of control measures including remediation, and consideration of sociopolitical implications are vital to provide safer food globally.

As workers in medicine, food science, and advanced manufacturing have learned, pristine disposable gloves are an innate source of chemical contamination from the moment they are first donned. Given the typically low extent of chemical contamination on the surface of gloves post-manufacture, many fields overlook, or simply discount, this source of transferable chemical evidence. However, forensic science should not adopt this approach. Instead, the trace chemical signatures left after handling objects while wearing different brands and types of disposable gloves could provide new avenues of forensic intelligence when assessing crime scenes. Similarly, an appreciation of the potential for disposable gloves to transfer innate chemical residues is an important consideration when surface analyses of evidence are envisioned. This review summarises past reports of chemical transference originating from pristine gloves drawn from the fields of medicine, food science, and material science, as well as the few examples highlighting the implications of such events for forensic investigations. Correlations between the chemical identities of the contaminants and the material of glove manufacture are provided here where known, with energy-intensive chemical extraction of glove material, and passive transference of chemical residues through simple contact, both explored. Finally, discussions pertaining to the implications of disposable glove residues, coupled with opportunities for future research, are outlined. •The surfaces of pristine disposable gloves bear trace amounts of native chemical residues.•Many scientific disciplines have characterized these glovemark residues, as collated here.•As prolific users of disposable gloves, forensic scientists should be aware of this source of contamination.•Analysing the chemical residues left by gloves could provide forensic intelligence about the wearer.•Opportunities and areas needing further research are outlined in relation to glovemark evidence.

Irrigation water can be a source of pathogenic contamination of fresh produce. Controlling the quality of the water used during primary production is important to ensure food safety and protect human health. Several measures to control the microbiological quality of irrigation water are available for growers, including preventative and mitigation strategies. However, clear guidance for growers on which strategies could be used to reduce microbiological contamination is needed. This study evaluates pathogenic microorganisms of concern in fresh produce and water, the microbiological criteria of water intended for agricultural purposes, and the preventative and mitigative microbial reduction strategies. This article provides suggestions for control measures that growers can take during primary production to reduce foodborne pathogenic contamination coming from irrigation water. Results show that controlling the water source, regime, and timing of irrigation may help to reduce the potential exposure of fresh produce to contamination. Moreover, mitigation strategies like electrolysis, ozone, UV, and photocatalysts hold promise either as a single treatment, with pretreatments that remove suspended material, or as combined treatments with another chemical or physical treatment(s). Based on the literature data, a decision tree was developed for growers, which describes preventative and mitigation strategies for irrigation-water disinfection based on the fecal coliform load of the irrigation water and the water turbidity. It helps guide growers when trying to evaluate possible control measures given the quality of the irrigation water available. Overall, the strategies available to control irrigation water used for fresh produce should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis because one strategy or technology does not apply to all scenarios.