The development of Aspergillus flavus inoculation techniques has played an important part in developing corn (Zea mays L.) germplasm resistant to aflatoxin contamination. Corn genotypes evaluated for aflatoxin resistance in field studies must be artificially inoculated due to the sporadic nature of aflatoxin contamination from year to year. A number of different inoculation techniques are used ...

During the previous survey year (Year 2), a methodological issue arose which meant that our measures were no longer providing a reliable indication of how levels of contamination in chickens at retail were changing over time, or providing like for like comparisons between retailers. This methodological issue is explained in the January-March 16 report: www.food.gov.uk/sites/default/files/campy-...

background and objectives: non-sanitary conditions during the drying, transport and storage stages in the production of spices could introduce mycotoxin contamination. the aim of the current study was to determine the concentration of ochratoxin a (ota) in 92 commercial spices (including red pepper, black pepper, turmeric and cinnamon) imported to iran. materials and methods: ota levels were de...

There are many definitions of the term contamination. Jefferis (2002 p. 75) provided the simple definition Bcontamination is a chemical, a living organism or energy in the wrong place.^ Paraphrasing this definition, contamination is the presence of an unwelcome component in a material, physical body, place, or other entity. In the natural environment, contamination implies that an exotic consti...

Shale gas extraction involves the drilling of organic-rich, lowpermeability shale and then stimulation of hydraulic fractures that allows gas to be produced. Methane in aquifers located above the shale strata, for instance, in Pennsylvania, United States, has been attributed by some to be the result of contamination caused by the hydraulic fracturing process. The work by Osborn et al. (1) descr...

Accurate natural resource damage assessment necessitates monitoring organisms or communities that respond most sensitively to contaminants. Observational studies have demonstrated a correlation between fluvial heavy metal deposition and hyporheic microbial community structure. To establish a causal relationship between sediment metal content and the structure of colonizing bacterial communities...

Natural gas production from the Marcellus Shale formation has significantly changed energy landscape in recent years. Accidental release, including spills, leakage, and seepage of the Marcellus Shale flow back and produced waters can impose risks on natural water resources. With many competing processes during the reactive transport of chemical species, it is not clear what processes are domina...

Sources of mercury contamination in aquatic systems were studied in a comprehensive literature review. The results show that the most important anthropogenic sources of mercury pollution in aquatic systems are: (1) atmospheric deposition, (2) erosion, (3) urban discharges, (4) agricultural materials, (5) mining, and (6) combustion and industrial discharges. Capping and dredging are two possible...

The increase in the consumption of natural drugs have made their use a Public Health problem due to the possibility of access to products without adequate conditions of use. The concern with the quality of the natural products is due to the potential fungal contamination and the risk of the presence of mycotoxins. Ninety-one samples of medicinal plants were evaluated for the fungal contaminatio...