The main objective of this study was to evaluate in vivo whether micronutrient-enriched high-oleic sunflower oils (optimized oils) obtained using different crushing and refining procedures could have any beneficial effect on plasma lipid profile and antioxidant status. Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a high-fat diet for 4 weeks. The lipid source consisted of 20% optimized sunflower oils with different quantities and qualities of micronutrients. The control group received traditional refined high-oleic sunflower oil. The experimental optimized oils in the diets had a hypolipidemic effect. The reduction in plasma triglyceride and total cholesterol levels was 43% and 20%, respectively, in the group fed the diet with the highest levels of micronutrients. The serum ferric antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and reduced glutathione significantly increased and lipid peroxidation decreased in parallel with the enhancement of micronutrients. These results suggest that a regular intake of optimized sunflower oils can help to improve lipid status and reduce lipid peroxidation in plasma.

Semicarbazide (SEM) is an azodicarbonamide by-product present in glass jar packaged foods including babyfoods, in bleaching steps and flour treatment. Experimental data showed SEM acting as osteolathyrogen agent, but few toxicological data are available in susceptible life-stages. This study aimed to evaluate effects of SEM oral administration for 28 days at 0, 40, 75, 140mg/kg bw day during the juvenile period in Sprague–Dawley rats. Histopatological examinations of: epiphyseal cartilage – potential target of SEM lathyrogen action - testes, ovary, uterus, thyroid, thymus, spleen, adrenals, representative of the main developing organs relevant to juvenile toxicity, and neurobehavioural tests in males, were performed. Mortality at high and mid dose levels and significantly decreased body weight gain were observed in males even at the lowest dose. Lack of mineralization in cartilage at all dose levels was present. Marked alterations of spontaneous motor and exploratory behaviours were evident even at 40mg/kg. Histological alterations were observed in all tissues; thyroid and ovary effects were present also at 40mg/kg. The present study indicate that the NOAEL in juvenile rats is lower than 40mg/kg for SEM oral administration. SEM administration during juvenile period exerted pleiotropic effects and further studies are suggested to elucidate mechanisms.

This paper reports the electrochemical treatment of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in the effluent from an industrial wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). While most of the previous research focused on the electrochemical degradation of perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfonate in model solutions, this work studies the simultaneous removal of 8 PFASs at environmentally relevant concentrations in real industrial emissions, which also contained organic matter and inorganic anions. The overall PFASs content in the WWTP effluent was 1652 µg/L, which emphasized the need to develop innovative technologies for the management of PFASs emissions. 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonamide alkylbetaine (6:2 FTAB) and 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2 FTSA) were the major contributors (92% w/w) to the overall PFASs content, that also contained significant amounts of short-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs). Using a boron doped diamond (BDD) anode of 0.0070 m2, the effluent (2 L) was treated by applying a current density of 50 mA/cm2 for 10 h, that resulted in 99.7% PFASs removal. The operation at lower current densities (5 and 10 mA/cm2) evidenced the initial degradation of 6:2 fluorotelomers into perfluoroheptanoic and perfluorohexanoic acids, that were later degraded into shorter chain PFCAs. The high TOC removal, >90%, and the fluoride release revealed that PFASs mineralization was effective. These results highlight the potential of the electrochemical technology for the treatment of PFASs contained in industrial wastewaters, which nowadays stands as the main source of this group of persistent pollutants into the environment.