Pb, Cd and Hg in muscles of flathead mullet (Mugil cephalus), collected from Bocca di Magra, La Spezia (Ligurian Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Italy), were determined using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry after microwave digestion for Pb and Cd and direct mercury analyser for Hg. Average Pb concentrations varied in the range 0.20-0.24 mg/kg, whereas Cd and Hg levels were negligible. None of the tested 200 samples exceeded the European regulatory limits as set by EC 1881/2006 and 420/2011. Metal concentrations in fish muscles were assessed for human consumption according to provisional tolerable weekly intake. The estimated values of Pb, Cd and Hg in M. cephalus's edible parts in this study were below the values established by the Joint WHO/FAO Expert Committee on Food Additives. Therefore, it can be concluded that there is no health problem in human consumption.

In recent years a significant increase in food supplements consumption has been observed, maybe in the belief that they couldn’t be dangerous for consumers health, even if they don’t achieved medical effects. However, environmental pollution can cause heavy metals contamination that could exceed maximum levels established by European legislation. Aim of this work was to evaluate arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead and mercury content in 12 food supplements seized in a Piedmont shop by the Italian authority against food adulteration. All metals were analysed after mineralization and dilution steps by ICP-MS, with the exception of mercury, detected by the direct analyser TDA-AAS. Only one sample exceed the European maximum limits for lead (3,00 mg/kg) but warning levels of chromium (over 3,00 mg/Kg) has been detected in three of them.

Aim of this investigation was to evaluate heavy metals contamination (mercury, cadmium and lead) in fish and shellfish from Ligurian Sea. 58 muscle samples (45 fish and 13 shellfish) were collected and analyzed. 20 samples exceeded the maximum residue limits (MRLs) set by regulation for mercury (16 fish and 4 shellfish samples), while only one fish sample was not consistent with the MRL for lead. Therefore, 35,8% of Ligurian fishing turned out to be not adequate and potentially harmful for consumers. In order to estimate the real risk for human health it is necessary to enforce this study, correlating the results with fish species and with the effective fish consumption.

In the period between 2005 and 2008 was carried out a survey on 252 samples of raw bovine milk collected in Turin departement to certain levels of contamination by heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Fe, Hg, Pb, Zn), PCB and organophosphorus and organochlorine pesticides. These results argue that the levels of heavy metals, PCB and pesticides are well below what is expected by the European legislation and that the situation is under control and that raw milk meets the hygiene requirements for human health.

Contaminants like heavy metals could remain in milk and its by-products if forage used for ruminant nutrition is contaminated with high levels of these elements. In EU maximum levels (LMR)are established only for lead in milk. In Russia limits have been fixed for different heavy metals in milk and dairy products; for this reason exporting countries, including Italy, have to demonstrate the conformity of their products to the expected limits. IZSPLV analysed 18 cheese samples to research lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury. All samples were negative and could be exported toRussia.

SUMMARY Honey may be viewed as an environmental marker and can be an helpful tool to assess heavy metals contamination. In 2007-2009 we conducted a first screening on honey samples from Piedmont Region to evaluate Cadmium, Chromium and Lead content. Cd and Cr levels resulted lower than LOQ, while Pb levels, even if not concerning, are to keep under control.

Many investigators have employed honeybees or honeybee products (honey, wax, pollen) as tools for assessing environmental pollution in industrial areas. Several reports refer of their utility in monitoring environmental radionuclides or heavy metal contamination. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential impact of pollution on Biella area, located in the east of Piedmont region. A survey of 6 apiaries was carried out, samples of: honey, beeswax, bees and pollen were collected and analyzed for: pesticides and PCB, neonicotinoides and heavy metal; by GC/MS, LC/MS/MS or AAS. We found 23% of samples of bees contained neonicotinoides, suggesting the correlation with bees mortality.

Honey may be viewed as an environmental marker and can be an helpful tool to assess heavy metals contamination. In 2007-2009 we conducted a first screening on honey samples from Piedmont Region to evaluate Cadmium, Chromium and Lead content. Cd and Cr levels resulted lower than LOQ, while Pb levels, even if not concerning, are to keep under control.

During the period between october 2007 and november 2008 were collected 60 samples of powdered infant formula. The analysis for the detection of heavy metals, organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticides show that the environmental situation is under control and powdered infant formula satisfies this health requisite.

The contamination of food by chemical is a worldwide public health concern and is a leading cause of trade problems internationally. Contamination may occur through environmental pollution of air, water and soil, such as heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Fe, Hg, Pb), PCB and dioxins, or through the intentional use of various pesticides and other agrochemicals. The AA controlled, during 2007, 26 samples of milk, 2 samples of dessert and 32 samples of cheese coming from UE to the area of the City of Turin. The collected demonstrate that the environmental situation is under control and the milk, dessert and cheese fully satisfy this health requisite.

Mercury levels in 61 complete pet feed containing fish were evaluated. In five samples a mercury content exceeding the maximum residues level (0.4 mg/kg) was detected. The statistical evaluation didn’t show a significant correlation between the percentage of fish in feedingstuffs and the contamination level.