Analytical grade (AG) and industrial grade (IG) of three-food grade antioxidants butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and propyl paraben (PP) were analyzed to prove their fungitoxic effect on Aspergillus section Flavi strains. The effect of interactions among 10 antioxidant treatments at water activity levels (0.982, 0.955, 0.937 aW) for 11 and 35 days of incubation and at 25 °C in peanut grains on mycelial growth (CFU g(-1)) and aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)) accumulation were evaluated. Both antioxidant grade treatments had a significant effect (P < 0.001) on fungal count. All antioxidant treatments showed the highest effectiveness on control of growth of peanut aflatoxigenic strains at 0.937 aW and at 11 days of incubation. Overall, AG and IG binary mixtures M3 (20 + 10 mM), M4 (20 + 20 mM) and ternary mixtures M5 (10 + 10 +10 mM), M6 (10 + 20 + 10 mM), M7 (20 + 10 + 10 mM) and M8 (20 + 20 + 10 mM) were the treatments most effective at inhibiting growth of Aspergillus section Flavi strains. Industrial grade BHA 10 and 20 mM, binary mixtures M1 (10 + 10 mM), M2 (10 + 20 mM), M3 (20 + 10 mM), M4 (20 + 20 mM) and ternary mixtures M5 (10 + 10 + 10 mM), M6 (10 + 20 + 10 mM), M7 (20 + 10 + 10 mM) and M8 (20 + 20 + 10 mM) completely inhibited AFB1 production. The studied results suggest that IG antioxidant mixtures have potential for controlling growth of these mycotoxigenic species and prevent aflatoxin accumulation at the peanut storage system.

Usando la técnica de espectrometría gamma y protocolos estandarizados, a nivel latinoamericano, se midió la actividad específica en Bq kg-1 de productos alimentarios y agua, ambos productos fueron adquiridos directamente en los supermercados. Los descendientes de uranio y torio, así como isótopos antropogénicos, no fueron encontrados. K 40 es el único isótopo natural presente en los productos.

More and more people in Bangladesh have recently become aware of the risk of drinking arsenic-contaminated groundwater, and have been trying to obtain drinking water from less arsenic-contaminated sources. In this study, arsenic intakes of 18 families living in one block of a rural village in an arsenic-affected district of Bangladesh were evaluated to investigate their actual arsenic intake via food, including from cooking water, and to estimate the contribution of each food category and of drinking water to the total arsenic intake. Water consumption rates were estimated by the self-reporting method. The mean drinking water intake was estimated as about 3 L/d without gender difference. Arsenic intakes from food were evaluated by the duplicate portion sampling method. The duplicated foods from each family were divided into four categories (cooked rice, solid food, cereals for breakfast, and liquid food), and the arsenic concentrations of each food category and of the drinking water were measured. The mean arsenic intake from water and food by all 18 respondents was 0.15 ± 0.11 mg/d (range, 0.043 - 0.49), that by male subjects was 0.18 ± 0.13 mg/d (n = 12) and that by female subjects was 0.096 ± 0.007 mg/d (n = 6). The average contributions to the total arsenic intake were, from drinking water, 13%; liquid food, 4.4%; cooked rice, 56%; solid food, 11%; and cereals, 16%. Arsenic intake via drinking water was not high despite the highly contaminated groundwater in the survey area because many families had changed their drinking water sources to less-contaminated ones. Instead, cooked rice contributed most to the daily arsenic intake. Use of contaminated water for cooking by several families was suspected based on comparisons of arsenic concentrations between drinking water and liquid food, and between rice before and after cooking. Detailed investigation suggested that six households used contaminated water for cooking but not drinking, leading to an increase of arsenic intake via arsenic-contaminated cooking water.

Central Asian water planning following international policy recommendations and 'blue prints' has caused more harm rather than benefiting local communities. International research has not been sufficient to contribute in practical terms to water and food security. This paper reflects potential factors that limit understanding the complexity of water management in Central Asia. Five factors are identified which prevent cross linking of research across international boundaries and within countries. These are: (1) language, (2) access, (3) wikipediarism, (4) smattering and (5) outdating. To change the situation two factors are still missing - a lost generation of local experts and an internal critical review.