OBJECTIVE: High water consumption has been proposed as an aid to weight control and as a means of reducing the energy density of the diet. This study examines the relationship between water consumption and other drinking and eating patterns. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999 to 2001, with responses from 4755 individuals [>/=]18 years of age, provides the data for this cross-sectional analysis. A cluster analysis was performed using z-scores of specific food and beverage consumption to examine patterns. A multinomial logit analysis was used to examine sociodemographic characteristics of each dietary pattern and to examine the effects of water consumption on the likelihood of consuming a non-dairy caloric beverage. All results were weighted to be nationally representative and controlled for design effects. RESULTS: Within the sample, 87% consumed water, with an average daily consumption of 51.9 oz (1.53 liters) per consumer. Water consumers drank fewer soft/fruit drinks and consumed 194 fewer calories per day. Water consumers (potentially a self-selected sample) consumed more fruits, vegetables, and low- and medium-fat dairy products. Four distinct unhealthy dietary patterns were found that included little or no water consumption. Older and more educated persons used healthier food patterns. Mexican dietary patterns were much healthier than dietary patterns of blacks. DISCUSSION: Water consumption potentially is a dietary component to be promoted, but much more must be understood about its role in a healthy diet. Because high water consumption is linked with healthier eating patterns--patterns more likely to be followed by higher-educated, older adults--the target of water promotion and healthy diet options should focus on younger and less educated adults.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are a class of highly toxic and unremitting organic pollutants that are widely distributed in the natural environment. In this work, a metal-organic framework (MOF) designated as HKUST-1 [Cu₃(BTC)₂] was synthesized, characterized, and applied as a solid-phase extraction sorbent for the determination of a trace polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, anthracene (Ant) as model compound, in various real samples by spectrofluorimetry. The synthesized MOF exhibited large surface areas and high extraction ability, making it excellent candidate as sorbent for enrichment of trace anthracene. The effects of influential parameters on the performance of the dispersive micro-solid-phase extraction (Dμ-SPE) process, such as the initial anthracene concentration, pH, sorbent dosage, and shaking time, were investigated and optimized by the experiment design method. Under the optimized experimental conditions, good linearity in the range of 3–85 ng mL⁻¹ with correlation coefficient 0.997 and good sensitivity with low detection limit 0.5 ng mL⁻¹ for Ant was achieved. The method has been validated in the analysis of real tap water, soft drink, and vegetable juice samples with recoveries in the range of 86.33–103.00% and relative standard deviations in the range of 1.94–3.77%. The as-prepared HKUST-1 was used for at least four times without any obvious decline of extraction capability. The results of this study show the great potential of MOFs as sorbents in Dμ-SPE procedures for the separation and determination of trace Ant in complicated matrices.

In the current study, we have developed a green water switchable liquid–liquid microextraction method for separation, preconcentration, and estimation of selenium concentration in the real samples. First time introducing the water switchable liquid–liquid microextraction method to determine the trace level selenium in different food and soft drink samples. Water switchable medium was formed by the reaction of diethylenetriamine base when exposed to uniformed pressure of carbon dioxide. After being exposed to carbon dioxide, water switchable medium reversibly exchanges in two separated aqueous and organic phases. Advantages of carbon dioxide uses are cheap, environmental friendly, non-accumulation, removable, and require the opaque materials for operating container. Water switchable phenomena occurred easily from low polarity to high polarity organic solvent. Experimental variables of the water switchable liquid–liquid microextraction (LLME) method were optimized into its optimum values such as pressure, pH, centrifugation speed, extraction time, and concentration of complexing agent. The certified reference material of Canada Lake Water (TMDA-53.3) and CS-M-3 Mushroom (Boletus edulis) was used for validation of the present water switchable LLME method. Enhancement factor and limit of detection were obtained 85.5 and 0.018 μg kg⁻¹, respectively. Developed green water switchable LLME method was successfully applied for assessment of total selenium in tomato, pumpkin seed, mushroom, garlic, rice, pistachio, chickpea, hazelnut, walnut, apple juice, and ice tea samples.