The study aimed to determine the content of 17 elements (Al, As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Sr, and Zn) in samples of sheep milk, cheese, and whey (36 samples in total) collected from a farm in an environmentally burdened area due to the long-term mining and industrial activity in Slovakia as well as to determine the possible risk of consumption via health risk assessment calculations. Consumption of 120 g of milk, 500 g of milk, 20 g of cheese, and 100 g of cheese were used in calculations for children and adults, respectively. According to the results, concentrations of four elements are controversial. Lead concentrations in all types of samples exceeded the maximum permissible lead limit in milk set by European Union legislation. The content of Se and As is problematic for children’s consumption, and the target hazard quotient for As and Al is higher than one (considered potentially not safe) in all scenarios. According to the target system approach, lead concentrations in milk and cheese could adversely influence the nervous system and kidneys of adults’ and children’s developmental and reproductive systems. Considering the worst-case scenario, consuming sheep milk and cheese from the monitored areas could represent a risk and be potentially harmful to human health, mainly for children. However, further monitoring of the levels of elements and concentrations in environmentally burdened areas and more robust data on consumption are needed.

Wild-growing edible mushrooms contain many biologically valuable substances. However, they are considered a risk commodity due to their extremely high capacity for bioaccumulation of potential risk elements and pollutants from the environment. Four bolete mushrooms from the genus Leccinum were collected from 16 forested areas of Slovakia from June to October 2019. The total mercury content in soil and fruiting body parts was determined by an AMA-254 Advanced Mercury Analyzer. Soil pollution by total mercury was evaluated by contamination factor ($C_f^i$). Bioaccumulation factor (BCF), translocation factor (Qc/s), percentage of provisional tolerable weekly intake (%PTWI), and target hazard quotient (THQ) were used to describe and compare uptake and transition abilities of mushrooms, and the health risk arising from consumption of the mushrooms. Total mercury content varied between 0.05 to 0.61 mg kg⁻¹ DW in the soil/substrate samples, and between 0.16 and 5.82 (caps), and 0.20 and 3.50 mg kg⁻¹ DW (stems) in fruiting body samples. None of the analyzed locations represented a health risk based on %PTWI values, however, three locations may pose a significant health risk from the perspective of THQ values.

Sweet potatoes are reported to be a good source of bioactive compounds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of different heat treatment methods (microwaving, steaming, and baking) and variety on the total polyphenol content and antioxidant activity of three sweet potato varieties – Beauregard (orange-fleshed), O’Henry (white-fleshed), and 414-purple (purple-fleshed). All investigated parameters were determined spectrophotometrically. The total polyphenol content was in the range of 0.53 (O’Henry) – 5.60 mg GAE.g-1 DW (414-purple) for raw flesh and 1.68 (O’Henry) – 7.03 mg GAE.g-1 DW (414-purple) for raw peel of sweet potatoes. Heat treatments caused an increase of total polyphenol content in sweet potatoes (0.98 (steamed O’Henry) – 28.04 mg GAE.g-1 DW (baked 414-purple)). In terms of antioxidant activity, the steamed samples of variety 414-purple showed the highest values of DPPH radical scavenging activity (4.51 µmol TE.g-1 DW) and Ferric reducing antioxidant power assay (19.57 µmol TE.g-1 DW) compared to the other treatment methods. Spearman´s test showed a strong positive relationship between both used methods for evaluation of antioxidant activity. All studied processing methods positively affected the total polyphenol content and antioxidant activity in sweet potatoes.

Risk elements in blood matrices can affect human health status through associations with biomarkers at multiple levels. The aim of this study was to analyze 15 macro- and microelements in the blood serum of women with overweight (BMI of ≥25 kg/m²) and obesity (BMI of ≥30 kg/m²) and to examine possible associations with biochemical, liver enzymatic parameters, and markers of oxidative stress. Based on the power calculation, the study involved women (in the postmenopausal stage) with overweight (n = 26) and obesity (n = 22), aged between 50–65 years. Multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis was used to measure body composition parameters. Concentrations of elements were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry, and Hg was measured using cold-vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy. Individuals with obesity, as indicated by a higher BMI, percentage of body fat, and visceral fat area, had elevated serum levels of Ca, Mg, Fe, Al, Sr, Pb, and Hg. Concentrations of Al, Cu, K, Sb, Zn, and Pb significantly affected biochemical and liver function markers in women with overweight or obesity. Elements such as Cu and Al were associated with increased total cholesterol. The correlation analysis between total antioxidant status and Cu, Al, and Ni confirmed associations in both groups. Our findings underscore the importance of addressing excess body weight and obesity in relation to risk elements. The results of the research could be beneficial in identifying potential targets for the treatment or prevention of comorbidities in people with obesity.

The edible mushroom Amanita rubescens Pers., regularly collected and consumed in Slovakia, was assessed for health risk due to the mercury content in its fruiting body parts. For this purpose, 364 both from the soil/substrate and mushroom samples from 40 localities in Slovakia were evaluated. At the same time, 21 samples of 7 developmental stages of the fruiting body of A. rubescens were taken in the Žakýlske pleso locality. The total mercury content in the soil and mushroom samples was determined using an AMA-254 analyzer. The contamination factor (C _f) and index of geoaccumulation (I _geo) were used to detect the level of soil pollution by mercury. The ability of A. rubescens to accumulate mercury from the soil environment was evaluated using the bioconcentration factor (BCF), and the distribution of mercury in the mushroom body was evaluated using the translocation quotient (Q _c/s). To determine the health risks resulting from mushroom consumption, the percentages of provisional tolerable weekly intake (%PTWI) and target hazard quotient (THQ) were used. The obtained results have confirmed serious content of mercury soil pollution, especially in former mining areas, where the situation is alarming from a health risk point of view. Consumption of A. rubescens was found to be risky, not only in former mining areas, but higher values of mercury were also detected in other parts of Slovakia. Evaluation of the developmental stages of the fruiting body of A. rubescens showed that the highest bioconcentration factor was determined at developmental stage no. VI for caps with a value of 2.47 mg kg⁻¹ and developmental stage VII for stipes with a value of 1.65 mg kg⁻¹ DW.

Twenty-eight beekeepers around Slovakia were included in the research to evaluate the presence of mercury in honeybee bodies and selected bee-related products: bee pollen and honey. The samples were collected in May, June, and July (honeybee bodies only in May and June). During this period, moss and lichen bags for air quality assessment were exposed around the beehives and relative accumulation factor (RAF) was used for its evaluation. Mercury content in evaluated bioindicators was determined using AMA 254 analyser. Percentage of provisional tolerable intake (%PTWI) and target hazard quotient (THQ) were used to determine health risks related to bee pollen and honey consumption. Around the beehives the proportion of landscape structure elements was determined for each sampling locality, using a geographical informational system QGIS. The aim of the study was a comprehensive evaluation of the mercury content in the environment around beehives using several bioindicators and an assessment of the relationship between the presence of mercury pollution and the proportion of landscape structure elements in the vicinity of the beehives. The study also aimed to evaluate the transfer of contaminants between bee bodies and bee-related products and the health risks resulting from their consumption.