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Infant formula is a common source of food and nutrition for many infants and toddlers. However, the presence of contaminants, such as toxic metals, may pose increased health risks to infants. An investigation on the occurrence of the toxic metals: lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) in baby formula marketed in Lebanon was performed. Infant formula samples were collected from 39 brands over two production dates (78 samples in total) and analyzed for the metals using inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). As, Pb and Cd were observed in 59%, 8% and 10% of infant formula brands, respectively. The Pb, Cd and As contamination levels were 31.0–1040 μg/kg, 38.0–476 μg/kg and 12.0–251 μg/kg, respectively. There was no significant difference (p < 0.05) in the concentrations of the toxic metals amongst the various infant formula based on packaging (metal container, aluminum sachet), types (milk-based, corn-based, soy-based), and classification (beginner, beginner, special, continuation). The infant formula samples which contained detectable levels of Pb, Cd and As had higher concentrations of these metals compared to breast milk and infants have a higher average weekly intake of these metals through infant formula. Findings from this study indicate that infant formula is a source of toxic metal exposure for infants.
Jomana Elaridi; Hani Dimassi; Osama Al Yamani; Maria Estephan; Hussein F. Hassan. Determination of lead, cadmium and arsenic in infant formula in the Lebanese market. Food Control 2020, 123, 107750 .
AMA StyleJomana Elaridi, Hani Dimassi, Osama Al Yamani, Maria Estephan, Hussein F. Hassan. Determination of lead, cadmium and arsenic in infant formula in the Lebanese market. Food Control. 2020; 123 ():107750.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJomana Elaridi; Hani Dimassi; Osama Al Yamani; Maria Estephan; Hussein F. Hassan. 2020. "Determination of lead, cadmium and arsenic in infant formula in the Lebanese market." Food Control 123, no. : 107750.
Cereals are prone to fungal infection during growth, harvesting, transportation, and/or storage. As a result, cereals such as wheat grains and wheat-derived products may be contaminated with mycotoxins leading to acute and chronic health exposure. The current study investigated the presence of the mycotoxins: ochratoxin A (OTA), ochratoxin B (OTB), T-2, and HT-2 toxins in samples of wheat grains (n = 50), wheat flour (n = 50), and bread (n = 37) from the main mills in Lebanon using LC-MS/MS. Accuracy ranged from 98–100%, recoveries from 93–105%, and intraday and interday precision were 5–7% and 9–12%, respectively. The tested wheat grains, wheat flour, and bread samples did not contain detectable levels of T-2 and HT-2 toxins and OTB. Four wheat flour samples (8% of flour samples) showed positive OTA levels ranging from 0.6–3.4 μg·kg−1 with an arithmetic mean of 1.9 ± 0.2 μg·kg−1. Only one sample contained an OTA concentration greater than the limit set by the European Union (3 μg·kg−1) for wheat-derived products. This study suggests that mycotoxin contamination of wheat grains, wheat flour, and bread in Lebanon is currently not a serious public health concern. However, surveillance strategies and monitoring programs must be routinely implemented to ensure minimal mycotoxin contamination of wheat-based products.
Jomana Elaridi; Osama Yamani; Amira Al Matari; Saada Dakroub; Zouhair Attieh. Determination of Ochratoxin A (OTA), Ochratoxin B (OTB), T-2, and HT-2 Toxins in Wheat Grains, Wheat Flour, and Bread in Lebanon by LC-MS/MS. Toxins 2019, 11, 471 .
AMA StyleJomana Elaridi, Osama Yamani, Amira Al Matari, Saada Dakroub, Zouhair Attieh. Determination of Ochratoxin A (OTA), Ochratoxin B (OTB), T-2, and HT-2 Toxins in Wheat Grains, Wheat Flour, and Bread in Lebanon by LC-MS/MS. Toxins. 2019; 11 (8):471.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJomana Elaridi; Osama Yamani; Amira Al Matari; Saada Dakroub; Zouhair Attieh. 2019. "Determination of Ochratoxin A (OTA), Ochratoxin B (OTB), T-2, and HT-2 Toxins in Wheat Grains, Wheat Flour, and Bread in Lebanon by LC-MS/MS." Toxins 11, no. 8: 471.
Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) and ochratoxin A (OTA) are hepatotoxin and nephrotoxin mycotoxins, respectively. An investigation on their presence in baby formulae marketed in Lebanon was conducted. Infant formula samples were collected from 42 brands over two production dates (n = 84) during 2017–2018 and analyzed for AFM1 and OTA using competitive-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Mean (±standard deviation) of AFM1 and OTA concentrations were determined to be 20.1 ± 1.3 ng/kg and 0.37 ± 0.10 μg/kg, respectively. In terms of AFM1, level of contamination ranged between not detected and 48.1 ng/L; 13 (31%) brands had an average level above the European Commission (EC) limit. With respect to OTA, contamination level ranged between not detected and 0.96 μg/kg; 14 (33%) brands had an average level above the EC limit. Five (12%) brands had both AFM1 and OTA levels above EC limits. Differences in the contamination level in each brand vs. average of all others, between production dates, and between seasons were assessed. There was a significant (p < 0.05) difference in AFM1 and OTA levels among 37 (88%) and 14 (33%) brands, respectively, compared to the average of all others. There was a significant (p < 0.05) difference between production dates for AFM1, but not for OTA. No significant (p < 0.05) difference was found between fall/winter and spring/summer for both mycotoxins. This study is the first-of-its-kind concerning the safety assessment of infant formulas regarding mycotoxins in Lebanon.
Jomana Elaridi; Hani Dimassi; Hussein Hassan. Aflatoxin M1 and ochratoxin A in baby formulae marketed in Lebanon: Occurrence and safety evaluation. Food Control 2019, 106, 106680 .
AMA StyleJomana Elaridi, Hani Dimassi, Hussein Hassan. Aflatoxin M1 and ochratoxin A in baby formulae marketed in Lebanon: Occurrence and safety evaluation. Food Control. 2019; 106 ():106680.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJomana Elaridi; Hani Dimassi; Hussein Hassan. 2019. "Aflatoxin M1 and ochratoxin A in baby formulae marketed in Lebanon: Occurrence and safety evaluation." Food Control 106, no. : 106680.
The synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of novel nucleobase (adenine/thymine)-conjugated naphthalenediimides (NDIs), namely, NDI-AA, NDI-TT, and NDI-AT have been successfully achieved. NDI-AA, NDI-TT and NDI-AT have similar absorption in the 300–400 nm region. The effect of solvent on the absorption spectrum indicates aggregation, either through intermolecular π-σ interaction among the main chromophore or through intermolecular hydrogen bonding between adenine and adenine group. Addition of water does not assist hydrogen bond formation between thymine-thymine, rather increasing the polarity of the solvent encourages π-σ interaction among NDI-TTs. No spectral change for NDI-TT with increasing temperature confirms hydrogen bonding is not playing a crucial role in NDI-TT. A fluorescence study on NDI-AA also establishes excimer formation along with ground state aggregation. As the water content in the solvent mixture increases, aggregation of NDI-AA is discouraged due to adenine-adenine hydrogen bonding in accordance with earlier results. At the same time, the NDI-TT emission spectrum does not shift to the blue region and the intensity of the peak around 535 nm increases at the expense of fluorescence in 411 nm. Thus, increasing water content in the solvent mixture facilitates aggregation through π-σ interaction in NDI-TT as thymine-thymine hydrogen bonding is less pronounced.
Digambara Patra; Nadine Al Homsi; Sara Jaafar; Zeina Neouchy; Jomana Elaridi; Ali Koubeissi; Kamal H. Bouhadir. Spectroscopic Evaluation of Novel Adenine/Thymine-Conjugated Naphthalenediimides: Preference of Adenine-Adenine over Thymine-Thymine Intermolecular Hydrogen Bonding in Adenine- and Thymine-Functionalized Naphthalenediimides. Journal of Fluorescence 2019, 29, 307 -318.
AMA StyleDigambara Patra, Nadine Al Homsi, Sara Jaafar, Zeina Neouchy, Jomana Elaridi, Ali Koubeissi, Kamal H. Bouhadir. Spectroscopic Evaluation of Novel Adenine/Thymine-Conjugated Naphthalenediimides: Preference of Adenine-Adenine over Thymine-Thymine Intermolecular Hydrogen Bonding in Adenine- and Thymine-Functionalized Naphthalenediimides. Journal of Fluorescence. 2019; 29 (1):307-318.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDigambara Patra; Nadine Al Homsi; Sara Jaafar; Zeina Neouchy; Jomana Elaridi; Ali Koubeissi; Kamal H. Bouhadir. 2019. "Spectroscopic Evaluation of Novel Adenine/Thymine-Conjugated Naphthalenediimides: Preference of Adenine-Adenine over Thymine-Thymine Intermolecular Hydrogen Bonding in Adenine- and Thymine-Functionalized Naphthalenediimides." Journal of Fluorescence 29, no. 1: 307-318.
The present cross-sectional study is aimed at analyzing the breast milk of lactating mothers in Hamadan, Iran for aluminum and several minerals and trace elements. Ten governmental health care centers were utilized to facilitate collection of breast milk samples. The breast milk samples were collected at 1, 2, 6, 7, and 12 months postpartum from one hundred healthy lactating women, who delivered full-term newborns. Detection of sodium (Na), zinc (Zn), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), magnesium (Mg) and aluminum (Al) levels was conducted with the use of Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). This method has shown high accuracy, precision, sensitivity, and linearity for the wide range of concentrations. The accumulated data were not normally distributed; thus, the non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test was used in the statistical analysis of the results. Mean concentrations of Fe, Zn, Cu, Ca, Mg, and Na were 0.75, 1.38, 0.35, 255, 34.58, and 155.72 μg/mL, respectively. The mean level of Al, a well-known neurotoxic metal, was determined to be an alarming 0.191 μg/mL. Moreover, 95% of participants contained very harmful concentrations of Al in their milk. This study also revealed Zn deficiency in about 50% of milk samples. Further investigation is needed to elucidate sources of exposure and factors that may influence maternal and fetal exposure to aluminum.
Masoumeh Taravati Javad; Aliasghar Vahidinia; Fateme Samiee; Jomana Elaridi; Mostafa Leili; Javad Faradmal; Alireza Rahmani. Analysis of aluminum, minerals and trace elements in the milk samples from lactating mothers in Hamadan, Iran. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology 2018, 50, 8 -15.
AMA StyleMasoumeh Taravati Javad, Aliasghar Vahidinia, Fateme Samiee, Jomana Elaridi, Mostafa Leili, Javad Faradmal, Alireza Rahmani. Analysis of aluminum, minerals and trace elements in the milk samples from lactating mothers in Hamadan, Iran. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology. 2018; 50 ():8-15.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMasoumeh Taravati Javad; Aliasghar Vahidinia; Fateme Samiee; Jomana Elaridi; Mostafa Leili; Javad Faradmal; Alireza Rahmani. 2018. "Analysis of aluminum, minerals and trace elements in the milk samples from lactating mothers in Hamadan, Iran." Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology 50, no. : 8-15.
We report the preparation and characterization of three pyrimidine-based monomers, specifically: 1-(2-diallylaminoethyl)uracil, 1-(2-diallylaminoethyl)thymine and 1-(2-diallylaminoethyl)cytosine. Monomer synthesis was initiated by reaction of the pyrimidine with ethylene carbonate to form the hydroxyethyl adduct which was subsequently chlorinated to afford the chloroethyl intermediate. Reaction of the chloroethyl derivatives with diallylamine resulted in the desired monomers. We demonstrated a two-fold increase in the overall yield of the three monomers in comparison to reported procedures. The cyclopolymerization and cyclo-copolymerization of 1-(2-diallylaminoethyl)pyrimidine trifluoroacetate salts in water resulted in low-yield homopolymers. In contrast, the neutral 1-(2-diallylaminoethyl)pyrimidines cyclo-copolymerized with sulfur dioxide and V-50 initiator to yield the corresponding copolymers in higher yields ranging from 30 to 60%.
Jomana Elaridi; Alaa Ezzeddine; Lara Abramian; Ali Koubeissi; Nikolay Vladimirov; Kamal H. Bouhadir. Synthesis and polymerization of 1-(2-diallylaminoethyl)pyrimidines. Designed Monomers and Polymers 2018, 21, 64 -74.
AMA StyleJomana Elaridi, Alaa Ezzeddine, Lara Abramian, Ali Koubeissi, Nikolay Vladimirov, Kamal H. Bouhadir. Synthesis and polymerization of 1-(2-diallylaminoethyl)pyrimidines. Designed Monomers and Polymers. 2018; 21 (1):64-74.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJomana Elaridi; Alaa Ezzeddine; Lara Abramian; Ali Koubeissi; Nikolay Vladimirov; Kamal H. Bouhadir. 2018. "Synthesis and polymerization of 1-(2-diallylaminoethyl)pyrimidines." Designed Monomers and Polymers 21, no. 1: 64-74.
Exposure of newborns to toxic metals is of special interest due to their reported contamination in breast milk and potential harm. The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence and factors associated with lead, cadmium and arsenic contamination in breast milk collected from lactating mothers in Lebanon.A total of 74 breast milk samples were collected from primaparas according to guidelines set by the World Health Organization. A survey was administered to determine the demographic and anthropometric characteristics of participating lactating mothers. Dietary habits were assessed using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. The milk samples were analyzed for the presence of arsenic, cadmium and lead using microwave-assisted digestion and atomic absorption spectrophotometry.Arsenic contamination was found in 63.51% of breast milk samples (mean 2.36 ± 1.95 μg/L) whereas cadmium and lead were detected in 40.54% and 67.61% of samples respectively (means 0.87 ± 1.18 μg/L and 18.18 ± 13.31 μg/L). Regression analysis indicated that arsenic contamination was associated with cereal and fish intake (p = 0.013 and p = 0.042 respectively). Residence near cultivation activities (p = 0.008), smoking status before pregnancy (p = 0.046), potato consumption (p = 0.046) and education level (p = 0.041) were associated with lead contamination. Cadmium contamination was significantly associated with random smoke exposure (p = 0.002).Our study is the first in Lebanon to report toxic metal contamination in breast milk. Although estimated weekly infant intake of these metals from breast milk was found to be lower than the limit set by international guidelines, our results highlight the need for developing strategies to protect infants from exposure to these hazardous substances.
Maya Bassil; Farah Daou; Hussein Hassan; Osama Yamani; Joelle Abi Kharma; Zouheir Attieh; Jomana Elaridi. Lead, cadmium and arsenic in human milk and their socio-demographic and lifestyle determinants in Lebanon. Chemosphere 2018, 191, 911 -921.
AMA StyleMaya Bassil, Farah Daou, Hussein Hassan, Osama Yamani, Joelle Abi Kharma, Zouheir Attieh, Jomana Elaridi. Lead, cadmium and arsenic in human milk and their socio-demographic and lifestyle determinants in Lebanon. Chemosphere. 2018; 191 ():911-921.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMaya Bassil; Farah Daou; Hussein Hassan; Osama Yamani; Joelle Abi Kharma; Zouheir Attieh; Jomana Elaridi. 2018. "Lead, cadmium and arsenic in human milk and their socio-demographic and lifestyle determinants in Lebanon." Chemosphere 191, no. : 911-921.
Jomana Elaridi; Nour Bou Karroum; Kamal Bouhadir; Maamoun Fatfat; Hala Gali-Muhtasib. Preparation and biological evaluation of novel acylhydrazide derivatives of 2,3-dichloronaphthoquinone. Organic Communications 2017, 10, 122 -129.
AMA StyleJomana Elaridi, Nour Bou Karroum, Kamal Bouhadir, Maamoun Fatfat, Hala Gali-Muhtasib. Preparation and biological evaluation of novel acylhydrazide derivatives of 2,3-dichloronaphthoquinone. Organic Communications. 2017; 10 (2):122-129.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJomana Elaridi; Nour Bou Karroum; Kamal Bouhadir; Maamoun Fatfat; Hala Gali-Muhtasib. 2017. "Preparation and biological evaluation of novel acylhydrazide derivatives of 2,3-dichloronaphthoquinone." Organic Communications 10, no. 2: 122-129.