Analysis of Chemical Biomarkers and Contaminants in Food

Dear Colleagues,

The development of multidisciplinary approaches has become more and more important in the study of food-derived diseases and in the chemical evaluation of this basic aspect of nutrition.

The presence of contaminants in foods is a topic of concern both in science and popular culture. There is a growing interest in the main and side effects of foodstuffs from a nutritional and dietary point of view. Moreover, toxicology and epidemiology research need a quantitative evaluation of chemical biomarkers to correlate the effect of food chemical components with development/downturn of pathologies. The undesirable contaminant compounds may have a different origin: They may be degradation products of food components (natural or anthropogenic), environmental pollutants, or substances deriving from technological processes. Many of the components of food that seem indifferent at first glance can be revealed to be harmful by deeper investigation. On the contrary, some naturally present or added food components may contribute to making food healthier.

The availability of analytical techniques of increasing selectivity and sensitivity has boosted the ability to detect traces of food contaminants and biomarkers in a more and more accurate and reproducible way. Through the development of molecular screening techniques, such as omics, the list of molecules with toxicological/beneficial properties continues to grow.

The broad extension of this Special Issue should be focused on the development and application of analytical technologies for targeted and non-targeted detection of food contaminants and bioactive components. Particular attention should be paid to the correlation of their levels in food with toxicological risk and with the onset of diseases. Food chemical safety control methods have to involve both small molecules and macromolecules analytical determination; matrix effects should be studied in detail.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Applied Sciences.

Prof. Dr. Claudio Medana
Dr. Federica Dal Bello
Guest Editor

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