A Study on Geophagy by Asian Elephants at Udawalawe National Park,Sri Lanka

Geophagy is the deliberate consumption of earth materials such as soils,clays or sediments by human and animals.The ingested soil is chosen based on its physical,chemical,and mineralogical nature.Early studies reveal that geophagy functions through(1) adsorption/absorption of ingested toxic plant compounds onto clay particles,(2)mineral supplementation (Na,Mn,K,and S as the possible candidates),and(3)

Geophagy(rock eating),experimental stress and cognitive idiosyncrasy

Objective:To discusse the impact of geophagy on liehavior and conditioned-reflex activity of Wistar rats subjected to instrumental stress under experimental conditions.Methods:Experimental geophagy was simulated by adding zeolite-containing tuff(clinoptilolite)to animal feed,the amount relating to 2%of body mass.Tuff was obtained from areas where animals usually eat subsurface rock.Search activity of animals and peculiarities of information and emotional stress were studied through the use of a universal problem chamber.Results:The results of this experimental study showed the negative impact of instrumental stress on laboratory animals,manifested in behavioral dysfunction,in the form of changes in qualitative and quantitative characteristics of search activity.Experimental geophagy contributed to significant improvement in behavioral parameters,confirming the anti-stress effects of the use of natural ingredients.Conclusions:These results suggest that,in natural environmental conditions, "edible" rocks serve as an adaptive tool for recovery from various types of environmental stresses,and are examples of self-medication.

Incidents with Dioxins and PCBs in Food and Feed-Investigative Work, Risk Management and Economic Consequences

The identification of contamination sources within the food chain with polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-furans (PCDFs), (“dioxins”), and PCBs is difficult and complex. PCDD/PCDF can be formed as unintentional compounds in a number of chemical processes as well as in almost every combustion process. PCBs were intentionally produced chemicals that were manufactured for decades before the ban in marketing and use in many countries around 1985. The pattern of occurrence can change from the original source in particular via feedingstuffs to food of animal origin as result of bioaccumulation. A number of examples illustrate the challenging detective work and key scientific aspects for identification of the sources, for support of the risk management and for performance of monitoring programs. The contamination of milk and milk products in European countries with dioxins was caused by compound feeds containing citrus pulp pellets from Brazil which had high dioxin levels as a result of the use of heavily contaminated lime used for neutralization. The Belgian dioxin crisis was caused by a feed additive heavily contaminated with PCBs which were discharged into a recycled fat used in the production of animal feed. Guar gum from India was contaminated with sodium pentachlorophenate and dioxins. Clay was found to be possibly highly contaminated with dioxins possibly formed by geothermal processes over time;use of such clay as feed additive or for human intake led to elevated dioxin levels in food and humans. Bioanalytical screening in combination with comprehensive physicochemical investigations led to the detection of brominated flame retardants and brominated dioxins in a feed additive. Buffalo milk was contaminated in Italy presumably caused by illegal deposition of waste. High PCB levels in fuel oil for drying of breadcrumb used as a feed ingredient caused a major dioxin crisis with pork meat in Ireland. Fatty acids for technical purposes originating from a biodiesel company were used for production of feed fat which contaminated parts of the food chain in Germany. In addition to effects on human and animal health these incidents also have serious economic consequences which could be mitigated by more frequent control on food and feed. Addressing both these issues, the European Community has developed a strategy to reduce the presence of dioxins and PCBs in the environment and in feed and food comprising the establishment of maximum and action levels.