The investigations of quality of vegetable oil delivered as 'Humanitarian aid'

Abstract

The result of examination of oil of unknown origin from the crisis territory as follows: the examined oil has qualities permissible for human nutrition. The examination of contained quantity of contaminants and heavy metals showed that ingredients were not higher than values prescribed by the Statute, except for lead. It is on the upper limit. Contents of radionuclides range within the limits of average values. The quantity is not dangerous for human food. However, the present methods and the existing apparatus are not developed enough, so there is ignorance of the total structure of the sample. There is a possibility of substances being present in very low quantities, first of all, cancerogenic substances or substances which can provoke somatic or genetic changes. Paracelsius said: 'Everything is toxic, but it depends of dose'. That 'dose' is the main cause of consequences (therapeutic, toxic or lethal) which begin as a result of carrying contaminated substances into human organism.

Ispitivanje ulja nepoznatog porekla sa kriznih područja pokazalo je da se radi o ulju kvaliteta dozvoljenog za ljudsku ishranu. Ispitivanja sadržaja kontaminatora i teških metala pokazalo je da primese nisu vise od dopuštenih i zakonom determinisanih vrednosti, osim olova koje se nalazi na samoj gornjoj granici. Sadržaj radionuklida nalazi se u granicama prosečnih vrednosti i ne predstavlja opasnost za ljude pri konzumiranju ulja. Ono što upućuje na oprez je da sadašnje metode i postojeća aparatura nisu dovoljno razvijene pa ostaje nepoznanica o supstancama koje se nalaze u veoma niskim koncentracijama - u prvom redu kancerogenih agenasa ili supstanci koje izazivaju somatske ili genetske promene. Ali, kao što je rekao još Paracelzijus 'sve je otrovno samo zavisi od doze', ta 'doza' je glavni uzrok posledica (terapeutskim, toksičnim ili letalnim) koje nastaju kao rezultat konzumiranja kontaminiranih supstanci.