Antonia Griesbacher

Food additives (FAs) are intended to be used to improve the quality of food. Within the European Union, more than 300 FAs are currently authorized. Due to their intensive use, humans consume several different FAs daily. The amount and consumption of FAs themselves are influenced by their individual consumption patterns and brand loyalty. Although humans ingest mixtures of several FAs, the substances are still assessed on an individual basis. This study investigated potential cumulative health risks from FA mixtures using currently available toxicological, occurrence and food-consumption data. Forty-two relevant FAs and food additive groups were selected, as their estimated intake exceeded 50% of their corresponding acceptable daily intake (ADI) and they are authorized in relevant food categories. Toxicological data were screened for FAs, and their endpoints for liver, kidney, gastrointestinal, developmental toxicity, reproductive toxicity and hematotoxicity were identified. Based on the availability of toxicological and analytical data, a mixture of 18 FAs was considered. A potential health concern was identified for kidney toxicity (mRPI: 1.8–10.8, refined mRPI: 0.3–1.6) and developmental toxicity (mRPI: 13.6–56.1, refined mRPI: 0.9–3.1). The main risk drivers were steviol glycosides (E 960 a–d), contributing to 40% of nephrotoxicity risks and 18% of developmental toxicity risks, and glutamic acid—glutamates (E 620–625), contributing to 40% of developmental toxicity risks. The study demonstrates the applicability of the mRPI as a screening and prioritization tool for FA mixtures and highlights the need for improved occurrence and co-exposure data.

The WHO European Region has the lowest exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rates at 6 months in the world. In Austria, 55.5% of infants are EBF at the age of one week, although breastfeeding initiation is 97.5%. The study was conducted in 2019/2020 and considered 1214 mothers of legal age, who received four online questionnaires during their child’s first year of life. The influence of different variables on total/exclusive breastfeeding duration were analysed by using a Cox model (Extension of the Cox Proportional Hazards Model) with time-dependent covariates. Multivariate analyses showed a significant influence of maternal BMI, lifestyle factors, such as smoking, and breastfeeding support on total breastfeeding duration. Remarkable differences in the median duration of any breastfeeding were found for breastfeeding support, where mothers breastfed twice as long. Support came primarily from hospital staff, the midwife and the partner. A higher monthly household net income, delivery in a baby-friendly certified hospital (BFH) and breastfeeding support were associated with a longer EBF duration. Obese mothers started feeding infant formula earlier and had a higher risk of early weaning. The results offer valuable insights into the importance of breastfeeding-friendly structures such as BFHs, a focus on breastfeeding aftercare and support of the mother to promote and protect breastfeeding.

In Austria, only fragmented information on the occurrence of alien and potentially invasive mosquito species exists. The aim of this study is a nationwide overview on the situation of those mosquitoes in Austria. Using a nationwide uniform protocol for the first time, mosquito eggs were sampled with ovitraps at 45 locations in Austria at weekly intervals from May to October 2020. The sampled eggs were counted and the species were identified by genetic analysis. The Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus was found at two sites, once in Tyrol, where this species has been reported before, and for the first time in the province of Lower Austria, at a motorway rest stop. The Asian bush mosquito Aedes japonicus was widespread in Austria. It was found in all provinces and was the most abundant species in the ovitraps by far. Aedes japonicus was more abundant in the South than in the North and more eggs were found in habitats with artificial surfaces than in (semi-) natural areas. Further, the number of Ae. japonicus eggs increased with higher ambient temperature and decreased with higher wind speed. The results of this study will contribute to a better estimation of the risk of mosquito-borne disease in Austria and will be a useful baseline for a future documentation of changes in the distribution of those species.

Background : The increase in bacteria that are resistant to antimicrobials—often selected for a high level of antimicrobial uses (AMUs) in human beings or food‐producing animals—is a global concern. The Austrian Poultry Health Service (QGV) has established a database containing comprehensive information on poultry flocks in Austria. Methods : AMU in 32,411 broiler flocks and 2946 turkey flocks between 2013 and 2019 is analysed by calculating different metrics, including the treatment incidence TI ₁₀₀₀ . Furthermore, the Austrian benchmarking system for poultry is introduced. Results : Annual AMU in broilers decreased from 1030.8 kg of active ingredient to 762.5 kg between 2013 and 2016 but rose again to 1165.0 kg in 2019; while for turkeys annual AMU dropped from 1196.4 kg to 569.0 kg between 2013 and 2019. At the same time, the proportion of treated flocks decreased from 34.2% to 24.8% for broilers and from 54.3% to 44.0% for turkeys. In both broilers and turkeys, the most frequently used antimicrobial class, according to the TI ₁₀₀₀ unit, in broilers and turkeys is polymyxins. Conclusion : Calculating different metrics enables a deeper insight into AMU. Total AMU reduced without legislation but the increase of AMU in broiler production needs further investigation.

Austrian beekeepers frequently suffered severe colony losses during the last decade similar to trends all over Europe. This first surveillance study aimed to describe the health status of Austrian bee colonies and to analyze the reasons for losses for both the summer and winter season in Austria. In this study 189 apiaries all over Austria were selected using a stratified random sampling approach and inspected three times between July 2015 and spring 2016 by trained bee inspectors. The inspectors made interviews with the beekeepers about their beekeeping practice and the history of the involved colonies. They inspected a total of 1596 colonies for symptoms of nine bee pests and diseases (four of them notifiable diseases) and took bee samples for varroa mite infestation analysis. The most frequently detected diseases were three brood diseases: Varroosis, Chalkbrood and Sacbrood. The notifiable bee pests Aethina tumida and Tropilaelaps spp. were not detected. During the study period 10.8% of the 1596 observed colonies died. Winter proved to be the most critical season, in which 75% of the reported colony losses happened. Risks for suffering summer losses increased significantly, when colonies were weak in July, had queen problems or a high varroa mite infestation level on bees in July. Risks for suffering winter losses increased significantly, when the colonies had a high varroa mite infestation level on bees in September, were weak in September, had a queen older than one year or the beekeeper had few years of beekeeping experience. However, the effect of a high varroa mite infestation level in September had by far the greatest potential to raise the winter losses compared to the other significant factors.

Objective: We investigated whether time of birth, unit volume, and staff seniority affect neonatal outcome in neonates born at ≥34⁺⁰ weeks of gestation.Design: Population‐based prospective cohort study.Setting: Ten public hospitals in the Austrian province of Styria.Sample: A total of 87 065 neonates delivered in the period 2004–2015.Methods: Based on short‐term outcome data, generalised linear mixed models were used to calculate the risk for adverse and severely adverse neonatal outcomes according to time of birth, unit volume, and staff seniority.Main outcome measures: Neonatal composite adverse and severely adverse outcome measures.Results: The odds ratio for severely adverse events during the night‐time (22:01–07:29 hours) compared with the daytime (07:30–15:00 hours) was 1.35 (95% confidence interval, 95% CI 1.13–1.61). There were no significant differences in neonatal outcome comparing weekdays and weekends, and comparing office hours and shifts. Units with 500–1000 deliveries per year had the lowest risk for adverse events. Adverse and severely adverse neonatal outcomes were least common for midwife‐guided deliveries, and became more frequent with the level of experience of the doctors attending the delivery. With increasing pregnancy risks, senior staff attending delivery and delivering in a tertiary centre reduce the odds ratio for adverse events.Conclusions: Different times of delivery were associated with increased adverse neonatal outcomes. The management of uncomplicated deliveries by less experienced staff showed no negative impact on perinatal outcome. In contrast, riskier pregnancies delivered by senior staff in a tertiary centre favour a better outcome. Achieving a better balance in the total number of labour ward staff during the day and the night appears to be a greater priority than increasing the continuous presence of senior obstetrical staff on the labour ward during the out‐of‐hours period.Tweetable Deliveries during night time lead to a greater number of neonates experiencing severely adverse events.