Public Health and Environmental Laboratories

Project areas:

Follow the instructions of FERN CAP, to analyze 25/quarter human or animal food for the detection of gamma emitters, Cs-137 and I-131, alpha emitters (Am/Pu), beta emitters (Sr-90). The matrices include meat, poultry, or egg products from retail locations throughout New Jersey.

Radionuclides in Food-Capability/Capacity Development 

Iodine-131 is major fission products and one of most hazardous radioisotopes due to its short half-life of 8 days. In case of nuclear incidence, I-131 cold be released into the atmosphere, water, milk and other food products could be contaminated. Consequently, people can receive internal exposure from drinking the milk or eating dairy products made from contaminated milk.

There will be large needs for the of low level I-131 measurement for milk and dairy products during the recovery phase. Currently the determination of I-131 in milk is widely conducted by a method for Gamma-ray spectroscopic measurement. This procedure is powerful to analyze a large number of samples in short period of time due to the less sample preparation, but the detection limit is not low enough for clean-up tests. The objective of this project is to provide surge capacity testing needed for the of low level I-131 measurement for milk and dairy products during the recovery phase

NJDOH will collect and test human food products as proposed below. The Metals Laboratory will analyze 500 total samples per year for toxic metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, Tl, and Zn) . The Chemical Terrorism Laboratory will analyze 100 total samples per year for organic hazards using CHE.0006, CHE.0008 (see Table 2 below), and in years 2-5, an in-house pesticides method.

The testing will target fruit- and vegetable-based commodities with a focus on apple and grape juices. Infant cereals and botanical supplements have been added to the plan by FDA request.

• For this CAP, we will use our experience and resources to enhance the capability and capacity of NJDOH for the rapid detection of chemical food contaminants in support of a national integrated food safety system by developing and validating a method for the detection and quantitation of 68 pesticides that are commonly applied in the agriculture sector and present in the 2015 NJ pesticide survey list. This method will be used to expand the ability of the CT Laboratory to conduct pesticide testing in fruit- and vegetable-based beverages, in similar food matrices, and any additional food matrices requested by the FDA. Additional pesticide capability will be beneficial to the residents of NJ as NJDOH will closely monitor food sources in the state for harmful pesticides. The CT Laboratory will use the expertise and method development experience it has, in conjunction with its state-of-the-art technology, to develop this proposed method in Y1. Once developed, this method will enhance the other research plan of the CT Laboratory proposed in Chemistry Track 2: Human Food Product Testing in years two through five. Specifically, this project will: 

  1. Optimize the existing medical marijuana pesticide HPLC-QToF method for new matrices, specifically, fruit- and vegetable-based beverages and similar food matrices;
  2. Validate the optimized HPLC-QToF method following the FDA guidelines for the validation of chemical methods;
  3. Apply the validated HPLC-QToF method for the proposed Chemistry Discipline - Track 2 project in Y2-Y5 by analyzing the collected human food items for detecting and quantitating its pesticide residue concentrations; and
  4. Support other food pesticide research by identifying and confirming the presence of pesticides in various food matrices, if necessary and as requested by FDA.

This project aims to enhance the understanding of genetic characteristics of pathogenic Vibrio spp. found in clams and oysters. These shellfish are a common source of foodborne illness in humans, due to their specific environmental characteristics and the frequency of their consumption raw.

These shellfish are harvested in the Delaware Bay and Atlantic Coast waters of New Jersey and sampled throughout the summer months for detection of Vibrio spp (Vibrio vulnificus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus) by staff scientists at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Typically, DEP recovers between 40-50 isolates from harvested shellfish each summer. Bacterial isolates from past harvesting seasons have been saved and stored frozen at the DEP.

Approximately 100 of these isolates will be revived and undergo DNA isolation and whole genome sequencing. The genomic sequences will be uploaded to national databases, which to date have very few Vibrio genomes included, despite the increase in cases of human pathogenesis in recent years. The addition of these genomes will help expand understanding of genetic characteristics of Vibrio spp that are found in these shellfish as well as enhance the ability to detect genetic relatedness between isolates found in human specimens. This will also allow comparisons between isolates found in various environmental settings. Finally, mentorship and/or training will be provided to other member laboratories in the processes of whole genome sequencing to aid in the expansion of this important laboratory tool. Other specific goals include:

1. Become an engaged, active member laboratory of the GenomeTrakr network
2. Participate in, and pass, an annual proficiency test provided by CDC PulseNet testing program (covers all steps of the GenomeTrakr whole genome sequencing procedure)
3. Hire a temporary Microbiologist-2 equivalent scientist to process isolates for sequencing (grow, identify, extract DNA and evaluate DNA quality).
4. Perform Whole Genome Sequencing for 100 historical Vibrio isolates, according to PulseNet/Genome Trakr methodologies. Upload data to PulseNet national databases and to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) for public accessibility, along with all required sample metadata.
5. Provide training and mentorship to other state laboratories, as requested.
6. Actively participate in conference calls, meetings, and support of both GenomeTrakr and general FERN WGS-related activities.

The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) will collect and analyze commercially available infant formulas; baby foods; milk and other dairy products, fruit juices, and other foods as requested by the FDA from supermarkets/retail outlets across New Jersey for the presence of Francisella tularensis, Burkholderia sp., Brucella sp., Bacillus anthracis, Yersinia pestis, Coxiella burnetti and Ricin toxin. The laboratory will use FERN and LRN-B methods to analyze up to 16 of these food products per month to detect the presence of the above-mentioned food contaminants/pathogens.

 In addition, the laboratory will: 

1) Participate in sample analysis for triage exercises and surveillance assignment as requested by FDA;

2) Participate in national security events as requested by FDA;

3) Participate in testing associated with credible or suspected threats to food supply as requested;

4) Maintain preparedness for any intentional food contamination event in support of FDA needs;

5) Analyze food specimen submitted by FDA;

6) Collect and analyze commercially available food products from supermarkets/retail outlets across New Jersey;

7) Participate in other food defense/food safety assignments, small-scale method development, method validation research, matrix extension research, as requested by the FDA, proficiency tests, training seminars, conferences, group testing and functional exercises, results reporting, and scheduled teleconferences to discuss issues relevant to FDA; and

8) Attend annual LFFM face-to-face meetings and provide training and mentorship to other state laboratories, as requested.

Participation in above activities will help BTRL to maintain preparedness to rapidly respond to suspected or confirmed intentional contamination event and proactively help safeguard the State’s and national food supply.