Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: LARISSA DA SILVA SANTOS

Uma banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO de MESTRADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : LARISSA DA SILVA SANTOS
DATE: 10/10/2022
TIME: 14:00
LOCAL: Virtual
TITLE:

Arsenic, cadmium, and lead levels in school meals in the state of Bahia, Brazil and their risk assessment for children

KEY WORDS:

Arsenic, cadmium, lead, school meals, risk assessment, food safety

PAGES: 27
BIG AREA: Ciências Agrárias
AREA: Ciência e Tecnologia de Alimentos
SUBÁREA: Ciência de Alimentos
SPECIALTY: Avaliação e Controle de Qualidade de Alimentos
SUMMARY:

Introduction: The occurrence of toxic metals in the diet represents the main source of exposure for the general population. Children, by various factors, are more exposed than adults to these elements. The school meal represents a significant supply of nutrients for children in Brazil, especially those in conditions of social vulnerability. Objective: This study aims were to evaluate the levels of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in meals served at the municipal schools in four cities in Bahia, Brazil, and to estimate the risk to the health of the students due to the consumption of these meals by calculating the risk quotient (RQ). Methodology:  96 school meal samples were collected in 16 schools, using the dual diet methodology (DD). The samples were lyophilized and went through an assisted digestion process in a microwave oven. The contents of As, Cd and Pb were determined by Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (GFAAS) and the analytical quality assured by using certified reference materials. The risk assessment was based on the calculation of the risk quotient (RQ) for each element, as well as the total quotient risk (TQR) in the following scenarios: child population, teenagers and the general average age of students assisted by PNAE (National School Feeding Program). Results:  The results showed that none of the school meal samples reached or exceeded the tolerable levels for the analyzed metals. Pb was the one with the most expressive results reaching maximum levels of 0,039-0,157 mg.kg-¹. The food groups that contributed the most to Pb exposure were starches, and fruits and vegetables, in addition to milk and derivatives, in which the average levels for the group milk and derivatives were almost two times higher than the recommended by the Codex Alimentarius (0.02 mg.kg-¹). Concerning the As levels, the meals containing cereals/starch and milk/derivatives were the ones that contributed the most. The QR for the Pb, which was the most detected metal, had its highest value in schools of Salvador reaching 0.06 and the TQR calculated were 0.15, being considered a negligible risk to the exposure of toxic metals in the food offered by schools. Conclusion:  The study showed that the children were exposed to higher levels of lead in relation to other elements, being the main food groups responsible for the highest values those containing cereals/starch and milk and milk-based products. The values found are below the levels allowed by the Brazilian legislation and do not represent risk to schoolchildren.

BANKING MEMBERS:
Presidente - 2181841 - JOSE ANTONIO MENEZES FILHO
Interna - 287774 - RYZIA DE CASSIA VIEIRA CARDOSO
Externa à Instituição - VERA AKIKO MAIHARA - IPEN