Banca de DEFESA: LARISSA DA SILVA SANTOS

Uma banca de DEFESA de MESTRADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : LARISSA DA SILVA SANTOS
DATE: 31/08/2023
TIME: 14:00
LOCAL: Sala 06 Faculdade de Farmácia
TITLE:

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

KEY WORDS:

Toxic metals, Inorganic contaminants, School meals, Risk assessment.

PAGES: 76
BIG AREA: Ciências Agrárias
AREA: Ciência e Tecnologia de Alimentos
SUBÁREA: Ciência de Alimentos
SPECIALTY: Avaliação e Controle de Qualidade de Alimentos
SUMMARY:

The occurrence of chemical contaminants in food is widely discussed in the literature, from deleterious effects caused to health, main food sources of exposure and which populations are most affected. Children, due to several factors, are more exposed than adults to these elements, from the social context in which they are inserted to physiological particularities that affect the metabolization of toxic elements to which they are exposed. School meals represent a significant apport of nutrients for the children in Brazil, especially those in conditions of social vulnerability. In this contexto, the National School Feeding Program (PNAE) is inserted, which aims to ensure safe meals from a nutritional point of view, guaranteeing caloric intake and food free of contaminants. In light of the foregoing, the objective of this study was to evaluate the levels of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in meals served in public elementary schools in four municipalities in the state of Bahia, Brazil, and the health risks to students arising from consumption of these meals. 96 samples were collected, identical to those offered to students from the municipal network of 16 schools in four municipalities in Bahia in two semesters in 2016 and 2019, lyophilized, and mineralized in a microwave oven. Then, the levels of As, Cd and Pb were determined by Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (GFAAS). The samples were classified into different food groups, according to the information collected by the school cooks for further risk assessment of exposure to these contaminants. The risk assessment strategy was based on the calculation of the risk quotient (RQ) for each element, in the following scenarios: early childhood education, high school and the general average age of students assisted by the National School Feeding Program (PNAE). The results showed that none of the samples reached or exceeded tolerable levels for the analyzed metals. Pb obtained the most expressive result, reaching maximum levels of 0.039-0.157 mg.kg-¹. The food groups that contributed the most to Pb exposure were starchy foods, fruits and vegetables, as well as milk and dairy products. In the case of As, preparations containing cereals/starch and milk/by-products were the ones that contributed the most, being the only element that surpassed the PTWI proposed by JECFA. Therefore, the values of toxic metals obtained were below the levels allowed by the country's legislation and did not represent a risk of exposure of schoolchildren via school meals, however, the high PTWI of As, being a toxic element that has a long half-life, is worrying.

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