Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Brazilian vegetables and fruits

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) occur as contaminants in different types of food predominantly from environmental pollution, food packaging and food processing and the levels found depend on the source of the contamination. PAHs emissions from automobile traffic and industry activities were shown to influence the PAHs levels and profiles in vegetables and fruits grown nearby. The present study was carried out to determine the levels of PAHs in samples of lettuce, tomato, cabbage, apple, grape and pear, and use these data to further estimate the dietary exposure of Brazilians to PAHs. Samples of each fruit and vegetable were collected in six different places and analysed for ten PAHs. The analytical method involved saponification with methanolic KOH, liquid-liquid extraction with cyclohexane, clean-up on silica gel column and determination by high performance liquid chromatography using fluorescence detection. The mean levels of total PAHs were 13.53 mug/kg in lettuce, 9.50 mug/kg in tomato, 8.86 mug/kg in cabbage, 4.05 mug/kg in apple, 3.77 mug/kg in grape and 3.87 mug/kg in pear. Of the carcinogenic PAHs, benzo(a)anthracene was the most representative, being found in 89% of all samples analysed. Chrysene was not detected in any sample. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.141495

POTENTIAL INTAKE OF INTENSE SWEETENERS IN BRAZIL

A survey of intense sweetener intakes was carried out in the winter of 1990 and summer of 1991 in Brazil. Data on the potential intake of the intense sweeteners aspartame, cyclamate and saccharin were generated, based on a representative sample of 673 individuals who completed a questionnaire designed to collect information on demographic details and habitual usage of sweetener-containing food and drinks. The respondents were randomly chosen among intense sweetener consumers living in the cities of Campinas, Sao Paulo and Curitiba, Parana. Potential daily intakes by individuals were calculated for each sweetener by combining each person's consumption of sweetener-containing food and beverages with information generated by the determination of the concentrations of the sweeteners used in these products. The data showed that 72% of the studied population consumed saccharin, 67% cyclamate and 40% aspartame. The main reasons alleged for the use of intense sweeteners were weight-control diet (36%), diabetes (35%) and weight loss (23%). Table-top sweeteners were the major source of sweeteners, followed by soft drinks. The median daily intake of aspartame, cyclamate and saccharin represented approximately 2.9, 15.5, and 16.4% of the corresponding ADI, respectively. Diabetics in general had a much higher intake within the studied population.12679980

Benzo(a)pyrene in Brazilian vegetable oils

Samples of vegetable oils on the Brazilian market including rape seed, corn, soybean, sunflower, rice, palm and garlic were analysed for benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P). The analytical method involved liquid-liquid extraction, clean-up on silica gel column and determination by high performance liquid chromatography using fluorescence detection. The limit of detection was 0.5 mu g/kg. Benzo(a)pyrene was detected in almost all samples, at levels up to 58.9 mu g/kg. The mean levels of B(a)P in rice, sunflower, soybean, corn and palm oils were 1.8, 0.2, 2.2, 10.8 and 2.1 mu g/kg respectively. No B(a)P was detected in garlic and rape seed oils. The data indicate that the levels of B(a)P found in Brazilian corn oils are relatively higher than those published in the literature for European corn oils.13663964

Determination of benzoic and sorbic acids in Brazilian food

Different brands of soft drink, fruit juice, margarine, yoghurt and cheese available on the Brazilian market were analysed for benzoic and sorbic acids by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a photodiode array detector. The levels of benzoic and sorbic acids were, respectively, in the range of not detected to 804 mg/l and not detected to 1371 mg/kg, respectively. Only one sample presented a preservative level above that permitted by the legislation in force in Brazil. According to the results it can be predicted that the real utilisation of benzoates and sorbates is significantly lower than the maximum authorised levels. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.13211712

Estimates of the mean per capita daily intake of benzoic and sorbic acids in Brazil

The daily intakes of benzoates and sorbates from selected food categories were estimated in Brazil in 1999. The Budget method was used as a first screening procedure for the estimation of the safety aspects of the maximum permitted levels of benzoates and sorbates established by the Brazilian food legislation. This screening indicated that benzoates should be further investigated. In a second step, the daily intakes of these preservatives were assessed by combining measured levels of these additives with national food consumption data derived from a household economic survey and a packaged good market survey. Benzoate and sorbate levels in soft drinks, fruit juices, margarine, yoghurt and cheese were determined by HPLC with a photodiode array detector (detection at 228 nm for benzoic acid, 260 nm for sorbic acid). The estimated intakes of benzoates and sorbates for the average consumer were below the ADIs, ranging from 0.3 to 0.9 and 0.2 to 0.3 mg kg(-1) body weight, respectively. Soft drinks were identified as the main source of benzoates representing >80% of the estimated intake.19764765

Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in cane sugar

Different brands and types of commercial cane sugar available oil the Brazilian market were analysed Cor five polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by HPLC-FL. PAHs were detected in 57% of the samples at levels ranging from not detected to 1.35 mu g/kg. The most commonly found PAH was benz(a)anthracene, found in 51%, of the analysed samples, while dibenz(a,h)anthracene was not detected. The results indicate that the practice of burning sugar cane bet-ore harvest may be responsible I-or the presence of PAHs in commercial cane sugar and suggests that the levels of PAH residues in the final product depend oil the amount of burnt sugar cane being processed and on the steps involved in the sugar refining process. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.18894895

INACTIVATION OF SOYBEAN LIPOXYGENASE BY MICROWAVE-HEATING - EFFECT OF MOISTURE-CONTENT AND EXPOSURE TIME

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HPLC determination of caffeine in tea, chocolate products and carbonated beverages

Different brands of mate and black tea, chocolate products and carbonated beverages available on the Brazilian market were analysed for caffeine by high-performance Liquid chromatography with a UV-vis detector at 254 nm. The column was a reverse phase C18 and the mobile phase consisted of methanol-water (30:70, v/v), acetonitrile-water (10:90, v/v) and methanol-water (25:75, v/v) for tea, chocolate products and soft drinks respectively. Caffeine content ranged from 1.05 to 15.83 mg per cup in mate tea, from 32.21 to 36.23 mg per cup in black tea, from 0.14 to 0.95 mg g(-1) in chocolate products from 2.73 to 7.49 mg per can in guarana-type soft drinks and from 19.81 to 45.89 mg per can in cola soft drinks. These data indicate that the levels of caffeine in Brazilian teas, chocolates and soft drinks are within the ranges reported for similar products in other countries. (C) 1999 Society of Chemical Industry.79131861186

ACUTE TOXICITY OF ENDOSULFAN TO THE FISH HYPHESSOBRYCON-BIFASCIATUS AND BRACHYDANIO-RERIO

Acute toxicity of endosulfan to zebra fish (Brachydanio rerio) and yellow tetra (Hyphessobrycon bifasciatus) was determined by semi-static bioassay. The 24-h LC50 values were 2.6 (2.3-2.9) and 1. 6 (1.3-2. 1) mug/L for Hyphessobrycon bifasciatus and Brachydanio rerio, respectively. Behavioral changes including hyperactivity, erratic swimming and convulsions were observed at the highest exposure levels. Histological studies showed predominant acute effects in the gills, with inflammatory infiltration necrosis and separation of respiratory gill epithelium. Degradation studies with endosulfan showed that both alpha- and beta-isomers were very unstable under the test conditions, presenting half-lives of approximately 24 h.24215115