Determination of various nutrients and toxic elements in different Brazilian regional diets by neutron activation analysis.

The concentration of 19 elements (As, Br, Ca, Cd, Cl, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se and Zn) was evaluated in some diets taken from different regions of Brazil by Instrumental and Radiochemical Neutron Activation Analysis. Several populations with different socio-economic living conditions and inhabiting in different regions of Brazil were studied in order to estimate and to detect the variability of the mineral and toxic element content among Brazilian populational groups. The data obtained showed a significant difference between the contents of these elements in the diets from the regions studied. The general conclusions from the data obtained in this study were: 1) regarding the daily amounts of essential elements (Ca, Cl, Co, Fe, Mn, Na, K, Fe, Se and Zn), the Santa Catarina 2 diet showed the closest values when compared to the recommended values of RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance) and/or WHO (World Health Organization). The Santa Catarina 1(low income groups) showed the lowest when compared to the same values. 2) The intake of toxic elements (As, Br, Cd, Hg, Sb) among the diets does not seem to be a major problem when compared to PTWI (Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake, WHO), except for Hg intakes in regions near gold mining activities, like Manaus and Mato Grosso, where the values found were near the upper limit set by WHO.