Determination of glyphosate, AMPA and glufosinate by high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection in waters of the Santarém Plateau, Brazilian Amazon.

Herbicide use, mainly glyphosate, has been intense in worldwide agriculture, including in the Brazilian Amazon region. This study aimed to validate a method for determining glyphosate and its degradation product, AMPA, and glufosinate by HPLC-FL in 58 water samples collected at the Santarém plateau region (Planalto Santareno), in the western of Pará state, Brazil. The method involves filtration and direct injection in the HPLC-FL for AMPA analysis, or previous concentration (10×) by lyophilization for glufosinate and glyphosate analysis. Analytes were oxidized and complexed with o-phthalaldehyde and 2-mercaptoethanol in a post-column reaction before fluorescence detection. LOQs for AMPA, glyphosate and glufosinate were established at 0.5, 0.2 and 0.3 µg L-1, respectively. A total of 58 samples were collected. Glyphosate and glufosinate were not detected in any of the 30 surface water samples collected in 2015 (

Mercury in breast milk from women in the Federal District, Brazil and dietary risk assessment for breastfed infants.

Mercury is a toxic metal, ubiquitous in nature; it is excreted in breast milk from exposed mothers and may affect infant neuro-development. In this study, 224 breast milk samples provided by eight human milk banks in the Federal District of Brazil were analyzed for total mercury (THg), of which 183 were also analyzed for methyl mercury (MeHg), the most relevant form of this metal for the breastfed infants. Samples were acid digested in a microwave oven and THg determined by atomic fluorescence spectrometry (LOQ of 0.76µg/L). Samples were lyophilized, ethylated and MeHg determined in a MERX automated system (LOQ of 0.10µg/L). Inorganic mercury (IHg) levels were estimated from the THg and MeHg determined in the samples. Most of the samples were collected 1-2 months postpartum, with 38% during the first month. Over 80% of the samples had THg values above the LOQ, reaching a maximum of 8.40µg/L, with a mean of 2.56µg/L. On average, MeHg accounted for 11.8% of THg, with a maximum of 97.4%. Weekly intakes were estimated individually, considering the baby's age and body weight at the time of milk collection. Mean weekly intake for MeHg was 0.16±0.22µg/kg bw, which represented 10% of the PTWI; in only one case, the intake exceeded 100% of the PTWI (1.90µg/kg bw, 119% of PTWI). Mean intake for IHg was 2.1±1.5µg/kg bw, corresponding to 53% PTWI. These results indicate no health concern for the breastfed babies, a conclusion that can be extended to the consumers of breast milk donated to the milk banks, primarily immature and low weight babies.

Developmental toxicity of copaiba tree (Copaifera reticulata Ducke, Fabaceae) oleoresin in rat.

The oleoresin of the copaiba tree (Copaifera sp., Fabaceae) is traditionally used in Brazilian herbal medicine to treat a variety of illnesses and symptoms. This study, conducted according to the OECD Guideline 414, provides data on the developmental toxicity of oleoresin from C. reticulata (COPA-R) in rats. Pregnant Wistar rats (25 per dose group) were treated by gavage with COPA-R (0, 500, 1000 and 1250 mg/kg bw/day) on gestation days (GD) 6-19 and Caesarean sections performed on GD20. Implantations, living and dead fetuses and resorptions were recorded. Half of the fetuses from each litter were examined for visceral abnormalities and the remaining were cleared and stained for skeleton evaluation. COPA-R was maternally toxic (reduced food intake and weight gain) and embryotoxic (lower fetal body weight and increased occurrence of fetal skeleton variations) at the two highest doses, but did not cause embryo deaths or fetal malformations at any dose level. The study derived an oral no-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) for maternal and developmental toxicity induced by COPA-R of 500 mg/kg bw/day. The results suggest that copaiba oleoresin does not pose a health risk to pregnant women when used according to the recommended doses (up to five drops, three times a day).

Poisonings with pesticides in the Federal District of Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: Pesticides are the second major cause of poisoning in Brazil, but information about the chemicals involved and the clinical management of patients is scarce. METHODS: This study is a retrospective review of 709 pesticide cases reported to a toxicological information center from 2004 to 2007. RESULTS: Over 90% of the cases occurred after accidental or self-poisoning; more than 60% of the accidents involved children up to 4 years old, mainly with domestic pyrethroid insecticides. One hundred ninety-four cases involved chumbinho, an illegal rodenticide known to contain acetylcholinesterase inhibitor insecticides, mainly aldicarb. In about half the cases, the individuals were admitted to hospitals. Those poisoned with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors stayed longer and most of them displayed pronounced clinical signs of poisoning (Poisoning Severity Score grades 2-4); 14 of the 18 deaths reported occurred with these products. Atropine was given to about 30% of the individuals, including to some with no cholinergic symptoms or exposed to non-acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. All 81 poisonings with coumarin were asymptomatic, but in half of the cases the individuals received vitamin K. CONCLUSIONS: The lack of laboratory support to confirm the chemical involved in the poisonings certainly contributed to the unnecessary antidote administration. In spite of continuing government efforts, poisoning with chumbinho is still a major problem in the country.

Mycotoxins in corn-based food products consumed in Brazil: an exposure assessment for fumonisins.

Samples from 10 different corn-based food products commercially sold in the Federal District of Brazil were analyzed for fumonisins (FB1 and FB2) using HPLC/fluorescence following naphthalene-2,3 dicarboxaldehyde (NDA) derivatization (limit of quantification (LOQ) = 0.020 mg/kg). Samples were also analyzed for aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, and G2) on a thin-layer chromatrography (TLC) plate under UV light (LOQ of 2 microg/kg). From the 208 samples analyzed, 80.7 and 71.6% had quantifiable levels of FB1 and FB2, respectively. Mean levels of total fumonisins (FB1 + FB2) ranged from 0.127 mg/kg for corn flakes to 2.04 mg/kg for cornmeal ( creme de milho). No FBs were detected in any of the fresh, sweet corn on the cob samples analyzed. Aflatoxins were not detected in any of the 101 samples analyzed. The daily intakes of fumonisins through the consumption of corn-based food products was estimated using consumption data estimated from the 2002/2003 Brazilian Household Budget Survey and the level of fumonisins found in this and other studies conducted in Brazil. In the Federal District, the calculated total daily intake for the total and the consumers-only populations represented, respectively, 9.0 and 159% of the provisional maximum total daily intake (PMTDI) of 2 microg/kg body weight per day. At the national level, the intakes were calculated based on the fumonisin levels found in the Federal District and on published data from studies conducted elsewhere in the country. They represented 24.1 and 355% PMTDI for the total and the consumers-only populations, respectively. The high incidence of fumonisins in some corn-based products and the exposure levels found for specific subpopulations in the present study indicate the need for setting safe regulatory levels for fumonisins in food in Brazil.

Pesticides exposure in Culturama, Brazil--knowledge, attitudes, and practices.

In this study, the knowledge, attitudes, and practices associated with pesticide use and exposure were evaluated in the agricultural community of Culturama, in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. A standardized questionnaire was completed by 250 farm workers aged > or =18 years old. The average age of the studied population was 43.6 years and 17.6% had never been to school. Their farms were small (approximately 30ha) and family operated and did not utilize advanced farming technology. About 92% of the interviewees had worked directly with pesticides and 59.6% reported typical intoxication symptoms. Only 44.3%, however, believe that they had been intoxicated. A significant correlation was found between hand washing after pesticide application and reporting symptoms (P=0.014). Over 90% of the farmers reported using the organophosphorus insecticide methamidophos. A great majority (>90%) considered pesticides to be harmful to human health, but less than 20% used masks, impermeable clothes, or gloves during pesticide application. These results indicate that special educational programs, legislation promoting the use of safer pesticides, and implementation of personal protective measures are necessary to decrease the pesticide exposure of farmers in Culturama.