Abstract
The Brazil nut tree (Bertholletia excelsa) is an accumulating plant and, as such, absorbs metals from the soil according to the different geographic regions in which it is found. In this context, some Brazil nuts can exceed the safe level of certain trace elements and thus become toxic to consumers. To provide risk assessment information, the aim of this study was to evaluate trace elements and radionuclides found in Brazil nuts from the Brazilian Amazon. Trace elements were evaluated using ICP-MS, however As, Ca, Cr, Mg, Hg and Pb were not detected. The levels of Fe, Zn and Ti were within the maximum levels stipulated for Dietary Reference Intake. The results provide preliminary data concerning the surveillance of antimony (Sb) in the samples analyzed. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the bioavailability of Sb and other metals, and the Se mechanisms for detoxifying Sb. Concerning radionuclides, the committed effective dose was below the established limits by UNSCEAR (2000). In conclusion, the levels of trace elements and radionuclides in the samples did not levels that could be considered toxic to human health.
Highlights
Among nuts most consumed by the world’s population, the Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa) is known as an excellent source of proteins and minerals and provides health benefits (Rita Cardoso et al, 2016; Yang, 2009)
In order to evaluate the impact of the levels of metals in relation to daily consumption, the values of dietary reference intakes (DRI) (Institute of Medicine, 2002) were used
In the samples we found, Cu = 17.1, Fe = 21.3 and Zn = 70.36 mg.kg-1, higher values than those found by Santos et al (2013) in fresh Brazil nuts from the same state, with levels of 14.0 and 29.6 and 35.1 mg.kg-1, respectively
Summary
Among nuts most consumed by the world’s population, the Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa) is known as an excellent source of proteins and minerals and provides health benefits (Rita Cardoso et al, 2016; Yang, 2009). The Brazil nut tree is a large tree in the Amazon rainforest and has the capacity to absorb a significant amount of minerals from the soil, of which selenium (Se) is the primary mineral. This element has already been extensively studied in nuts from different regions and several studies have proven that the different levels of Se are related to geographical conditions (Chang, Gutenmann, Reid, & Lisk, 1995; Pacheco & Scussel, 2007). According to Albuquerque et al (2020), these elements can be divided into two groups: toxic elements (As, Cd, Hg, Pb) and essential trace elements (Co, Cu, Cr, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Se, Zn)
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