RESUMO TAPPIZ, B. Determinação de contaminantes inorgânicos em pescados consumidos em São Paulo como contribuição à garantia da segurança alimentar. 2019, 105 p. Dissertação (Mestrado em Tecnologia Nuclear) Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares-IPEN-CNEN/SP. São Paulo. O consumo do pescado é importante para a saúde humana pelo fato desse alimento ser fonte de proteína de alta qualidade, vitaminas, nutrientes essenciais e dois ácidos poli-insaturados ômega-3. Entretanto, o pescado também pode apresentar risco à saúde humana se estiver contaminado por substâncias tóxicas. Visando avaliar o teor de elementos essenciais e tóxicos, foram utilizado as técnicas de Análise por Ativação

Measurement uncertainty was estimated following the EURACHEM guide (Quantifying Uncertainty in Analytical Measurement) for the elements As, Br, Cl, Co, Cr, Cs, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Rb, Sb, Se and Zn determined by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) and for the elements Cd, Hg and Pb determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) in the fillet of the most consumed fish species at São Paulo city, Brazil. INAA expanded uncertainties ranged from 1.0 to 21% and the main contributions were due the counting statistics of sample and pipetted standards. For AAS, expanded uncertainties ranged from 6.5 to 13% and the main contributions were associated to the calibration curves. Uncertainty results were compared with the standard deviations of the mass fraction in the fishes (n = 10). Due to the wide variability in the mass fraction in the analyzed fish tissues, explained by factors such gender, age, fat content and fishing location of the specimens of each species, standard deviations were greater than expanded uncertainties, which means that the natural variability of the elements determined is greater than the data dispersion associated with the analytical techniques. Hence the used techniques were adequate for the fish fillet samples analyses.

The characterization of edible tissues of fishes consumed by humans is very important for determination of several toxic and potentially toxic elements, ensuring the food safety. The Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) comparative method allows the determination of several of these elements, as well as others, for example of nutritional character. This study is part of an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) technical cooperation project of Latin America and Caribbean countries to ensure the quality of food and biomonitoring of contaminants in shellfish and fishes. Ten specimens of 4 of the most consumed fish in São Paulo city: whitemouth croaker (Micropogonias Furnieri), smooth weakfish (Cynoscion learchus), common snook (Centropomus undecimalis) and Brazilian sardine (Sardinella brasiliensis) were analyzed. Complete procedures for analysis, which includes purchase in the largest warehouse in Latin America, transport to the laboratory, storage, freeze-drying, milling, weighting and others preparations of the subsamples, and the short irradiation parameters for the determination of Br, Cl, K, Mg, Mn and Na are reported. Results obtained under the same irradiation conditions for reference materials (oyster and mussel tissues) for macro and microelements are presented and are in agreement with their certificates, which indicate that the performed analyses were appropriate. Regarding to the mass fraction values obtained for the fish samples, they were in agreement with the literature.