Concentrations of selenium, barium, and radium in Brazil nuts

Brazil nuts: determination of natural elements and aflatoxin

“…The levels of Se found in this study were lower than those reported (126 µg g -1 ) by Chunhieng et al (2004). However, our results were similar to those reported by Parekh et al (2008) who reported that levels of Se were inversely proportional to the concentration of barium in the samples studied. The concentration of Se in Brazil nuts seems to be influenced by the absorption capacity of the tree and may vary according to factors arising from the composition of the soil from which they originate.…”

“…Ra agree with the values reported by Parekh et al (2008) Parekh et al (2008) and by Hiromoto et al (1996) Figure 2); however, the correlation coefficients were below 50%, allowing us to conclude that there was no relationship in the studied samples, and that the correlation was strongest among radionuclides (Figure 3).…”

“…However, at doses above the recommended daily intake of 55 µg per day, Se can be toxic (Yang 2009). Brazil nut trees absorb the natural element Se from soil (Parekh et al 2008) as along with radionuclides, such as 226 Ra (Tagami and Uchida 2009). The concentration of radioactive elements in Brazil nuts can reach quantities up to 1000 times greater than in other foods (Gabay and Sax 1969).…”

Elemental analysis of nuts and seeds by axially viewed ICP OES

“…Reference daily intakes (RDIs) for some essential elements of human nutrition, and daily reference values (DRVs) have been established, namely: Ca (1000 mg), Cl (3400 mg), Cu (2 mg), Fe (18 mg), K (3500 mg), Mg (400 mg), Mn (2 mg), P (1000 mg) and Zn (15 mg) (Dolan & Capar, 2002). Considering the concentration of the elements (Table 4) and that the amount consumed of the foods equals 28 g (Parekh, Khan, Torre, & Kitto, 2008), the masses of these elements ingested ranged from 2.7 mg (cupuassu pulp) to 70 mg (sapucaia nut) for Ca, 2.4 (cupuassu pulp) to 86 mg (sapucaia nut) for Cl, 11 (cupuassu pulp) to 616 lg (Brazil nut) for Cu, 76 (cupuassu pulp) to 1764 lg (cashew nut) for Fe, 73 mg (coconut pulp and cupuassu seeds) to 204 mg (cashew nut) for K, 2.6 lg (cupuassu pulp) to 105 lg (sapucaia nut) for Mg, 17 lg (cupuassu pulp) to 3444 lg (babassu nut) for Mn, 3.3 lg (cupuassu pulp) to 244 lg (sapucaia nut) for P and 56 lg (Brazil nut, coconut pulp and babassu mesocarp) to 1512 lg (cashew nut) for Zn. For the majority of the elements, this amount consumed did not exceed the DRIs, with the exception of Mn in babassu nut.…”

Properties of Brazil nuts: A review

“…The varied levels of Ra in the nuts seem to be influenced by bioaccumulation in the tree, which is transferred to the seeds depending on the concentration of Ra in the soil that is absorbed by the tree. Consequently, the concentrations of Se and Ba in the nuts can vary (Parekh et al, 2008). Tables 1 and 2 shows the major nutrients and minerals present in Brazil nut.…”