Ingestion of vegetables containing heavy metals is one of the main ways in which these elements enter the human body. Once entered, heavy metals are deposited in bone and fat tissues, overlapping noble minerals. Slowly released into the body, heavy metals can cause an array of diseases. This study aimed to investigate the concentrations of cadmium, nickel, lead, cobalt and chromium in the most frequently consumed foodstuff in the São Paulo State, Brazil and to compare the heavy metal contents with the permissible limits established by the Brazilian legislation. A value of intake of heavy metals in human diets was also calculated to estimate the risk to human health. Vegetable samples were collected at the São Paulo General Warehousing and Centers Company, and the heavy metal content was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. All sampled vegetables presented average concentrations of Cd and Ni lower than the permissible limits established by the Brazilian legislation. Pb and Cr exceeded the limits in 44 % of the analyzed samples. The Brazilian legislation does not establish a permissible limit for Co contents. Regarding the consumption habit of the population in the São Paulo State, the daily ingestion of heavy metals was below the oral dose of reference, therefore, consumption of these vegetables can be considered safe and without risk to human health.

No abstract

ABSTRACT. Low soil phosphorus (P) is a limiting factor for plant growth in the Brazilian savannah, where P diffuses slowly and has a high fixation rate in soil (as Al-P and Fe-P). In this study, we investigated the variation in P uptake by different cotton cultivars grown in savannah soil. We conducted a greenhouse experiment using a fully factorial 2 x 17 randomized design with two P treatments (low P = 20 mg kg ) and 17 cotton cultivars. The plants were potted in Acrisol soil labeled with radioisotope 32 P. There was genetic variation in the P use efficiency among the cotton cultivars. The P treatments significantly influenced the dry weight of shoots (DWS), P accumulation, the specific activity of 32 P, and the L-value (both the standardized and L-values discounted the P present in the cottonseed). Hierarchical clustering analysis classified the cotton cultivars into distinct, internally homogeneous clusters. Our results suggest that cotton cultivars could be selected to maximize P absorption efficiency in conditions of low plant-available P. The cultivars FMT 523, FM 910 and CNPA GO 2043 were the most responsive to P fertilization, while Barbadense 01, FM 966LL, IPR Jataí, BRS Aroeira and BRS Buriti were most efficient at absorbing plant-available P. Keywords:32 P activity, G. barbadense, G. hirsutum, Brazilian Cerrado.Eficiência de absorção e utilização de fósforo por cultivares de algodão em um solo de Cerrado (Latossolo Vermelho Amarelo) RESUMO. A baixa disponibilidade de fósforo (P) é um fator limitante para o crescimento de plantas no Cerrado Brasileiro, onde a difusão do P é baixa e o solo tem grande capacidade de fixação do P por óxidos de ferro e alumínio. Nesse estudo foi investigado a variação da absorção de P por diferentes cultivares de algodão cultivados em solo proveniente da região do Cerrado. Foi conduzido um experimento de casa de vegetação em delineamento inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial 2 x 17, dois tratamento com P (baixo P = 20 mg kg -1 e alto P = 120 mg kg -1 ) e 17 cultivares de algodão. As plantas foram cultivadas em vasos com um solo marcado com o radioisótopo 32 P. Houve variação genética para eficiência uso de P entre cultivares de algodão. O tratamentos com P influenciaram significativamente a matéria seca da parte aérea, acúmulo de P, atividade específica do 32 P, valor L e valor L descontando o P proveniente das sementes. A análise multivariada classificou os cultivares de algodão em grupos distintos e homogêneos internamente. Os resultados desse trabalho sugerem que pode-se selecionar cultivares de algodão mais eficientes em absorver e utilizar P em solos com baixa disponibilidade de P para as plantas. Os cultivares FMT 523, FM 910 e CNPA GO 2043 foram os mais responsivos a adubação fosfatada, enquanto que os cultivares Barbadense 01, FM 966LL, IPR Jataí, BRS Aroeira e BRS Buriti foram os mais eficientes na utilização de P.Palavras-chave: atividade do radioisótopo 32 P, G. barbadense, G. hirsutum, Cerrado.

In the Brazilian Cerrado, P deficiency restricts cotton production, which requires large amounts of phosphate fertilizer. To improve the yield of cotton crops, genotypes with high P use efficiency must be identified and used. The present study evaluated P uptake and use efficiency of different Gossypium barbadense L. genotypes grown in the Cerrado. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse with a completely randomized design, 15 × 2 factorial treatment structure (15 genotypes × 2 P levels), and four replicates. The genotypes were MT 69, MT 70, MT 87, MT 91, MT 92, MT 94, MT 101, MT 102, MT 103, MT 105, MT 106, MT 110, MT 112, MT 124, and MT 125; P levels were sufficient (1000 mg pot -1 , PS treatment) or deficient (PD treatment). Dry matter (DM) and P levels were determined in cotton plant parts and used to calculate plant P content and use efficiency. In general, DM and P content were higher in the PS than in the PD treatment, with the exception of root DM and total DM in some genotypes. Genotypes also differed in terms of P uptake and use capacity. In the PS treatment, genotypes MT 92 and MT 102 had the highest response to phosphate fertilization. Genotype MT 69 exhibited the most efficient P uptake in the PD treatment. Genotype MT 124 showed the best shoot physiological efficiency, apparent recovery efficiency, and utilization efficiency, whereas MT 110 exhibited the highest root physiological efficiency.