Determination of trans-10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA) in royal jelly from São Paulo State, Brazil

The 10-HDA content in Brazilian samples (São Paulo State) of royal jelly (RJ) was analyzed using an HPLC method based on the work by BLOODWORTH et al. [2]. The chromatographic conditions were: isocratic system, reversed phase C18-H column, auto sampler, diode array UV-VIS detector adjusted to 225nm, mobile phase composed by methanol/water (45:55) at pH= 2.5 adjusted with phosphoric acid; a-naphtol was used as internal standard, and the running time was 30min. By statistical analysis of the results, the 10-HDA contents of the samples analyzed seem to have two ranges: 1.8% and 3% (w/w), that would be useful to qualify the RJ. This is the first data regarding 10-HDA content of Brazilian RJ.

Determinação de glicoalcalóides em batatas in natura (Solanum Tuberosum L.) comercializadas na cidade de Campinas, Estado de São Paulo

A batata é uma das principais hortaliças cultivadas no Brasil, constituindo-se em um dos mais importantes alimentos na dieta humana, em decorrência de sua disponibilidade e características nutricionais. Entretanto, membros da família Solanaceae produzem, durante crescimento e após colheita, compostos potencialmente tóxicos denominados glicoalcalóides, dos quais alfa-solanina e alfa-chaconina predominam. A concentração máxima desses compostos em batata in natura considerada segura para consumo humano é estimada em 200mg·kg-1, expressa como glicoalcalóides totais (GAT). No presente estudo, foram extraídos e quantificados os GAT em amostras de tubérculos de batata in natura comercializados na cidade de Campinas, SP. A técnica utilizada foi a cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (CLAE) com coluna C18 e detetor de arranjo de diodos. O valor médio de recuperação foi 102,6% para alfa-solanina e 100,2% para alfa-chaconina. Os limites de quantificação foram 2,5µg·mL-1 para alfa-solanina e 1,4µg·mL-1 para alfa-chaconina. As concentrações de GAT em amostras individuais de tubérculos inteiros das diferentes variedades e tipos estudados (Bintje, Monaliza, Asterix e Bolinha) variaram de 22,4 a 246,9mg·kg-1. Das amostras analisadas, 82% apresentaram níveis de GAT inferiores a 100mg·kg-1, o que indica que as variedades de batatas estudadas podem ser consideradas seguras para consumo humano.

Contents of folates in edible mushrooms commercialised in the city of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil

In this study, folates were evaluated in the main species of mushroom cultivated in Brazil. The species analysed were Agaricus bisporus (button mushroom), Lentinula edodes (shiitake) and Pleorotus ostreatus (shimeji). The five main forms of folate found in foods were determined: tetrahydrofolic acid (THFA), 10-methyl folic acid (10MFA), 5-methyl tetrahydrofolic acid (5MTHFA), 10-formyl folic acid (10FFA) and 5-formy tetrahydrofolic acid (5FTHFA). The methodology employed used extraction with phosphate buffer, clean up with trichloroacetic acid and separation of the vitamins by high-performance liquid chromatography, with simultaneous ultraviolet and fluorescence detection. The results obtained for total folate were 551 to 1404 µg.100 g -1 for the button mushroom, 606 to 727 µg.100 g -1 for shiitake and 460 to 1325 µg.100 g-1 for shimeji. The data showed that mushrooms could be considered as sources of folates and that their contribution of these vitamins to the diet was meaningful.

Evaluation of pesticide residues in oranges from São Paulo, Brazil

Pesticides in “PERA” orange samples (N = 57) from São Paulo City, Brazil were assessed and the pesticide intake contribution was estimated for chronic risk assessment. Seventy-six pesticides were evaluated by the gas chromatography multi-residue method, including isomers and metabolites (4.332 determinations). The mean recoveries at the limit of quantification level were in the range of 72-115% and the relative standard deviation for five replicate samples was 1-11%. The limits of detection and quantification ranged from 0.005 to 0.4 mg.kg−1 and from 0.01 to 0.8 mg.kg−1, respectively. Pesticides were found in 42.1% of the samples at levels ranging from 0.06 to 2.9 mg.kg−1. Of the contaminated samples, 3.5% contained residues (bifenthrin and clofentezine) above the maximum residue level and 12.3% contained unauthorized pesticides (azinphos-ethyl, parathion, myclobutanil, profenofos, and fenitrothion). The estimated risk characterization for orange intake by adults and children, respectively, ranged from 0.04 to 6.6% and from 0.1 to 26.5% of the acceptable daily intake. The detection of irregular residues emphasizes the need for better implementation of Good Agriculture Practices and greater control of formulated products. Other pesticides surveyed did not pose a health risk due to consumption.

The geographic dynamics of industry employment in Brazilian metropolitan areas: lessons for São Paulo

ABSTRACTWe discuss historic trends in large metropolitan areas in Brazil showing that manufacturing has decreased its share in the country but the movement was, in general, more intense in large metropolitan areas and particularly in the São Paulo Metropolitan Area (SPMA). This movement was more intense in the 1980s and in the first half of the 1990s. From mid 1990s up to the end of the 2000s, the manufacturing share trend became flat. We speculate that the first period reflects the exhaustion of the process of import substitution that took place in the previous three decades (1950 to 1980). The second period, from 1993 to 2009, is representative of a new model of growth and the evidence that manufacturing share became flat is reinforcing the idea of a new period in terms of manufacturing employment. While concentration has risen from 1996 to 2005, it decreased again in the second half of the first decade of the 2000s. The SPMA reinvented itself very quickly from late 1970s to mid-2000s.