Elemente toxicologice și posibilități de analiză a unor metale grele din alimente

Abstract

Heavy metals pollution is a rising issue for the modern society.Non-ferrous ore processing industry represents a major pollutant of theenvironment, by contamination of the vegetation and the population ofexposed areas.The global effect of pollution processes causes mineralimbalance in plants (acid reaction soils expand, soil phosphorusconcentration decreases, calcium and magnesium levels contained inplants drop) as well as passive absorption of pollutants forms airand soil, leading to a toxic action on vegetal tissue. Toxic quantitiesof Pb, Cu, and Zn were found in the vegetables and fruits originating from several counties (tomatoes, potatoes, cucumbers, peppers, eggplants, strawberries, raspberries, and apples). Inside the human body, heavy metals accumulate in the fatty tissue, liver, kidneys, and other organs. The harmful effects include cutaneous lesions, cardiovascular, endocrine, immune, and gastrointestinal diseases, as well as effects on the central nervous system. Thin-layer chromatography and atomic absorption spectrometry were used to analyze the samples. Using various stationary and mobile phases, the thin-layer chromatographic separations for copper and lead have been tested. Spectral analysis was used to determine the lead and cadmium concentrations in meatfood and in soil samples from Braşov County in July 2007.