Bromine occurrence in Portuguese cabbage from center region of Portugal before and after forest fires

Ventura, Marta; Delgado, Inês; Coelho, Inês; Gueifão, Sandra; Matos, Ana Sofia; Martins, Marta; Costa, Maria Helena; Castanheira, Isabel

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.18/6739

Use this identifier to reference this record.

Name:	Description:	Size:	Format:
Poster Br_PTIM2019.pdf		745.36 KB	Adobe PDF	Download

Send Feedback

Authors

Abstract(s)

Bromine (Br) is one of the main halogens of the periodic table and has been classified as emerging contaminant due to its persistence in the environment, bio-magnification properties and risk to human health [1]. The main goal of this work was to evaluate Bromine contents in Portuguese cabbage (Brassica Oleracea var. Costata DC), in the center region of Portugal before and after forest fires. This vegetable is one of the most consumed by the Portuguese population and is recognized as an accumulator of contaminants from the air and from soils. All cabbage samples were collected in the center region of Portugal. Before forest fire 3 Portuguese cabbage were collected in 9 different zones in a total of 27 samples (Control Group-CG) and used as a control. After forest fire (AFF), 3 Portuguese cabbage were collected in 8 zones over four periods of time (first campaign in August of 2017, second campaign in December of 2017, third campaign in April of 2018 and fourth campaign in August of 2018), in a total of 96 samples. Bromine contents was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), preceded by an alkaline extraction with 25% ammonium tetramethylhydroxide (TMAH). The results were obtained through analytical procedures that reflected the quality assurance requirements described in ISO / IEC 17025: 2005. The concentration was expressed in mg Br/kg cabbage. The amount of Br in CG (mean of 27 samples) was 2 mg/kg. Most of the cabbage samples collected after forest fire presented concentrations above CG, with the following values; the first campaign (4.8 mg/kg), the second campaign (4.0 mg/kg) and the fourth campaign (4.5 mg/kg). The only campaign AFF that presented values below CG was the third one (1.7 mg/kg). Results before forest fires (CG) and after forest fire (4 campaigns) using One Way ANOVA pointed successfully on the existing statistical differences between bromine concentrations in CG and AFFs collection (p-value < 0.05). Through the Least significant differences (LSD) test the 1st and 4th campaigns (AFF) were the only ones that evidenced significant differences with the CG. After the forest fires, the 3rd campaign showed significantly lowest values when compared with the 1st and the 4th campaigns. However, these results do not pose risk to the Portuguese population, according to the commission regulation (EC) No 839/2008, wherein the value of bromide in brassicas is 30mg/kg [2].