A multimistura como um produto, vem sendo largamente difundida no Brasil, sendo sistematizada, primeiramente pela Drª. Clara Brandão e implementada pela Pastoral da Criança da CNBB, associada as suas ações na área de atenção básica à saúde. Sua formulação varia de acordo com a disponibilidade local dos ingredientes, mas basicamente é composta de alimentos não convencionais na dieta habitual, entre eles os farelos, pó de casca de ovo, folhas verde-escuras e sementes. É um produto considerado como complemento nutricional, visando suprir deficiências nutricionais, principalmente em crianças desnutridas. No entanto, a biodisponibilidade de seus nutrientes e presença de fatores antinutricionais têm gerado polêmica e oferecido restrições ao seu emprego como tal. O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a composição mineral (Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, P, Zn) de diferentes formulações de multimistura, visando conhecer o seu perfil como complemento nutricional de minerais, para crianças menores de cinco anos de idade. Diante dos resultados obtidos, observou-se que o teor de cinzas (resíduo mineral fixo) em 80% das amostras analisadas estavam abaixo do valor mínimo preconizado no Regulamento Técnico para Fixação de Identidade e Qualidade de Mistura à Base de Farelos de Cereais e que a dose recomendada de multimistura, para essa faixa etária, não atinge o valor percentual da IDR que a qualificaria como complemento nutricional para esses minerais.

The "multimistura" is a broad distributed product in Brazil, first formulated by Dr. Clara Brandão and introduced by the CNBB (National Conference of Brazil Bishops), Children Pastoral as part of its activities in the health basic attention area. Its formula varies according to local ingredient availability but basically is compounded by non-conventional habitual diet kinds of food, among them are bran, egg shelf powder, dark green leaves and nuts and seeds. It is considered as a nutritional complement used to supply nutritional deficiencies mostly in underweight children. However, a controversy was created due to the real bioavailability of its nutrients and the presence in it of non-nutritional factors. These factors have restricted its use in this way. This research had as an objective measure the mineral composition (Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, P, Zn) of various "multimistura" formulations, by the espectrophotometry of atomic absorption, in a way to know its profile as a mineral nutritional complement for children up to five years old. By the results obtained it was seen that, in 80% of the samples, the ash content (fixed mineral rest) was below the minimum value expected in its Technical Rules for Identity Fixation and Quality of Mixtures Based in Cereal Bran. (RDC n. 53, 2000) where, the recommend dose for the "multimistura" in this age range does not signoficantly reache the DRI (Daily Recommended Ingestion). By this way, the formulations studied cannot be used as a nutritional complement for these minerals.

The historical development of atomic spectrometry techniques based on chemical vapor generation by both batch and flow injection sampling formats is presented. Detection via atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), microwave induced plasma optical emission spectrometry (MIP-OES), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) , inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and furnace atomic nonthermal excitation spectrometry (FANES) are considered. Hydride generation is separately considered in contrast to other methods of generation of volatile derivatives. Hg <FONT FACE=Symbol>¾</FONT> CVAAS (cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry) is not considered here. The current state-of-the-art, including extension, advantages and limitations of this approach is discussed.

This review presents an updated overview of the trace element speciation by gas chromatography coupled with atomic absorption spectrometry.

In the selective reduction procedure proposed by Magos SnCl2 was used as reductant for inorganic mercury while total mercury was determined after reduction with a mixture of SnCl2 and CdCl2. The difference between total mercury and inorganic mercury determines the content of organic mercury. The procedure of the present work differs of Magos in that the mercury vapour is carried to the absorption cell after magnetic stirring of the solution in the reaction flask; in the Magos procedure, mercury vapour is carried by bubbling the gas in to the solution. In contrast to the Magos procedure this slight modification overcame the necessity of at calibration by analyte addition, saving time and gainning accuracy.

A perda de mercúrio contido em músculo de peixes (Piraíba, Brachyplatystoma ssp; Traíra, Hoplias malabaricus) submetidos a dois distintos processos de cozimento foi investigada. Os resultados mostraram perdas variando entre 0 e 30% (base seca), indicando que a maior parte do mercúrio foi retida. Assim, tais processos não protegem as populações, que deles se utilizam, contra a exposição por ingestão ao mercúrio originariamente contido na amostra "in natura".

Mercury losses from flesh fish after two cooking process were investigated. Results showed losses ranging from 0 to 30% (dry weight basis). Such result indicates that fish consuming populations are not protected from mercury exposition by the studied cooking processes.