The main goal of the present study is the analysis of toxic elements in plastic toys commercialized in Brazil. Metals like cadmium, lead, chromium, zinc, and aluminum, along with organic substances, such as phthalates, were identified in different toys by quantitative analytical techniques. Traces of thorium were detected in one of the studied samples. Although the measured radioactive dose was rather low, the presence of such a radioactive contaminant is against to the International Agency of Atomic Energy regulations. Similar toys manufactured in Brazil were analyzed and found to observe the standards defined by the National Institute of Metrology (Inmetro).

This study presents Pd determinations in bovine tissue samples containing palladium prepared in the laboratory, and CCQM-P63 automotive catalyst materials of the Proficiency Test, using instrumental thermal and epithermal neutron activation analysis and energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence techniques. Solvent extraction and solid phase extraction procedures were also applied to separate Pd from interfering elements before the irradiation in the nuclear reactor. The results obtained by different techniques were compared against each other to examine sensitivity, precision and accuracy.

Foram analisadas onze amostras de solo do Parque Estadual da Cantareira para avaliar a influência do tráfico veicular. Determinou-se para todos os solos a concentração total, parcial e biodisponível de (Na, Al, Ca, Mg, K, Si, Ti, Mn, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Pb). Até a data da amostragem não foram observadas influências das rodovias sobre a concentração dos metais no solo. A única exceção ocorreu no solo do ponto 3 (alta porcentagem de argila 64% e matéria orgânica 6,4%) onde se encontrou a mais alta concentração de Cr (74,5 e 94,5 mg kg-1), Ni (22,5 e 54,8 mg kg-1), Cu (83,8 e 121 mg kg-1), Cd (1,28 e 1,74 mg kg-1) e As (2,04 e 2,67 mg kg-1) na fração A (0-20 cm) e B (20-40 cm) respectivamente, do que nos demais solos, provavelmente estes elementos provem de outra fonte poluidora. A seqüência dos microelementos biodisponíveis na fração A do solo foi As > Cd > Zn > Cu > Pb > Ni > Cr.

Eleven soil samples within the Cantareira State Park were analyzed to evaluate the traffic influence. For all soil samples total, partial and bioavailable concentration of (Na, Al, Ca, Mg, K, Si, Ti, Mn, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Pb) were determined. No influence from the highways in metals concentration in the soil could be observed up to sampling date. The only exception occurred in soil point 3 (high clay 64% and organic matter 6.4%), that presented higher concentration of Cr (74.5 and 94.5 mg kg-1), Ni (22.5 and 54.8mg kg-1), Cu (83.8 and 121 mg kg-1), Cd (1.28 and 1.74 mg kg-1) and As (2.04 and 2.67 mg kg-1), in fraction A (0-20 cm) and B (20-40 cm) respectively than the others ones, probably these elements came from other pollutant source. The availability sequence of the microelements in fraction A of the soil was As > Cd > Zn > Cu > Pb > Ni > Cr.