RESUMO O biomonitoramento consiste na utilização de organismos vivos para apontar possíveis poluições ambientais. Objetivou-se neste estudo avaliar a influência da intensidade do tráfego urbano na disponibilidade de elementos e sólidos em suspensão, bem como identificar a potencialidade no acúmulo e retenção das substâncias em diferentes espécies arbóreas, utilizando suas folhas como biomonitores passivos e de acumulação. Como amostras utilizaram-se folhas de árvores coletadas em duas áreas no município de Vitória da Conquista - BA: com trânsito de veículos e atividades antrópicas moderadas; e em uma zona de maior tráfego e com atividades intensas. Foram determinados o material particulado (MP) depositado nas folhas pelo método gravimétrico e os elementos Fe, Cu, Ni, Co e Cd por espectrometria de absorção atômica em forno de grafite (EAA FG). O Fe se distinguiu significativamente das demais variáveis, com concentrações superiores aos outros metais. Utilizaram-se análises estatísticas multivariadas para a interpretação dos dados. A análise de agrupamento hierárquico separou dois grupos de acordo com a espacialidade e a análise de componentes principais permitiu a explicação desta tendência amostral. Um grupo foi constituído por MP, Fe e Cd, pelo fato de serem originados do desgaste dos veículos e queima de combustíveis fósseis. As espécies da família Fabaceae apresentaram uma maior similaridade em relação ao elemento Cu, isto, porque a atividade metabólica do Cu tem comportamento inversamente proporcional à concentração de nitrogênio. O trânsito de veículos influiu diretamente na disponibilidade de alguns elementos tóxicos e na concentração de partículas sólidas depositadas. Conclui-se que a espécie influi no acúmulo dos elementos químicos e apresentam diferentes potenciais de captação. A arborização pode ser utilizada como biomonitora passiva de acumulação.

ABSTRACT Biomonitoring is the use of living organisms to identify possible environmental pollution. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of intensity of urban traffic in the availability of elements and suspended solids as well as identify the potential in the accumulation and retention of substances in different tree species using its leaves as passive biomonitors and for accumulation. As samples we used tree leaves collected from two areas in the municipality of Vitoria da Conquista (BA state), with transit vehicles and moderate human activities, and in a zone of increased traffic and intense activities. We determined the particulate matter (MP) deposited in the leaves by the gravimetric method and the elements Fe, Cu, Ni, Co and Cd by atomic absorption spectrometry with graphite furnace (GF AAS). Fe was significantly distinguished from other variables, with higher concentrations than other metals. The data was interpreted by multivariate analysis. Cluster analysis separated two groups, one consisting of MP, Fe and Cd, because they are originated from the wear and tear of vehicles and burning fossil fuels. The species of the family Fabaceae showed greater similarity to Cu element, namely, because the Cu metabolic activity is inversely proportional to the concentration of nitrogen behavior. The vehicle traffic directly influenced the availability of some toxic elements and the concentration of the deposited solid particles. It is concluded that the species influences the accumulation of chemical elements and have different catchment potentials. The trees can be utilized as biomonitors which are passive of accumulation.

Validation of a rapid method for the determination of ascorbic, citric, fumaric and tartaric acids in stored pulp fruit and its application as a quality parameter was performed. The validation parameters showed that for the four evaluated acids, the method presented low limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ), indicating good precision and accuracy, thus representing an important tool for quality assessment of stored fruit pulp. The results showed that the concentration of organic acids generally decreased with longer storage time in the fruit pulp under study. Amongst all the organic acids under investigation, ascorbic proved the least stable.

The metal distribution in the surface sediment fractions of the Cachoeira River was evaluated based on the fractionation method using a five-step sequential extraction. The determination of metals was made by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (F AAS). Zn, Pb and Cu exhibit higher concentrations in the residual fraction of the sediment from sites that receive discharges from urban and industrial zones. High levels of Ni (60 ± 1 to 447 ± 9 µg L-1) were found in the river water, which may be detrimental to the "health" of rural communities that utilize the river water for domestic purposes without treatment.

In honey 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde (HMF) is one of the most typical products of degradation: it is usually absent in fresh honey, but its concentration tends to rise as a result of heating processes or long-term storage. The validation protocol was performed in terms of detection and quantification limits, precision (by repeatability and intermediate precision), linearity and accuracy (by recovery tests). The method has been tested on 15 honey samples of different ages and geographical origin. HMF correlated highly with the age of the samples has been considered a very important parameter to put these honeys on the market or not and/or to estimate their shelf life.

In this study honey samples produced in the southwest of Bahia were characterized based on physicochemical and mineral (Ca, Mg, Na, K, Mn, Fe and Zn) composition. The metals were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The application of multivariate analysis showed that the honey colors are consequence of the mineral and physicochemical compositions. The darkest honey samples are characterized by higher values of pH and for presenting a strong relationship with Ca and Fe content.

This study examined the spatial and temporal variations of six important parameters of the salt accumulation process in water samples collected along section urban of Contas River. The Na+, K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ concentrations were determined by FAAS. The conductivity, total dissolved solids, Na+ and Ca2+ presented the largest seasonal and spatial variations in the urban area demonstrated that are appropriate indicators of urban contamination. The readily soluble salts in drainage urban, contribute for the degradation of the water of rivers located in semi-arid zones.

This study examined the spatial and temporal variations of 13 physico-chemical parameters in water and sediment samples collected along the rural and urban section of Verruga Stream. The metal concentrations were determined by FAAS. The conductivity and the concentration of Na+, Cl-, and Ca2+ showed the largest variations in the urban area demonstrating that these parameters are appropriate indicators of urban contamination. The application of cluster and principal component analysis showed that the Cd2+ and Mn2+ are associated with the use of fertilizers in the rural area.

The spatial and temporal retention of metals has been studied in water and sediments of the Gavião River, Anagé and Tremedal Reservoirs, located in the semi-arid region, Bahia - Brazil, in order to identify trends in the fluxes of metals from the sediments to the water column. The determination of metals was made by ICP OES and ET AAS. The application of statistical methods showed that this aquatic system presents suitable conditions to move Cd2+ and Pb2+ from the water column to the sediment.

Neste trabalho, amostras de mel produzidas em três diferentes regiões climáticas do Sudoeste da Bahia, Brasil (semi-árido, Mata Atlântica e Zona de Transição Climática) foram caracterizadas com base nos teores de minerais, elementos traços, cinzas e condutividade elétrica. Os metais foram determinados por espectrometria de absorção atômica. Com a finalidade de avaliar as variáveis químicas capazes de promover uma caracterização do mel produzido em cada região, as técnicas de cluster e componentes principais (ACP) foram aplicadas nos resultados das análises. Com base nas análises de cluster e ACP, foi possível distinguir os diferentes grupos de amostras correspondentes às três origens geográficas dos méis. A elevada correlação observada entre a condutividade elétrica e Cu nas amostras das zonas de transição climática, sugere que essas variáveis estão associadas, e esse fato pode ser atribuído ao uso de cobre na cafeicultura que é a principal atividade agrícola desenvolvida nessa região.

In this study, samples of honey produced in three different regional climates in the southwest Bahia, Brazil (semi-arid, Atlantic and Transitional Forest Zones) were characterized on the basis of their mineral and trace elements, ash content and electrical conductivity. The metals were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The cluster and principal component analysis (PCA) methods were applied to the chemical concentration data in order to study the chemistry variables capable of promoting a characterization of the honey produced in each area. Cluster analysis and PCA distinguishes the different groups of honey samples corresponding to each region of the three geographical origins. The high correlation between electrical conductivity and Cu observed in honey samples from transitional forest zones suggested a coupling to the nutrient cycle, and can be attributed to use of copper compounds in coffee production, a major activity developed in all transitional forest zones.

The importance of copper as an essential element can be estimated by the wide range of copper proteins and enzymes playing different roles in biological systems. In the last decades many bioinorganic studies were developed on mimetic complexes of copper-dependent proteins, in order to verify the interrelations between structural and functional properties of active copper centers. Among the most studied copper ion ligand, diimine compounds have deserved special attention due their flexibility, facility of preparation, and ability to stabilize both oxidation states of this metal. In our laboratory, we have been investigating some Schiff base copper complexes as mimics of different proteins, with emphasis on functional aspects, trying to elucidate mechanisms of reaction, based on proposed intermediary species, in addition to molecular shapes. Particularly, mimics of the copper-zinc superoxide dismutase, and of monooxigenases and oxidases exhibiting dicopper sites are discussed in this work.