AVALIAÇÃO DO POTENCIAL RISCO A SAÚDE DE CRIANÇAS DEVIDO A INGESTÃO DE MACRO E MICROELEMENTOS EM FARINÁCEOS

Abstract

Cereal-based foods are widely consumed by children, yet limited data exist on their elemental composition and potential health risks. This study quantified As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mn, Mg, Mo, Ni, P, Pb, Se, Si, V, and Zn in eight commercial cereal-based products collected in Campo Grande, Brazil, using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES). Arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, and chromium were consistently below the detection limit. Phosphorus and potassium were the predominant elements across brands, followed by Fe, Mg, and Zn, with significant inter-brand variability (Kruskal–Wallis, p < 0.05). Lead was detected in Brands 1–5 (0.11–0.41 mg/kg) but was undetectable in others. Estimated daily intake (ID) values at 30 g/day and 90 g/day showed that Fe, Zn, Mn, and Se frequently met or exceeded dietary reference intakes for children aged 1–3 years, while Cu, Ni, and P remained below tolerable levels. Comparison with tolerable upper intake levels and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) minimal risk levels indicated that higher consumption (90 g/day) could result in excess intake of Mn, Zn, and Se, with Pb contributing to cumulative hazard indices above the safety threshold (HI > 1). These findings emphasize the dual role of cereal-based foods as important nutrient sources and potential contributors to excessive trace element exposure in young children.