Subproject 25
Determination of Metals and Metalloids in Biological Samples of Wild and Domestic Animals in the Paraopeba River Basin
This project's main objective is to determine the presence and concentration of metals and metalloids in biological samples collected from wild and domestic animals in the Paraopeba River basin. The main objective unfolds into the following specific objectives:
- Develop and validate "scanning" methods for detection (identification) of metals and metalloids (primarily Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Fe, Mn, Ni, V, U and Zn), in the following biological matrices collected from wild and domestic animals: feces, liver, fur and feathers.
- Develop and validate analytical methods for quantification of metals and metalloids (primarily Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Fe, Mn, Ni, V, U, Zn and rare earth elements) in the following biological matrices collected from wild and domestic: feces, hair, feathers, blood, whey, milk, liver, kidney and muscle.
- Determine the presence and concentration of metals and metalloids in biological matrices collected from wild and domestic animals (hair, feathers, feces, blood, serum, milk, liver, kidney and muscle) in collection calls No. 5/2019, 6/2019 and 7/2019.
- Use chemometric tools to assist in the interpretation of results and in the evaluation of possible correlations between samples and determined elements.
- Evaluate and estimate possible interferences of contamination by metals and metalloids in the life of wild animals, in the health of domestic animals and in human health arising from the ingestion of animal products, with reference to the area affected by the collapse of the B1 Dam of Mineradora Vale in Brumadinho.
- Discuss the results obtained in this proposal together with those obtained from other subprojects related to the determination of metals and metalloids in other matrices (water, sediments, soils, tailings and particulate matter).
Methodological Steps
1st Step – Validation of the proposed methods in white samples, that is, samples from uncontaminated animals, provided by professors at the UFMG Veterinary School and/or by the Pedro Leopoldo Federal Agricultural Defense Laboratory.
2nd Stage - Analysis of samples collected by Subprojects 05, 06 and 07 in two groups: assessment of short-term exposure, through blood samples and stomach contents, and evaluation of medium-long-term exposure, through tissue samples where there is bioaccumulation of metals and metalloids such as hair, feathers and liver.
3rd Stage - Pre-treatment of samples
4th Step – Screening Methods, to which samples of feathers, hair and liver will be submitted. It is a faster method, ideal for cases where there is a large amount of sample material.
5th Step – Quantitative methods. Blood samples will be analyzed by diluting them in chemical solutions, while samples of liver, kidneys, muscle, feathers, hair, milk and feces will be evaluated by means of acid digestion assisted by microwave radiation. Quantitative methods will take into account 1. Linearity; 2. Selectivity and Matrix Effect; 3. Detection limit; 4. Quantification limit; 5. Accuracy (repeatability and intra-laboratory reproducibility); 6. Recovery/truthfulness; 7. Robustness; 8. Measurement Uncertainty.
6th Step – Statistical treatment of data and final report.
Subproject 25 Timeline
• Acquisition of materials
• Team training on CRA equipment
• Meetings with supervisor, collection teams and CRA team
• Pre-treatment of feather, hair, liver, muscle and kidney samples.
• Acquisition of materials
• Pre-treatment of feather, hair, liver, muscle and kidney samples
• Development and validation of the quantitative method for blood
• Development and validation of the liver scan method
• Preparation of validation reports
• Supervisor meetings , collection teams and CRA team
• Pre-treatment of samples of feathers, hair, liver, muscles and kidneys.
• Development and validation of the quantitative method for blood
• Development and validation of the liver scan method
• Development and validation of the scanning method for hair and feathers
• Development and validation of quantitative methods for liver, kidney and muscle
• Development and validation of qualitative methods for hair and feathers
• Development and validation of quantitative methods for milk and faeces
• Preparation of validation reports
• Pre-treatment of samples of feathers, hair, liver, muscles and kidneys.
• Development and validation of the scanning method for hair and feathers
• Development and validation of quantitative methods for liver, kidney and muscle
• Development and validation of qualitative methods for hair and feathers
• Development and validation of quantitative methods for milk and faeces
• Analysis of live wild animal samples
• Analysis of post-mortem samples of domestic and wild animals
• Preparation of validation reports
• Preparation and delivery of substantiated technical reports
• Preparation of a report with consolidated results
• Supervisor meetings , collection teams and CRA team
• Pre-treatment of samples of feathers, hair, liver, muscles and kidneys.
• Development and validation of quantitative methods for milk and faeces
• Analysis of live wild animal samples
• Analysis of samples of domestic production animals
• Preparation of validation reports
• Pre-treatment from samples of feathers, hair, liver, muscle and kidneys.
• Analysis of live wild animal samples
• Analysis of post-mortem samples of domestic and wild animals
• Analysis of samples of domestic pets (dogs and cats)
• Analysis of samples of production domestic animals
• Supervisor meetings , collection teams and CRA team
• Pre-treatment of samples of feathers, hair, liver, muscles and kidneys.
• Analysis of samples of domestic pets (dogs and cats)
• Analysis of samples of production domestic animals
• Pre-treatment of samples of feathers, hair, liver, muscles and kidneys.
• Analysis of post-mortem samples of domestic and wild animals
• Analysis of samples of domestic production animals
• Preparation and delivery of substantiated technical reports
• Preparation of a report with consolidated results
• Supervisor meetings , collection teams and CRA team
• Pre-treatment of samples of feathers, hair, liver, muscles and kidneys.
• Post-mortem analysis of domestic and wild animals
• Analysis of samples of production domestic animals
• Pre-treatment from samples of feathers, hair, liver, muscle and kidneys.
• Analysis of post-mortem samples of domestic and wild animals
• Analysis of samples of production domestic animals
• Supervisor meetings , collection teams and CRA team
• Pre-treatment of samples of feathers, hair, liver, muscles and kidneys.
• Analysis of post-mortem samples of domestic and wild animals
• Analysis of samples of production domestic animals
• Elaboration and delivery of substantiated technical reports
• Preparation of a report with consolidated results
Meet the team!