Determinação dos metais cobre, cádmio e chumbo em suplementos de óleo de peixe – Ômega-3

Abstract

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, found in marine fish such as salmon, herring, sardines, tuna, among others, act to prevent various diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and chronic degenerative diseases. In order to obtain the many benefits of Omega-3, many people seek to add to their diet the consumption of this supplement, however it is unknown to the population that fish, raw material for obtaining Omega-3, can often be contaminated with metals. Thus, a study was conducted from five commercial samples of fish oil supplements to determine the presence of copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) metals. The samples were incinerated and then underwent an acid digestion process. From solutions obtained from the acid digestion process the amounts of Cu, Cd and Pb metals in the fish oil samples were determined by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry analysis. The study showed that Cu metal was not detected in any of the five fish oil samples studied. Only sample A5 had detectable values for metal Cd and this value was within the allowable range (up to 0.10 mg Kg-1). All samples had detectable values for Pb metal, and Pb concentrations found in samples A2, A3, A4 and A5 were above the law (up to 0.10 mg Kg-1) and only sample A1 showed Pb concentration that met the required limits.