The Research Group in Chemistry and Chemometrics specializes in inorganic analytical chemistry and employs spectrometric techniques. Also conducts research and monitors chemical elements in samples such as river water, seawater, sediments, and fish, using both batch and online methods. Non-chromatographic speciation strategies have been proposed for the analysis of environmental and food matrices. Additionally, we are determining the presence of microplastics in water, fish, and sediment samples from Todos os Santos Bay. An environmental assessment project for the Joanes River is ongoing, focusing on detecting chemical elements in water and sediments to assess health risks related to using this water for public supply in Salvador, Brazil. Several articles related to this project have been published. A thesis was developed on a health risk assessment of sardine consumption, a widely eaten food among low-income populations in Salvador, Bahia, and the findings were published in scientific journals. Some review papers: - Speciation, fractionation, and determination of mercury using the direct mercury analyzers - A review, DOI 10.1016/j.microc.2025.115076 - Application of human health risk indices in assessing contamination from chemical elements in food samples DOI 10.1016/j.trac.2023.117281 - Use of pollution indices and ecological risk in the assessment of contamination from chemical elements in soils and sediments - Practical aspects, DOI 10.1016/j.teac.2022.e00169
Topic 1. Waterborne contaminants and health risks: occurrence, behaviour, interactions and vulnerability
We are seeking a project that develops tools to detect and assess potentially toxic chemical elements, microplastics, and organic compounds in water, sediment, and fish samples from rivers and seas, aiming to gather data for evaluating risks to human health. We have several regions affected by industrial activities, including gold, lead, uranium, and other metallurgical processes. Additionally, some rivers are impacted by petrochemical compounds.