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Seasonal variation in trace and minor elements in Brazilian honey by total reflection X-ray fluorescence

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Abstract

Honey is used as an alternative medicine and is a constituent of a healthy diet worldwide. Its composition is associated with botanical origin and, to some extent, geographical origin because soil and climate characteristics determine the melliferous flora. Also, the elements content in honey samples could give an indication of environmental pollution or geographical origin. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate seasonal patterns of essential elements of Brazilian honey. Honey was collected during spring, summer, autumn, and winter for 2 years to quantify K, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, Br, and Sr using total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (TXRF). Our results indicate no seasonal differences in concentration of Cr, Ni, Se, and Ti, although there were significant seasonal patterns in the composition of essential elements in honey, with higher concentrations of minor and trace elements, especially K and Ca of samples collected in spring and summer.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ) and the Nuclear Instrumentation Laboratory, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba/SP, Brazil, CNPq 309881-2012-9, FAPERJ E-26/111.667/2014.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Chemical Control, Fluminense Federal University, Vital Brasil Filho 64, Niterói, RJ, 24230-340, Brazil

    Roberta de Oliveira Resende Ribeiro, Eliane Teixeira Mársico, Julia Siqueira Simoes, Micheli da Silva Ferreira & Carlos Adam Conte Junior

  2. Department of Natural Products and Food, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Av. Brigadeiro Trompowski, s/n°, CCS, Bloco A, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-590, Brazil

    Carla da Silva Carneiro

  3. Nuclear Instrumentation Laboratory, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, P.O. Box: 68509, 21945-970, Brazil

    Edgar Francisco Oliveira de Jesus

  4. Nuclear Instrumentation Laboratory, University of São Paulo, Av. Centenário, 303, Piracicaba, SP, 13416-000, Brazil

    Eduardo Almeida

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  1. Roberta de Oliveira Resende Ribeiro
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Correspondence to Roberta de Oliveira Resende Ribeiro.

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de Oliveira Resende Ribeiro, R., Mársico, E.T., da Silva Carneiro, C. et al. Seasonal variation in trace and minor elements in Brazilian honey by total reflection X-ray fluorescence. Environ Monit Assess 187, 96 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-015-4284-1

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