In the present study, a novel flow injection on-line fiber fabric sorptive extraction (FI- FFSE) platform was developed, in order to take advantage of the benefits of FPSE technique in automatic mode. For this purpose, a microcolumn packed with a sol-gel coated fiber fabric medium, the poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS), incorporated into a FI-SPE system, was presented for the first time. This configuration provides insignificant backpressure, resulting in high loading flow rates and shorter analytical cycles. The on-line formed complex of metal with sodium diethyl dithiocarbamate (DDTC) was retained onto the fabric surface, while methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) was used to elute the analytes prior to atomization. For 90 s preconcentration time, enrichment factors of 165 and 43 and detection limits (3s) of 1.6 and 0.3 µg L^-1 were achieved for lead and cadmium determination, respectively, with a sampling frequency of 30 h^-1. The developed method has been successfully demonstrated for on-line lead and cadmium determination by FAAS in commercially available energy and refreshment drinks.

Intervention programmes are one of the ways how to educate children and adolescent in rational nutrition and healthy lifestyle and to improve their dietary habits. They can be an important tool in prevention of health problems related with nutrition such as childhood obesity or development of osteoporosis. The purpose of this work was to evaluate effectiveness of rational nutrition and healthy lifestyle intervention programmes for children and adolescents up to age of 18. The effectiveness of six selected intervention programmes was evaluated by questionnaire survey at schools which have been participating in these programmes. Questionnaires were completed in online form by children of age from 6 to 19. The number of respondents ranged from 19 to 159. The obtained data were evaluated by using the score ranged between one and minus one depending on the effectiveness of the programme (to what extent the program has met its goals). The obtained results indicated that the effectiveness of the intervention programmes was very different. The program "Health to schools" with score 0.83 was the most effective programme. Two intervention programmes ("The school full of health" and "Really healthy school") were ineffective according to this score (-0.05 and -0.20).

Reference materials (RMs) were developed for contaminants such as histamine in canned tuna and benzoic acid in mango juice. The RMs were found homogeneous and stable for at least six (6) months. For the reference value assignment, a candidate higher order method like isotope dillution (ID) technique - Liquid Chromatography-Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry (LCMSMS) was applied. These characterized matrix RMs relevant to food safety issues were also used in PT schemes organized locally to help in the dissemination of measurement traceability to international system (SI) of units.

A highly selective molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was synthesized by precipitation polymerization and was used as sorbent material for solid phase extraction (SPE) of salbutamol (SAL) in poultry meat. The MIPs’ performance for the selective extraction of SAL in meat was optimized and compared using commercial SPE. A linear calibration curve was obtained with R > 0.99 for HPLC. Recoveries of SAL using HPLC for meat spiked samples were greater than 90 %. The LOD and LOQ obtained by HPLC were 0.08 µg/g and 0.25 µg/g, respectively.

Iodine is an essential trace element for the synthesis of thyroid hormones, important for pregnant women and children. Clinical studies in Portugal have demonstrated the existence of a generalized deficiency in iodine of pregnant women and with school-age children particular severity in the archipelago of Azores. Foods are the main iodine source. Thus, in this work we report the characterization of iodine in foods produced and consumed by population from Azores and continental Portugal.
Samples of dairy products, fruits and vegetables from both regions were selected. In total, 110 samples were analyzed in triplicate. Iodine contents were determined using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) after alkaline digestion assisted by microwave.
Milk had higher iodine content in continental Portugal (255 µg/l) than in Azores (133 µg/l). For cheese, it was also found in continental Portugal that the highest iodine content was 275 µg/kg when compared to the Azores, 117 µg/kg. Vegetables collected in the Azores had higher iodine contents than those from continental Portugal, with the exception of carrots. For all fruits values below the limit of quantification were found.
Results showed that dairy products analyzed are a good source of iodine and should be part of the diets of deficient populations. Proficiency test schemes and certified reference materials were important to guarantee the accuracy of the laboratory results. Analytical data are also in line with recent studies, evidencing that foods rich in iodine represent a clear benefit in the daily intake of this micronutrient, for the general population.