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The Iron Quadrangle, Minas Gerais, Brazil, is rich in mineral occurrences and is considered one of the richest mineral-bearing regions in the world. Most investigations in this region have dealt with the determination of arsenic and mercury but so far few studies have been carried out aiming at determining other important elements. Having in mind the potential risk caused by mineral activities, this study was developed in order to assess the potential influence of the soil on foodstuffs. The soil samples were collected from three sites inside and outside the Iron Quadrangle. The samples were analyzed at the Laboratory for Neutron Activation Analysis, CDTN/CNEN by the k 0-instrumental neutron activation analysis. This paper reports the elemental concentration determined in soil and emphasises the elements cited in the Brazilian environmental legislation for soil. This work also confirms the high elemental concentration of several minerals, however, it is difficult to distinguish the contamination from anthropogenic activities from the natural occurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural radionuclides 226Ra, 228Ra, 210Pb and 210Po activity concentrations and the inorganic chemical composition were determined in radioactive mineral water springs from the Water Parks of Águas de Contendas and Lambari, located in the Water Circuit of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Radionuclides were determined by gross alpha and beta measurements and alpha spectrometry, and the chemical elements by ICP-OES. Among the radionuclides analyzed, the highest activity concentrations obtained were for 226Ra and 228Ra and the chemical elements Ca, Fe and Na presented higher values of concentrations. Pearson's correlation coefficient analysis was performed to verify the correlation between natural radionuclides and the chemical elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]