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21st ENQA & 9th CIAQA: First Edition Held in Northern Brazil
Summary
This isn't a study but a recap of a major Brazilian chemistry conference, held for the first time in the Amazon region, where scientists shared new tools for testing food safety, water quality, and pollution. A key topic discussed was better methods for detecting microplastics in our environment—tiny plastic particles increasingly found in food, water, and even human bodies—which matters because tracking them accurately is the first step toward understanding their health risks and reducing our exposure.
The ENQA is a rotating conference organized by the Analytical Chemistry Division of the Brazilian Chemical Society (SBQ) and has a history of more than 40 years. Its first edition took place in the early 1980s. Today, it stands as the largest and most important scientific conference in Analytical Chemistry in Brazil and one of the leading chemistry events in Latin America. The 21st National Meeting on Analytical Chemistry marked a defining moment in the conference’s history, as it was the first edition ever held in Brazil's Northern region. The 21st ENQA was jointly organized with the 9th Ibero-American Congress on Analytical Chemistry (CIAQA) and took place at the Hangar Convention and Exhibition Center of the Amazon, from September 15 to 18, 2024, in the city of Belém, Pará State, Brazil. Belém is a vibrant metropolis known for its distinctive culture and rich gastronomy, largely based on ingredients derived from the Amazon rainforest’s diverse flora and fauna. Surrounded by rivers and islands, Belém is one of the most prominent cities in the Brazilian Amazon. Hosting the meeting in Belém, the host city of COP30, further underscored the relevance of Analytical Chemistry to environmental monitoring, climate studies, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development. The Amazon region provides unique opportunities for analytical research involving biodiversity, environmental monitoring, food authenticity, natural products, and ecosystem preservation. Following twenty previous editions held in other regions of the country, the 21st ENQA & 9th CIAQA represented an important milestone for science in Northern Brazil. Hosting the event in this region was fundamental to promoting inclusion and reducing inequalities in access to scientific activities. Furthermore, the meeting fostered the dissemination and visibility of regional and national scientific research through discussions on highly relevant topics presented during the event. The participation of international speakers addressing frontier themes also contributed significantly to the conference's internationalization. In addition to the four-day scientific program, researchers, students, and professionals from across Brazil and abroad had the opportunity to interact with technical specialists from companies in Analytical Chemistry, learning about the latest advances in instrumentation and technological innovation. The scientific discussions highlighted emerging trends in analytical sciences, including artificial intelligence-assisted analytical methodologies, advanced mass spectrometry, microplastics monitoring, omics technologies, environmental sustainability, and point-of-care analytical systems. These topics reinforce the strategic role of Analytical Chemistry in addressing major societal challenges. As society faces increasingly complex environmental, health, and technological challenges, Analytical Chemistry continues to serve as a fundamental pillar for generating reliable information and supporting evidence-based decision-making. The meeting received 538 submitted abstracts and welcomed more than 867 participants from 25 Brazilian states, the Federal District, and 17 other countries. The participation of researchers from 17 countries strengthened international collaboration and reinforced CIAQA's role as a major platform for scientific integration across Ibero-America. The conference theme, “Analytical Chemistry and its Contributions to the Development of a Sustainable Society,” guided a comprehensive scientific program that included six short courses, six workshops, nine plenary lectures, a session with editors, eight themed sessions, thirteen technical presentations, forty-eight oral communications, three poster sessions, award and tribute ceremonies, ENQA in the Schools activities, a book session, and several social integration events. This edition reflected the increasing diversity of the analytical chemistry community, with women representing 53% of attendees and assuming prominent roles throughout the scientific program. In this special edition, the Brazilian Journal of Analytical Chemistry (BrJAC) presents an interview with Professor Orlando Fatibello Filho from the Federal University of São Carlos (São Paulo State, Brazil), who has extensive experience in Analytical Chemistry, particularly in electroanalytical methods, bioanalytical chemistry, optical analytical methods in the UV-Vis region, and chemiluminescence. This issue also includes two “Points of View” articles and one letter. The “Points of View” contributions were written by Professor Cassiana Montagner from the University of Campinas (São Paulo, Brazil), discussing microplastics studies in Analytical Chemistry, and by Professor Renato Zanella, addressing advances in Ibero-American Analytical Chemistry. In addition, Professor Maria Montes-Bayón from the University of Oviedo (Spain) contributes a letter discussing cisplatin resistance in cell models and alternative nano-delivery systems investigated using mass spectrometric platforms. The research articles featured in this edition provide important contributions to the medical, biological, and food sciences, reaffirming the central role of Analytical Chemistry in advancing scientific knowledge and sustainable development. The organizing committee gratefully acknowledges all sponsors and supporters, including funding agencies, companies, the Royal Society of Chemistry, the National Institutes of Science and Technology (INCTs), ABQ-PA, and CFQ-CRQs, whose contributions were essential in supporting the participation of invited national and international speakers. Finally, the guest editors of this special BrJAC issue thank all authors for submitting their valuable contributions and all reviewers for dedicating their time and expertise to ensure the high quality of this edition dedicated to the 21st ENQA & 9th CIAQA. The editors also recognize the efforts of the organizing and scientific committees, as well as the entire event support team, whose dedication made this successful conference possible. The success of the 21st ENQA & 9th CIAQA demonstrates the vitality of Analytical Chemistry in Brazil and Ibero-America and provides a strong foundation for future scientific cooperation to address global challenges through analytical innovation.