Contamination of water resources by pesticides in the region center of Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

• Autor(a) principal: Lucas, Evandro de Oliveira
• Data de Publicação: 2020
• Outros Autores: Bernardo, Janaina Tauil, Mesquita, Marilise Oliveira, Schmitz, José Antônio Kroeff
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Research, Society and Development
• Texto Completo: https://rsdjournal.org/index.php/rsd/article/view/7128
• topic: Potable water; Environmental contamination; Environmental monitoring.; Agua potable; Contaminación ambiental; Monitoreo ambiental.; Água potável; Contaminação ambiental; Monitoramento ambiental.

The increase of pesticide use in agriculture can bring serious consequences for the environment and the health of the population when consuming food and water with residues of such substances. The present study aimed to evaluate the presence and concentration of pesticides in water intended for human consumption and, thus, to understand the health risks that the population of Cachoeira do Sul is subjected to. The methodology consisted of collecting and evaluating water samples five times, between August 2017 and March 2018, having been realize two collections of treated water (at the treatment station and at a teaching institution) and one of water from the Jacuí River, which supplies the city (total of 15 samples). The samples were subjected to analysis by solid-phase extraction and gas and liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. The results showed the presence of pesticide residues in all samples with critical values of contamination between February and March. In total, eighteen pesticide active ingredients were identified, with the imidacloprid insecticide having the highest incidence and concentration, followed by the clomazone and quinclorac herbicides. The pollutants analyzed persisted even after water treatment, exposing the population to potential risks from the daily intake. Measurements that promote the removal of these compounds in the water as well as alternatives to the conventional agricultural model, should be expanded to promote the reduction or elimination of pesticide use and the protection of the population's health and environmental.