Contaminantes de preocupação emergente: aspectos do consumo, detecção e descarte em ecossistemas aquáticos

Abstract

Human activities are accelerating biogeochemical cycles and causing the deterioration of water bodies worldwide, being water pollution a global environmental problem that affects the water quality and quantity. Synthetic contaminants are agents of global change that have the potential to cause changes compared to the greenhouse gases emission and nutrients input, however, this problem often does not receive as much attention by researchers and funders comparing with other agent of global change. Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) have been detected in several aquatic ecosystems worldwide. Despite the quantifications, many researchers still argue that the concentrations are too low to cause any ecological imbalance or harm human health. However, other studies have shown adverse effects on biota, such as longterm effects and mixtures. In the present work, four different studies were developed to argue that PPCPs should be considered in global agreements, as well as deserve greater attention from developing countries. The studies presented in the present thesis contemplate topics of consumption, occurrence and disposal of contaminants of emerging concern in aquatic ecosystems, providing scientific basis for the need for greater global concern. Thus, the studies showed: (1) using caffeine as case study, it has been shown that environmental concentrations may increase in the near future, especially in countries where per capita coffee consumption is increasing and with low investment in the sewage network and water treatment plants. Caffeine was used as a model, however, other compounds are expected to have the same trend, since the medicines consumption also have been increasing over the years. Thus, pollution by these contaminants will only be aggravated. (2) Through a spatial and temporal investigating of PPCPs concentrations in a river, it was found that the most consumed drugs can appear in greater concentrations in the environment. Furthermore, the concentrations still similar after one year of investigation in the river used as a study model. Thus, it is expected that, in the long-term, the concentrations will increase due to enhanced consumption. (3) Due to population growth, aquatic ecosystems are susceptible to drug contamination. Reservoirs are important aquatic environments used by humans for public supply, irrigation and fishing or fish farming. The study indicates contamination by drugs in Brazilian reservoirs used for these purposes. This is another warning for possible public health issues, although still little about drugs bioaccumulation and the transfer of compartments (aquatic to terrestrial environment) is known. (4) Through an online questionnaire it was observed that people still discarded medicines incorrectly. This is a response to the lack of information in society, but also in the health sectors. In addition, there is a lack of public policies that involve the logistic reverse of medicines and availability of collection points. With these studies, it is clear the need for greater concern and control over the disposal and mitigation of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in the aquatic environments, avoiding loss of biodiversity, ecosystem services and public health issues.