RESEARCH OF SUBSTANCES OF INTEREST TO PUBLIC HEALTH IN PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY IN THE NORTHEAST OF THE STATE OF SÃO PAULO

Abstract

The waters used in the public water supply in the northeast of the State of São Paulo (a region in process of industrialization, where live approximately 3.3 million inhabitants in 90 municipalities) are taken from surface source, subterranean source, or combinations of both. Recent studies in these waters showed that: (i) the municipalities can be divided into groups according to the physico-chemical properties; (ii) the waters of a group of 14 municipalities have the concentration of nitrate as a prominent variable, while a group of 4 municipalities have the presence of lithium as one of its features; (iii) bromate was measured significantly in 3 municipalities. In view of these facts, this project will seek for detailed information about the concentrations of lithium, nitrate and bromate in the public waters supply of the region. The herbicide glyphosate and its metabolite, the aminomethylphosphonic acid, will be also investigated, in addition to two microbiological assays and the determinations of temperature, conductivity, free residual chlorine, pH, turbidity, and apparent color. Besides the lithium, nitrate, and bromate concentrations, the concentrations of another 12 ions will be determined: sodium, ammonium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, fluoride, chloride, bromide, chlorite, chlorate, phosphate and sulphate. Thus, for each sample of water will be associated 2 microbiological and 23 physico-chemical parameters, and the data will be submitted to univariate and multivariate analysis. We intend to contribute with data and informations for future actions of the 90 Municipal Sanitary Surveillance from Groups of Sanitary Surveillance of the 4 Regional Departments of Health (Araraquara, Barretos, Franca and Ribeirão Preto) which constitute the Attention to Health Regional Net 13 in the northeast of the State. (AU)