Journal Article

Health risks of environmental exposure to metals and herbicides in the Pardo River, Brazil

Tonani, Karina A. A., Fregonesi, Brisa M., Machado, Carolina S., Alves, Renato I. S., Mari, Montse, Segura-Muñoz, Susana, Martinis, Bruno S., Schuhmacher, Marta, Sierra, Jordi, Nadal, Martí, Domingo, Jose L., Celere, Beatriz S.

2017

Overview

Mixture of metals and herbicides in rivers may pose relevant risks for the health of surrounding communities. Humans may be exposed to river pollution through intake of contaminated water and fish, as well as irrigated agricultural products. The aim of this study was to assess the human health risks of environmental exposure to metals and herbicides through water and fish intake in the Pardo River. Metals (Al, As, Be, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Mn, Hg, Ni, Tl, Sn, V, and Zn) were analyzed in river water and in edible fish. Herbicides (ametryn, atrazine, diuron, hexazinone, simazine, and tebuthiuron) were analyzed in river water. Seasonal variances were also studied. Aluminum, Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb, and Zn levels in river water were higher than the USEPA benchmarks. Non-carcinogenic risks due to pollutants mixture exposure were above the limit, and carcinogenic risks of As exposure were >10 −6 in the sampling points during the rainy season. Metal levels in fish were lower than the Brazilian legislation and do not pose a threat to public health. Herbicides were detected in four sampling points, with atrazine concentrations (range 0.16–0.32 μg/L) below the Brazilian standard (2.0 μg/L), but above the European Union standard (0.1 μg/L). Considering the water supply needs of cities located in the Pardo River Basin and the persistence of metals and herbicides, the present study indicated that there was a seasonal influence on non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks to human health, especially in the rainy season. Studies for water treatment plants implantation should consider the risks of exposure to persistent substances, in order to protect the population.

• Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Agricultural products / Aluminum / ametryn / Aquatic Pollution / arsenic / Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution / Atrazine / Benchmarks / Brazil / Cadmium / Carcinogens / Chromium / cities / Copper / Diuron / Earth and Environmental Science / Ecological risk assessment / Ecotoxicology / Efficient & Sustainable Water Systems Management toward Worth Living Development / Environment / Environmental Chemistry / Environmental Exposure / Environmental Health / Environmental risk / Environmental science / European Union / Exposure / Fish / fish consumption / Health risk assessment / Health risks / Health Status Indicators / Herbicides / Herbicides - analysis / Herbicides - toxicity / Hexazinone / human health / Humans / Implantation / irrigation / laws and regulations / Lead / Legislation / Manganese / mercury / Metal concentrations / Metals / Metals, Heavy - analysis / Metals, Heavy - toxicity / Nickel / Pollutants / Public health / Rainy season / risk / River basins / river water / Rivers / Rivers - chemistry / Sampling / Seafood / Seasons / Simazine / tebuthiuron / tin / United States Environmental Protection Agency / vanadium / Waste Water Technology / Water Management / Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis / Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity / Water pollution / Water Pollution Control / Water supply / Water treatment / Water treatment plants / watersheds / wet season / zinc