Suchergebnisse

The quality of drinking water and its health implications for school children were examined at schools in the Santarém region, Amazon, Brazil. In this region, the population is fully supplied by groundwater from the voluminous Alter do Chão aquifer. Drinking water samples from three schools in Santarem city and from one school at the rural Mojuí dos Campos town were subjected to microbiological and physicochemical compositional analyses. The health risk of human exposure to chemical compounds through water intake was also evaluated. The results indicated that most water samples were contaminated with total coliform and with E. coli, which could cause serious intestinal disorders for school children. Drinking water was acidic and most of the chemical element concentrations were within Brazilian water potability recommended levels. One exception was the high aluminium content in schools from Santarem served by shallower wells, suggesting that further epidemiological studies are necessary and the monitoring of exposed school children should not be discarded. Elevated nitrate concentrations were also noted in schools from Santarém with shallower wells, indicating lack of sanitation and the importance of periodic monitoring of drinking water to prevent adverse health effects. Quantification of human health risk indicated a hazard in schools served by shallower wells, with aluminium as the main pollutant, followed by nitrate. The results showed that most drinking water quality parameters are in accordance with Brazilian legislation. However, microbiological contamination, water acidity, aluminium and nitrate concentrations must be taken into consideration for local governments in order to prevent related diseases among school children. ; The quality of drinking water and its health implications for school children were examined at schools in the Santarém region, Amazon, Brazil. In this region, the population is fully supplied by groundwater from the voluminous Alter do Chão aquifer. Drinking water samples from three schools in Santarem city and from one school at the rural Mojuí dos Campos town were subjected to microbiological and physicochemical compositional analyses. The health risk of human exposure to chemical compounds through water intake was also evaluated. The results indicated that most water samples were contaminated with total coliform and with E. coli, which could cause serious intestinal disorders for school children. Drinking water was acidic and most of the chemical element concentrations were within Brazilian water potability recommended levels. One exception was the high aluminium content in schools from Santarem served by shallower wells, suggesting that further epidemiological studies are necessary and the monitoring of exposed school children should not be discarded. Elevated nitrate concentrations were also noted in schools from Santarém with shallower wells, indicating lack of sanitation and the importance of periodic monitoring of drinking water to prevent adverse health effects. Quantification of human health risk indicated a hazard in schools served by shallower wells, with aluminium as the main pollutant, followed by nitrate. The results showed that most drinking water quality parameters are in accordance with Brazilian legislation. However, microbiological contamination, water acidity, aluminium and nitrate concentrations must be taken into consideration for local governments in order to prevent related diseases among school children. ; Qualidade da água de consumo e implicações em saúde de escolares foram avaliadas em escolas na região de Santarém, Pará, Amazônia. Nessa região, a população é abastecida totalmente por água subterrânea do volumoso aquífero Alter do Chão. Amostras de água de consumo de três escolas na cidade de Santarém e uma escola no município rural de Mojuí dos Campos foram submetidas a análises microbiológicas e de composição físico química. O risco à saúde por meio da exposição a contaminantes químicos pela ingestão da água, também, foi avaliado. Os resultados indicaram que a maior parte das amostras estiveram contaminadas por coliformes totais e E.coli, o que poderá ocasionar distúrbios intestinais importantes nos escolares. A água é ácida e as concentrações dos elementos químicos estão de acordo com os níveis recomendados pela legislação brasileira. Uma exceção foi observada para o alumínio, que apresentou concentrações superiores ao recomendado na água das escolas de Santarém com poços mais rasos, sugerindo que novos estudos epidemiológicos devam ser realizados e o monitoramento de crianças expostas não deverá ser descartado. Concentrações elevadas de nitrato também foram encontradas na água das escolas de Santarém com poços mais rasos, indicando deficiências sanitárias e a importância do seu monitoramento visando evitar efeitos em saúde. A avaliação quantitativa de risco em saúde evidenciou perigo somente nas escolas com poços mais rasos, sendo que o principal contribuinte foi o alumínio, seguido do nitrato. Os resultados mostram que a maioria dos parâmetros de qualidade da água das escolas estão de acordo com os limites recomendados pela legislação brasileira, entretanto, a contaminação microbiológica, a acidez e as concentrações elevadas de alumínio e nitrato na água devem ser consideradas prioridades visando a prevenção de doenças relacionadas com consumo de água pelos escolares.

Abstract The quality of drinking water and its health implications for school children were examined at schools in the Santarém region, Amazon, Brazil. In this region, the population is fully supplied by groundwater from the voluminous Alter do Chão aquifer. Drinking water samples from three schools in Santarem city and from one school at the rural Mojuí dos Campos town were subjected to microbiological and physicochemical compositional analyses. The health risk of human exposure to chemical compounds through water intake was also evaluated. The results indicated that most water samples were contaminated with total coliform and with E. coli, which could cause serious intestinal disorders for school children. Drinking water was acidic and most of the chemical element concentrations were within Brazilian water potability recommended levels. One exception was the high aluminium content in schools from Santarem served by shallower wells, suggesting that further epidemiological studies are necessary and the monitoring of exposed school children should not be discarded. Elevated nitrate concentrations were also noted in schools from Santarém with shallower wells, indicating lack of sanitation and the importance of periodic monitoring of drinking water to prevent adverse health effects. Quantification of human health risk indicated a hazard in schools served by shallower wells, with aluminium as the main pollutant, followed by nitrate. The results showed that most drinking water quality parameters are in accordance with Brazilian legislation. However, microbiological contamination, water acidity, aluminium and nitrate concentrations must be taken into consideration for local governments in order to prevent related diseases among school children.