Evaluation of heavy metals and environmental pollutants in Rio do Sal (Nossa Senhora do Socorro - SE) and its impact on human health

Abstract

The purpose of this article was to analyze the concentration levels of heavy metals and pollutants into the Rio do Sal as, given that residents of its banks have used it as food, water and leisure sources. One of the most common environmental problems is the chemical pollution resulting from residential and industrial effluents. Considering the period that heavy metals persist in water bodies, it is essential to evaluate their levels of incidence in the environment. The method applied was a data collection conducted in June 2011 in the banks of the studied river located in Nossa Senhora do Socorro/SE. For the analysis, atomic absorption spectroscopy was applied. The result demonstrated high concentration of heavy metals that exceed the maximum level allowed by CONAMA. The conclusion revealed, therefore, that Rio do Sal is unsuitable for human consumption due to elevated amounts of copper.