Silvana Audrá Cutolo

Prevalência de parasitos intestinais e aspectos socioambientais em comunidade indígena no Distrito de Iauaretê, Município de São Gabriel da Cachoeira (AM), Brasil

Situado em Terra Indigena do Alto Rio Negro, Iauarete e o segundo maior polo de concentracao humana no municipio de Sao Gabriel da Cachoeira (AM) e agrega dez vilas, com 15 etnias. Esse distrito indigena vem sofrendo processo de transformacao progressiva de padrao de ocupacao disperso e ribeirinho para nucleo com feicoes urbanas, com aproximadamente 2700 habitantes, desencadeando problemas de saude publica. Com objetivo de investigar a distribuicao de prevalencias de parasitos intestinais na populacao local e discutir a relacao desse indicador de saude com aspectos socioambientais no distrito de Iauarete, foram realizadas analises da qualidade da agua de abastecimento e exames parasitologicos em amostras de fezes e solo. Do total de amostras de agua analisadas, 89,2% apresentaram resultado positivo para coliformes termotolerantes. Identificou-se que a vila Dom Bosco foi a que apresentou maior indice de prevalencia em amostras fecais com 76% dos individuos parasitados. A vila Sao Jose apresentou o menor indice com 56%. Os parasitos mais prevalentes em amostras fecais positivas foram, em ordem decrescente, Ascaris lumbricoides (64,84%), Entamoeba coli (32,58%), Endolimax nana (14,84%) e Blastoyistis hominis (13,39%). Em amostras de solo as prevalencias mais significativas foram de ovos de Ascaris sp (52,6%), cistos de Entamoeba coli (52,6%) e larvas de ancilostomideos (52,6%). Concluiu-se que os altos indices de parasitoses intestinais na populacao, aliados a falta de saneamento basico e a manutencao de praticas sanitarias tradicionais constituem um quadro preocupante em saude publica.

Condições sanitárias e socioambientais em Iauaretê, área indígena em São Gabriel da Cachoeira, AM

OBJETIVOS: Descrever condicoes sanitarias e socioambientais relevantes a saude dos habitantes da sede do distrito de Iauarete, area indigena na Amazonia brasileira que se destaca pela concentracao populacional. METODOS: A metodologia adotada foi quali-quantitativa e o metodo da pesquisa-acao foi utilizado principalmente para abordagens qualitativas, viabilizadas em reunioes comunitarias com indigenas e pesquisadores nas vilas componentes da sede do distrito. Foram construidos mapas-falantes; realizadas entrevistas; estudos da disposicao de residuos solidos; localizacao, amostragem e analise da agua de consumo humano; e aplicacao de tecnica de georeferenciamento. RESULTADOS: Das 65 amostras de agua analisadas, 89,2% apresentaram presenca de coliformes fecais.Quanto aos residuos solidos, nao havia nenhuma solucao sanitariamente correta para os mesmos. As praticas sanitarias dos indigenas eram preocupantes do ponto de vista de saude publica e destoantes em relacao ao relativo conhecimento dos mesmos. CONCLUSOES: A peculiar problematica associada ao modo de vida imposto por uma sociedade envolvente demanda, para o equacionamento de questoes de saude coletiva, o desenvolvimento de acoes conjuntas nos campos da infra-estrutura e da educacao em saude, preconizando a participacao da comunidade local.

Monitoring of parasitological contamination in treated wastewater from activated sludge system

Purpose – The goal of this paper is to detect helminth eggs in treated wastewater for sanitary control, using them as biological indicators of wastewater quality.Design/methodology/approach – Samples were taken from the Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant of the Metropolitan Area. To concentrate the samples, centrifugation‐flotation on 33 percent zinc sulphate was applied.Findings – The study revealed the constant presence of helminth eggs as Ascaris sp., Enterobius sp., Hymenolepis sp., and Strongyloides sp.Originality/value – The results indicate that helminth eggs can be used as bioindicators for sanitary control of treated wastewater to be reused in urban areas.

Parasitological risk assessment from wastewater reuse for disposal in soil in developing countries

The purpose of this work is to analyze the parasitological risks of treated wastewater reuse from a stabilization pond in the city of Piracicaba, in the State of São Paulo (Brazil), and the level of treatment required to protect public health. Samples were taken from raw and treated wastewater in stabilization ponds and submitted to a parasitological, microbiological and physicochemical analysis. The study revealed on treated wastewater the presence of Ascaris sp. and Entamoeba coli with an average density of 1 cysts L(-1) and 6 eggs L(-1), respectively. For Ascaris, the annual risks of infection due to the accidental ingestion of wastewater irrigation were 7.5 × 10(-2) in 208 days and 8.7 × 10(-2) in 240 days. For Total Coliforms and Escherichia coli in treated wastewater, the average density was 1.0 × 10(5) MPN/100 ml and 2.7 × 10(4) MPN/100 ml respectively, representing 99% and 94% removal efficiency, respectively. For BOD, COD, TS and TSS removal efficiency was 69, 80, 50 and 71%, respectively. The removal efficiency for nitrogen; ammonia nitrogen and total phosphate was 24, 19 and 68%, respectively. The average density of helminths eggs in treated wastewater is higher compared to the density of the limit value of ≤1 egg L(-1) and tolerable risk is above the level recommended by the World Health Organization. Multiple barriers are necessary for the reduction of organic matter, chemical contaminants and parasites from treated wastewater. Standards for the sanitary control of treated wastewater to be reused in agricultural irrigation areas should be compiled for developing countries in order to minimize public health risks.

Water treatment plant sludge disposal into stabilization ponds

Researchers have paid particular attention to the disposal of sludge produced in water treatment plants (WTPs) into wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) for further processing, mainly because it is considered an attractive alternative for the treatment of waste generated in water production processes. This study evaluated the effects of flow equalization and disposal of sludge, from a conventional WTP, into a WWTP system that includes an anaerobic stabilization pond followed by a facultative pond. During the period of sludge discharge from the WTP into the wastewater system, the influent to the WWTP presented an increase of 17% (from 171 to 200 mg L(-1)) of total suspended solids (TSS) and a 7.0% flow rate increase, without showing adverse effects on the organic load, TSS and nutrients removal. The most significant impact observed in the WWTP was the increase of solids accumulation rate in the anaerobic pond, with a value of 141 mm/year during the sludge discharge period. The operating time, before the dredging and desludging cycles required for this specific anaerobic pond, decreased from 12.7 to 10.4 years, which is consistent with previous studies in literature. Thus, based on the observed parameters of this study, it is viable to release solids from a WTP effluent into a WWTP that includes anaerobic stabilization ponds followed by a facultative pond. Indeed, this process scheme becomes a viable technical, environmental, and economical alternative for small to medium WWTPs.

Acesso à água para consumo humano e aspectos de saúde pública na Amazônia Legal

The Legal Amazon region in Brazil presents challenges regarding access to water for its population, even with plenty of water. This study aims to explore determinants of access to drinking water, covering aspects of environmental, sociocultural, and infrastructure. For this, we analyze: the precarious sanitation coverage by region, by means of macro indicators and case studies on different spatial scales: the indigenous community, small town, riverside communities, and a large city, Manaus, the largest urban center in the Pan-Amazon Amazon. Finally, to undertake an interdisciplinary discussion about the difficulties of access to water within the public health, the importance of exploring aspects that appear so evident in the spatial scales.

Inequities and Challenges for a Metropolitan Region to Improve Climate Resilience

Metropolitan areas require a large flow of environmental services in order to maintain their structures and their population especially considering the challenges associated with climate change. The aim of this chapter is to study inequities among municipalities in the Metropolitan Region of Sao Paulo—MRSP related to Human Development Index—HDI and the provision and demand for water as an environmental service. Indeed, the growth of metropolitan areas implies pressures for the production of wealth and supply for the population needs resulting in environmental and social pressures as well. This study was conducted by using secondary indicators provided by Brazilian public institutions. In terms of water supply there is a complex and unfair relationship between the municipalities considering their role as providers or receivers of environmental services and so significant inequalities can be observed in the metropolitan area, according to the historic process of urban despoliation characteristic of a developing country. There is a clear distinction between municipalities that have a greater demand for water and those that produce it, since these latter often present worse HDI. In conclusion the diversity of a metropolitan region can be considered necessary in terms of municipalities with different roles. Otherwise, the inequities in the municipalities’ providers of environmental services reveal a context of vulnerability, and such asymmetrical scenario must be considered in order to increase the metropolitan resilience towards uncertain climate change scenarios.

Water Vulnerability with Population Growth in Metropolitan Areas of Developing Countries: An Interdisciplinary Approach

This research shows the current situation in Metropolitan Region of Sao Paulo (MR), the effects of demographic growth, internal migration, and social environmental conflicts and vulnerabilities of water availability and natural resources. We used data of research in water resources based on demographic and socioeconomic data provided by public institutions. Being assessed in relation to the uses of water in the Sao Paulo MR, seeking to identify areas of conflict arising from urban areas and their impacts on the vulnerability of ecosystems in water availability. Sao Paulo MR is composed of 39 cities with 19.5 million inhabitants in 7.9 million km2, of which 25 (64 %) cities are in watershed areas. In 2010, total water demand was 77.2 m3/sec. Sao Paulo MR has about 200 m3/sec of water per person/year, considered a high critical value, demonstrating the lack of water. These values are conflicting regarding the trend of migration to cities and suburbs of the average Sao Paulo MR, and the conurbation of the Campinas and Santos Metropolitan Regions, in which there is a competition for water uses of Piracicaba river basin near Campinas; and Santos RM, situated on the coastal area and with high groundwater availability. With the prominence of conflict and worse water availability, we consider the high dynamics of the Brazilian economy, with rising incomes associated with increased water consumption per capita in metropolitan areas.

Metropolitan Environmental Health: Asymmetrical Knowledge and Management in São Paulo, Brazil

Metropolitan areas have been seen as empty political arenas even though there is a renewed interest in discussing the need for their integrated management. In this context environmental and health issues have come into the spotlight, as political and administrative fragmentation does not assist in dealing with the spread of different pollutants which do not adhere to administrative, or even natural boundaries. This paper aims to explore the Sao Paulo Metropolitan Region (SPMR), Brazil, encompassing 39 municipalities, taking into account an unequal distribution of knowledge and administrative efforts in addressing environmental health issues. The study was conducted by using secondary indicators provided by public institutions and by undertaking a bibliographical review. Sao Paulo municipality, as the capital city, concentrates demands for environmental services as well as the need for pollution dispersion, both of which cross municipal boundaries. There is greater concentration of knowledge about the Sao Paulo municipality, for example the main research effort towards understanding the health impacts of air pollution focuses on its spatial limits. It also centralizes public policies to control atmospheric emissions but these cannot solve the larger, regional problem. In relation to public water supply there is a clear distinction between municipalities that have a greater demand for water and those that produce it, since the latter often present inferior economic and social conditions. This situation reveals extremely asymmetrical relations within the metropolitan space and points to the need to use strategic indicators to induce actions involving health, environment and other public administrative sectors.