Diagnóstico ambiental da poluição por esgotos utilizando interferentes endócrinos e esteróis fecais - Lagoa do Catú, Aquiraz Ceará

Abstract

The contribution of sewage in coastal areas often occurs in places that have quickly and without proper planning process for such impact urbanization. The aquatic ecosystem effluent’s receiving contains contaminated sediments due to accumulation of toxic compounds, this scenario could present eutrophication, changes in biodiversity, damage to environmental health and consequently human health, besides the damage to tourism, bathing and economic activities. The fecal sterols and endocrine interfering molecular are markers used as indicators of pollution by domestic sewage, due to its environmental stability and high specificity to the source. The work was done in the Catú coastal lagoon, located in Aquiraz / CE. The study area presents a great urbanization and impaired in basic sanitation, as well as presenting relevant importance to the region. Therefore, this study aims to assess the degree of contamination promoted by discharge of sewage through the determination of molecular markers by GC-MS. Samples of surface sediment were taken at 14 points of the study area. Laboratory analytical techniques were performed for the identification and quantification of compounds in the sediment of interest (extraction, clean-up, derivatization and chromatographic analysis) and its correlation with the sediment characteristics (grain size and organic matter). The concentration of total sterols varied from 1189.53 to 30308.02 (ng / g) and estrogens varied from 1335.16 and 11567.83 (ng / g). Both markers showed no significant correlation with organic matter. To confirm the diagnosis of contamination diagnoses impact indices of sterols were used, it was found that the area is contaminated.