Monitoramento ambiental e epidemiológico da expansão industrial no Pecém-CE

Abstract

The district of Pecém, in São Gonçalo do Amarante – CE, has consolidated itself over the past decades as a strategic industrial hub, driven by the establishment of the Pecém Industrial and Port Complex (CIPP). This rapid expansion has profoundly transformed the region’s natural landscape and socioeconomic dynamics, placing significant pressure on water resources and the population’s quality of life. This study aimed to conduct environmental and epidemiological monitoring over the historical series from 1991 to 2022, using analyses of water and socio-environmental parameters. To carry out the surface water analyses, samples were collected at different points within the municipality and submitted to physicochemical and chemical tests in specialized laboratories at the Federal University of Ceará. In addition, epidemiological and statistical data from the Mortality Information System (SIM) and DATASUS were integrated into the study. The results revealed significant changes in water quality: in the Riacho das Guaribas stream, turbidity reached levels up to 337.5% above the limit established by environmental regulations; in the Pecém mangrove, pH values were higher than recommended, suggesting ecosystem imbalances; whereas in the Pecém Lagoon, values remained within acceptable limits. The chemical analysis identified elevated concentrations of chlorophyll-a, indicating eutrophication, as well as the presence of heavy metals, which pose environmental and bioaccumulation risks within the food chain. These environmental alterations may be associated with increased respiratory, circulatory, and infectious diseases in the region, highlighting the connection between water pollution and public health. The study also demonstrates the need for continuous monitoring and the implementation of environmental management tools, such as Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), to mitigate the negative effects of the industrialization process.