HEALTH INDEX IN THE PARAUAPEBAS RIVER: MODELING A SCENARIO OF INCREASED POINT AND DIFFUSE METAL POLLUTION

Código

XXV-SBRH0313

Autores

Danieli Mara Ferreira, PAULO RÓGENES MONTEIRO PONTES, Roberto Dall'Agnol, Tasso Guimarães, Gabriel Salomão, Marcio Sousa Silva

Tema

STE14 - Hidrologia no arco do desmatamento da Amazônia

Resumo

High concentrations of metals in surface waters can pose risks to both human health and the ecosystem. The transport and fate of these elements in rivers are influenced by various processes, such as advection, dispersion, and sorption. This research applies a model to assess the transport and fate of multiple metals along 107 km of the Parauapebas River in Pará, Brazil. The primary objective is to evaluate the health risks associated with increased metal loads entering the river. The simulation encompasses the river stretch extending from the Sossego mining complex to the city of Parauapebas, where the river serves as a source of drinking water. While the risks to adult health are generally low, the simulated scenario with elevated metal levels indicates a higher likelihood of exceeding threshold limits. Therefore, it is important to reduce the metal content in the water intended for human consumption near Parauapebas city. The study reveals that point sources have a larger impact on water quality during the dry season, whereas diffuse contributions have a greater influence on metal concentrations during the rainy season, particularly in deforested areas. This modeling framework can effectively guide pollution control and remediation strategies for stakeholders in both the public and industrial sectors.