Author:

• Claudia Maria Gomes de Quevedo - Quevedo, C.M.G. - Botucatu, São Paulo - Faculdade de Saúde Pública da Universidade de São Paulo - <claugomes@usp.br>

Thematic Area:

Não Categorizado

Abstract:

Phosphorus is a nutrient with finite and non-renewable sources, whose operating speed is now much higher than the rates of return to its natural cycle, and there are already predictions about a likely collapse in the available and known sources, with serious and irreversible economic, social and environmental impacts. Before this background, this study intends to portrait information about the phosphorus dynamics in the environment, assessing the impacts of human activities and checking the actions that can contribute to preservate the nutrient cycle. To contribute to a better view of the subject, offering hypotheses concerning to its main sources in the water, was analyzed the data evolution on population density, industries number and cultivated areas extension in a river basin, in relation to concentrations of phosphorus in water and sediment compartments over 22 years. For this, was used the Tietê River as a case study. The results obtained show that the control of domestic sources, mainly the amount of sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) used in detergents and soap products, has a great importance for improving water quality, environmental protection and public health safeguards.
Key words: Phosphorus, urbanization, detergents, water quality and public health.

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