Avaliação da presença de arsênio total e ferro dissolvido nas águas do rio Santo Antônio no município de Conceição do Mato Dentro/Minas Gerais

Abstract

The presence of arsenic in water intended for human consumption, even at low doses, is globally recognized as a public health issue that directly affects public health. Between October and November 2020, the City Council of Conceição do Mato Dentro/MG conducted a targeted water monitoring program in the Sub-Drainage Basin (SDB) of the Rio Santo Antônio, which is part of the Rio Doce Drainage Basin and is located near the Rio do Peixe SDB, where iron ore mining activities take place. As a result, the monitoring revealed that the levels of dissolved iron and total arsenic exceeded the maximum permitted values (MPV) for Class 2 freshwater bodies, in accordance with the legislation in effect at the time, Deliberação Normativa Conjunta COPAM-CERH/MG No 01/2008. Subsequently, between November 2022 and February 2023, new monitoring was conducted in the same section of the watercourse to verify the previously obtained results. This study aimed to analyze the reports and verify the presence of arsenic and iron in the water body in question by tabulating and discussing the results obtained. The presence of total arsenic and dissolved iron exceeding the MPV was confirmed at the analyzed points of the SDB Rio Santo Antônio.