CHEMICAL AND MICROBIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY DETECTED IN WATER BODIES IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF BARCARENA/PA, AMAZONIA, BRAZIL

Abstract

Population growth linked to greater exploitation of nature compromises the quality of water, which is considered a limited natural resource and is vitally important for the survival of living organisms and directly influences the economy, leisure, culture and the social environment. This study evaluated the physicochemical, toxicological and microbiological parameters of rivers and streams in the municipality of Barcarena, State of PA, Amazonia, Brazil. We collected 58 samples in the period from 2021 to 2022. The average values ​​verified were above the limits allowed by Brazilian legislation (CONAMA 357/2005) for true color (µ = 218.09 ± 223.843), BOD (µ = 31.30 ± 64.992) and Escherichia coli (µ = 1243.76 ± 2838.743) in stream samples when compared to those from the river, demonstrating that there are statistical differences in these parameters between these two environments. We also analyzed traces of 10 toxic metals (Al, B, Ba, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Li, Pb). The average levels of these pollutants ranged from 0 (<LD) to 1,504 mg/L. The highest concentration was found for Aluminum, which ranged from 0.003 to 1.504 mg/L with an average of 0.275 ± 0.289 mg/L. The greatest concentration similarity (75.16%) of these soluble metals was observed between the Pará river and the Dendê stream. Therefore, the studied area presents contamination of aquatic ecosystems due to mining activity, which has caused serious impacts on the remaining communities on the banks of the municipality's rivers that cross the Municipality of Barcarena-Pa.