Contaminantes emergentes: uma abordagem ecológica, sanitária e social da poluição por fármacos
Among the numerous compounds that are considered emerging pollutants, drugs gained prominence, as they began to be detected in small concentrations in different environmental matrices. These substances are widely used in veterinary and human medicine. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, ther...
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| Formato: | doctoralThesis |
| Idioma: | pt_BR |
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Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte
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| Endereço do item: | https://repositorio.ufrn.br/handle/123456789/53570 |
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| Resumo: | Among the numerous compounds that are considered emerging pollutants, drugs gained
prominence, as they began to be detected in small concentrations in different environmental
matrices. These substances are widely used in veterinary and human medicine. In the context
of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an increase in the consumption of these compounds and,
consequently, in the environmental and health impacts. These contaminants can be introduced
into the environment by different routes. Given this scenario, it is essential to understand the
consequences of drugs on different organisms, as well as the causes that lead to their occurrence
at an environmental level. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the effects of
pharmaceutical products on cyanobacteria as an ecological and sanitary representation of this
problem, in addition to analyzing the perception and habits of the Brazilian population
regarding this environmental issue, as well as investigating the quality and means of
dissemination of scientific information on this topic. Additionally, the object of study is used
as a means of contextualizing the environmental injustices observed in Brazil. The first chapter
of this thesis aimed to describe the effects and risks of these compounds in the environment,
having cyanobacteria as a representative, due to their role as primary producers and implications
for human health. It was evidenced that different therapeutic classes, depending on the tested
concentrations, can affect its physiology, as well as the potential effects on public health, due
to the production of cyanotoxins. In addition, to understand the consequences at an ecological
level, it is necessary to understand the causes that favor the incorporation of drugs into the
environment. Thus, the second chapter aimed to describe how the Brazilian population
perceives and acts in relation to the life cycle of drugs from an environmental perspective
through a study carried out online. The results showed that the main way to dispose of
medicines for human and veterinary use is common waste. The information obtained also
revealed the self-medication habit of the interviewees and that the most consumed therapeutic
classes of drugs could be associated with the COVID-19 pandemic situation, the period in
which the research was conducted. The work also highlighted the incipient implementation of
reverse logistics laws and the need to understand how the theme of emerging contaminants is
reaching society. Therefore, the third chapter of the thesis aimed to investigate, through an
analysis of Brazilian scientific dissemination sites, how scientific information was conveyed
and its quality considering the lay public as the final recipient. The results obtained showed
limitations in the dissemination process to the detriment of the current speed of content sharing.
Therefore, it is emphasized that education is essential for the reader to have a solid foundation
that allows the identification and quality of the information disclosed, establishing a critical
view on issues of environmental relevance, such as those involving the theme of emerging
contaminants. There was also a lack of texts aimed at children and youth, which are
fundamental pillars for building a sustainable future. As a result, the fourth chapter of the thesis
consists of two scientific dissemination articles for children on topics covered in this research,
as a way to remedy one of the previously found gaps. Finally, and aiming at the findings
obtained in the course of this research, the problem of drug contamination was fully addressed
from the perspective of environmental justice and used as a representation of social inequalities
already observed in the Brazilian context. The critical review raised issues such as lack of basic
sanitation, educational quality, lack of inspection and/or implementation of environmental
legislation, food insecurity, and public health in a segregationist, ethnic-racial context, with
mainly ideological implications, associated with pollution by these substances, and aggravated
by the COVID-19 pandemic condition. The historical issue of social inequalities in Brazil is
reaffirmed by the occurrence of drugs in the environment and their implications for
marginalized and susceptible social groups. In view of the above, it is clear that drug
contamination needs to be understood from a transdisciplinary perspective on its effects on the
environment, going through legal issues in environmental issues and including the social sphere
not only as waste generators but also as vulnerable beings of the own consequences of their acts, aggravated especially by the lack of environmental education at all educational levels as
well as other factors of socio-environmental inequalities already observed. |
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