Investigation of the behavior of biocides in the aquatic environment: derivatives products and their ecotoxicities

• Grant number: 17/12907-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: March 01, 2018
• End date: August 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment
• Principal Investigator: Renata Colombo
• Grantee: Renata Colombo
• Host Institution: Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades (EACH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Biocides are active principles of several products used in our daily life with the function of combating unwanted living organisms such as fungi, bacteria and insects. The increase in the use and disposal of these products has resulted in the contamination of several environmental compartments, including waters of springs and aquifers, by these substances. Data on the behavior and safety of this class of micropollutants, as well as their derivatives, on the environment and human health are still scarce. Regulatory agencies in Brazil and in the world have required studies that may support more specific and safe regulations. This project proposes a line of research on the behavior of biocides under different environmental conditions, focusing on chlorinated aquatic environments (including water supply). The biocides chlorhexidine, benzalkonium chloride and ethyl butylacetylaminopropionate were initially selected because they are active principles of products used in large scale for different applications (human, veterinary and general cleaning) and have been detected as micropollutants in the aquatic system. These molecules will be subjected to the conditions of pH, light, temperature and chlorine concentration usually present in the natural environment and/or applied during the treatment and distribution of water supply. Analytical methodologies will be developed to monitor the behavior of these substances and identify their derivatives eventually formed. Isolation processes will also be developed to obtain these derivatives in pure form and perform (eco) toxicity analyzes thereof. To date, no national or international studies involving the investigation of these substances have been found under the conditions proposed in this project. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

ALMEIDA, MILLA ARAUJO DE; COLOMBO, RENATA. Construction of green roofs via using the substrates made from humus and green coconut fiber or sugarcane bagasse. SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY AND PHARMACY, v. 22, SEP 2021. (17/12907-1)

COLOMBO, RENATA; SOUZA, ALANIS TIOZZO. Degradation of ethyl butylacetylaminopropionate (IR3535) during chlorination: Tentative identification and toxicity prediction of its disinfection by-products. Chemosphere, v. 280, OCT 2021. (17/12907-1)