| Grant number: | 13/00897-0 |
| Support type: | Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate |
| Effective date (Start): | September 01, 2013 |
| Effective date (End): | April 30, 2016 |
| Field of knowledge: | Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy |
| Principal Investigator: | Jussara Borges Regitano |
| Grantee: | Altina Lacerda Nascimento |
| Home Institution: | Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil |
Abstract Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (HPAs) are organic pollutants with wide distribution resulting from incomplete combustion of organic matter, mainly by burning fuels such as oil and its derivatives. The great interest in studying the fate of these compounds is due to their toxicity and hematologic effects, mainly to its carcinogenic and genotoxic potentials. Generally, HPAs are removed from wastewater during treatment of sewage accumulating in the sludge due to its low water solubility and relative resistance to biodegradation. The monitoring of these substances in sewage sludges has been studied in several countries; however, this topic in Brazil has been largely ignored. Sewage sludge composting has been efficient in the removal of HPAs, however, depending on environmental conditions, safe concentrations for agricultural use can not be achieved which imply in risks to the environment and the humans. Thus, this study aims to monitor the concentrations of HPAs in sewage sludges from São Paulo State, and to evaluate composting effects on the concentrations of these pollutants in sewage sludges intended for agricultural use. | |