The Institute of Chemistry (IQ) at Unicamp, through its Department of Analytical Chemistry, is promoting the fourth edition of the School of Environmental Chemistry. The event is being resumed after an 11-year gap. The objective of the initiative is to offer elements that contribute to qualifying the training of professionals who work in the area, offering them activities such as technical visits to laboratories and lectures on the most important topics involving Environmental Chemistry today.
The activities, which began on Monday (22), will continue until Friday (26), in the IQ auditorium. According to professor José Roberto Guimarães, one of the organizers, in the three previous editions, held in 2004, 2006 and 2008, under the organization of professor Wilson Jardim, the School had a total of 300 participants, including students from various Brazilian universities , in addition to teachers specialized in different segments of Environmental Chemistry. “Our purpose is to continue providing this audience with data about the research that is being developed and also about the most advanced processes and technologies used in the field of Chemistry”, he explains.
Guimarães, who also gave a lecture, addressed the topic of water and effluent treatment. According to him, this is an issue that worries scientists, especially in relation to so-called emerging contaminants. These receive this name because they are not yet legislated. “Currently, the industry launches around a thousand molecules per year, present, for example, in pharmaceuticals, legal drugs and products for personal use. Somehow, these contaminants will come into contact with nature. Our challenge is to analyze and try to reduce the risks that these compounds can pose to the environment and humans”, points out the professor, who belongs to the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Urbanism (FEC) at Unicamp.
In studies carried out at both IQ and FEC, scientists have investigated, among other aspects, the presence of antibiotics, antihypertensives, hormones, antidepressants and other contaminants in rivers from which the water that is treated and distributed to the population is collected. . “Nowadays, there are already techniques available that allow the removal of a large part of these contaminants, but not all sanitation companies have these resources”, he informs. According to the professor, concern about emerging contaminants is not exclusive to Campinas or Brazil. “The whole world has the same apprehension”, he adds.
Asked about the fact that the federal government this week released another batch of 51 pesticides for use in Brazil, Guimarães notes that this type of decision should be preceded by a broad analysis by the scientific community, which has the capacity to determine what risks These products can offer the environment and the population. “The approval of these products cannot be done without an in-depth analysis of the potential threats they may pose”, he reinforces.
In addition to Guimarães, professors Cassiana Montagner, Anne Héléne Fostier and Susanne Rath, all from IQ, were part of the organizing committee of the fourth edition of the School of Environmental Chemistry. The complete event schedule can be found at this address.
