Nitrate content in groundwater in the metropolitan region of Fortaleza, Ceará: an alert

Authors

  • Antonia Diana Alves Bezerra Universidade Estadual do Ceará
  • Janelane Coelho da Rocha Superintendência Estadual do Meio Ambiente
  • Elcivania Rodrigues Nogueira Universidade Federal do Ceará
  • Francisco Gabriel Dias Mota Araújo Universidade Federal do Ceará
  • Magda Kokay Farias Universidade Federal do Ceará
  • Maíra Gadelha Alves Brandão Universidade Federal do Ceará
  • Lydia Dayanne Maia Pantoja Universidade Federal do Ceará

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5433/1679-0367.2017v38n2p129

Keywords:

Water pollution, Groundwater, Water quality.

Abstract

Because of the general shortage of water in semiarid regions, as is the case of the State of Ceará, Brazil, the exploitation of groundwater is an important measure to supply water to the population. However, anthropogenic actions can impair the quality of this water. Considering that nitrate concentration is used globally as an indicator of water contamination and that levels greater than 10 mg/L N-NO3 cause harm to health, this study analyzed the nitrate levels in groundwater samples in the metropolitan region of Fortaleza. A total of 37 samples, obtained in the cities of Aquiraz, Caucaia, Pacatuba, Horizonte, Eusébio and Fortaleza were analyzed by visible light spectrophotometer. The samples were analyzed by laboratory technicians of the Ceará State Environmental Agency (SEMACE). The results revealed that 37.8% of the samples contained higher nitrate concentrations than specified by national standards as safe for drinking. These results corroborate other findings of high nitrate levels in groundwater from densely populated regions, as is the case of the Fortaleza metropolitan region, and that inadequate collection and treatment of sewage is one of the causes of this contamination.

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Author Biographies

Antonia Diana Alves Bezerra, Universidade Estadual do Ceará

Graduate in Biological Sciences from theUniversidade Estadual do Ceará; Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.

Janelane Coelho da Rocha, Superintendência Estadual do Meio Ambiente

Specialist in Environmental Engineering and Environmental Sanitation by Faculdade Integrada do Ceará. Environmental Manager at the State Superintendence of the Environment; Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.

Elcivania Rodrigues Nogueira, Universidade Federal do Ceará

Graduated in Chemistry from the Federal University of Ceará; Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.

Francisco Gabriel Dias Mota Araújo, Universidade Federal do Ceará

Graduating in Biological Sciences from theUniversidade Federal do Ceará; Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.

Magda Kokay Farias, Universidade Federal do Ceará

Chemical Engineer from the Universidade Federal do Ceará; Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.

Maíra Gadelha Alves Brandão, Universidade Federal do Ceará

Graduated in Chemistry from the Universidade Federal do Ceará. Manager of the Analysis and Monitoring Department of the State Environmental Superintendency - EMEA; Fortaleza, Ceará, Brasil.

Lydia Dayanne Maia Pantoja, Universidade Federal do Ceará

PhD in Civil Engineering (area of concentration in Environmental Sanitation) by the Universidade Federal do Ceará - UFC. Assistant Professor Level D of the State University of Ceará.

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Published

2017-12-06

How to Cite

1.
Bezerra ADA, Rocha JC da, Nogueira ER, Araújo FGDM, Farias MK, Brandão MGA, et al. Nitrate content in groundwater in the metropolitan region of Fortaleza, Ceará: an alert. Semin. Cienc. Biol. Saude [Internet]. 2017 Dec. 6 [cited 2026 Jan. 12];38(2):129-36. Available from: https://ojs.uel.br/revistas/uel/index.php/seminabio/article/view/28146

Issue

Vol. 38 No. 2 (2017)

Section

Artigos

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