Resumo
Objetivo: Avaliar o impacto ambiental do efluente de usina de óleo de palma (POME) na qualidade da água nos principais polos de processamento de óleo de palma na Nigéria e analisar como as práticas tradicionais de processamento dificultam o avanço em direção aos 17 Objetivos de Desenvolvimento Sustentável (ODS) da ONU, especialmente aqueles relacionados à água potável e à saúde.
Metodologia/Abordagem: Avaliação de qualidade da água baseada em trabalho de campo realizada em cinco importantes polos de processamento de óleo de palma: os estados de Edo, Akwa-Ibom, Cross River, Anambra e Imo. Os parâmetros físico-químicos medidos incluíram pH, condutividade, dureza da água, nitrito, magnésio, DBO, TDS, TS e IQA. A análise estatística foi realizada utilizando o coeficiente de correlação de Pearson para determinar relações entre variáveis (por exemplo, condutividade e TDS, pH e dureza).
Originalidade/Relevância: O estudo destaca um problema ambiental crítico, porém pouco pesquisado, no setor agroindustrial da Nigéria. Conecta a degradação ambiental local aos objetivos globais de sustentabilidade, enfatizando as amplas implicações do descarte não tratado de POME. Oferece percepções específicas por região, essenciais para intervenções políticas e tecnológicas direcionadas.
Principais Resultados: Os valores de pH estavam dentro dos limites aceitáveis (6,5–8,5), mas outros parâmetros excederam os limites seguros: alta condutividade (800–1150 µS/cm) e dureza da água (200–300 mg/L); níveis de nitrito (10–45 mg/L) e teor de magnésio acima dos limites permitidos; níveis de DBO (75–290 mg/L) indicando poluição orgânica significativa; TDS e TS elevados, especialmente fora do Estado de Edo; índices de qualidade da água (IQA) classificaram a água como “pobre” a “muito pobre”. A contaminação da água de poços por sulfato, sódio, magnésio e cloreto desestimula seu uso para consumo humano. Além disso, o estudo revelou forte correlação positiva entre condutividade e TDS (r = 0.85) e correlação moderada entre pH e dureza (r = 0.65).
Contribuições Teóricas/Metodológicas: O estudo demonstra a utilidade do Índice de Qualidade da Água (IQA) e da correlação de Pearson em avaliações de impacto ambiental. Fornece um modelo replicável para avaliação de poluição agroindustrial em economias em desenvolvimento. Contribui para a literatura sobre economia ambiental e saúde pública ao relacionar a gestão de resíduos industriais com o progresso dos ODS.
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