Contamination of public water supply by emerging pollutants and the right to health

Authors

  • Alexandra Fátima Saraiva Soares Ministério Público do Estado de Minas Gerais. Belo Horizonte/MG
  • Luís Paulo Souza e Souza Universidade Federal do Amazonas. Instituto de Saúde e Biotecnologia. Departamento de Medicina. Coari/AM

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2316-9044.v20i2p100-133

Keywords:

Water Supply, Social Determinants of Health, Health Law, Micropollutants, Environmental Health

Abstract

Emerging pollutants are substances with potential to cause cancer and human infertility. However, the monitoring of these substances in the public water supply is still incipient in Brazil. Contaminated bodies of water often become public sources of supply, and conventional techniques for sewage and water treatment are not adequate to remove these emerging pollutants also called micropollutants. The aim of this paper is to discuss routes of introduction of micropollutants in water for public supply, the consequences of such substances on human health, and the main legal instruments of the Health Law that, if well applied, can help to minimize damages to public health caused by these contaminants. This is achieved with bibliographic survey of books, journals, public institutions’ databases, legislation and other relevant sources. Understanding the relationships between the social and environmental determinants and the degradation of the quality of water is of great importance to promote the improvement of living conditions and health of vulnerable populations. Observation shows that the regulatory framework to protect the right to water is wide and should be considered by the state government for imposing rules of conduct, and by civil society for monitoring compliance with the rules laid down in order to preserve the quality of the environment and protect public health, guaranteeing the right to good quality water.

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Author Biographies

  • Alexandra Fátima Saraiva Soares, Ministério Público do Estado de Minas Gerais. Belo Horizonte/MG

    Postdoctoral Degree in Public Law from Università degli Studi di Messina (Italy); PhD in Sanitation, the Environment and Hydric Resources from Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG); specialization in Health Law from the Escola de Saúde Pública do Estado de Minas Gerais (ESP/MG); specialization in Environmental Law and Sustainability (ESDHC). Professor at the Centro Universitário Metodista Izabela Hendrix. Environmental Expert at the Public Prosecution Office of the State of Minas Gerais (MPMG), Specialty in Sanitary Engineering. Belo Horizonte/MG.

  • Luís Paulo Souza e Souza, Universidade Federal do Amazonas. Instituto de Saúde e Biotecnologia. Departamento de Medicina. Coari/AM

    Pós-Doutorado em Educação pela Universidade do Estado do Pará (UEPA) e em Desenvolvimento Regional pela Universidade de Santa Cruz do Sul (UNISC); doutorado em Saúde Pública pela Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG); especialização em Saúde Coletiva pela Universidade Cândido Mendes (UCAM). Professor adjunto do Departamento Medicina do Instituto de Saúde e Biotecnologia (ISB) da Universidade Federal do Amazonas (UFAM). Coari/AM.

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Published

05/12/2020

Issue

Section

Original Articles

How to Cite

Soares, A. F. S., & Souza e Souza, L. P. (2020). Contamination of public water supply by emerging pollutants and the right to health. Journal of Health Law, 20(2), 100-133. https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2316-9044.v20i2p100-133