Mapeamento do potencial de contaminação das águas superficiais por agrotóxicos no Rio Grande do Sul

Abstract

Water is essential for life and environmental balance, however, it faces increasing threats of contamination resulting from human activities, particularly intensive agriculture. Rio Grande do Sul is one of Brazil's most important agricultural states and stands out for its high volume of pesticide use. The intensive application of these compounds increases the likelihood that pesticide residues will reach water bodies, posing risks to human health and regional ecosystems. Therefore, this study aimed to map the potential contamination of surface waters in Rio Grande do Sul by pesticides through a systematic mapping of the scientific literature. The results indicated a high occurrence of herbicides in the studied regions, mainly associated with irrigated rice fields. The observed relationship between agricultural production areas and the presence of specific pesticides in water bodies reinforces the influence of agricultural practices on the quality of surface waters.