Estimated pollutant load from nuclear and energy research institute (IPEN/CNEN-SP, Brazil)

Abstract

Quantifying the pollutant load in a receiving water body is one of the needed steps to keep its original standards, irrespective of its releases source. Monitoring, and thus, controlling the amount of pollutants to be destined to the water body means ensuring water quality, keeping it free of excessive pollution and harm to human health and the environment. Hence, this paper aims to estimate the pollutant load of sanitary wastewater released by the Nuclear and Energy Research Institute (IPEN / CNEN-SP) during 2015 and 2016. The assay of Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr, Zn, Ba, Ni, Mn, Fe, B and Sn were performed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) and As, Hg and Se by Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (GF-AAS). The metals and total fixed solids pollutant load estimative carried out, employed wastewater flow measurement, using bromide (Br- ) as tracer and the annual water consumption at IPEN. This evaluation is performed annually by IPEN since 2006 as part of the Environmental Monitoring Program (PMA-Q), in order to comply with the current environmental legislation and the Term of Adjustment of Conduct requirements, agreed with the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA).