Abstract

OLIVEIRA, Rosália Maria de et al. Residual concentration of hexachlorocyclohexane in a contaminated site in Cidade dos Meninos, Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, after calcium oxide treatment. Cad. Saúde Pública [online]. 2003, vol.19, n.2, pp. 447-453. ISSN 0102-311X.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-311X2003000200011.

Hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) are currently considered potentially carcinogenic to humans. In Brasil, severe soil contamination by HCHs has been identified at Cidade dos Meninos, Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro, where an old HCH factory was abandoned 40 years ago, leaving 1,700 local residents at risk. Calcium oxide treatment was performed on the most heavily contaminated (focus) area. Analysis of superficial soil samples collected years after treatment still showed high residual HCH. Contamination levels as high as 6,200mg/Kg and 7,320mg/Kg were found for a- and b-HCH isomers. For the g- and d-HCH isomers, concentrations reached up to 140mg/Kg and 530mg/Kg, respectively. The results showed that calcium oxide treatment was not efficient to decontaminate the soil in this area.

Keywords : Hexachlorocyclohexane; Contamination; Soil; Carcinogens; Decontamination.