Disposal of animal healthcare services waste in southern Brazil: One Health at risk

Abstract

Brazilian animal livestock is in full expansion but linked to the use of veterinary drugs which may be considered as emerging contaminants. The study aimed to characterize the disposal of Animal Healthcare Service Waste (AHSW), especially of veterinary drugs, besides identifying the most used drugs in the city of São Joaquim municipality, southern Brazil. Eighty-four cattle ranchers were interviewed through a structured questionnaire with closed questions about drugs use and disposal of the AHSW. The active ingredients of drugs most used were the antiparasitic ivermectin (68% of properties) and the antimicrobial oxytetracycline (48%). After the use, the disposal of the AHSW, including expired drugs, leftovers and wrapper, was the disposal next to the domestic trash, burned and deposited in the soil. The Chi square test showed association between the age of the participants and the disposal of sharp objects (X2 = 36,36, p= 0,020), showing that farmers aged above 60 years usually reuse, the ones who are 20 years old return to the place where they acquired the material and the rest adopts improper practices. The disposal practices of the AHSW adopted in the properties are still in disagreement with the current Brazilian legislation and may cause adverse effects on human, animal and environmental health.

Descarte De Resíduos De Medicamentos Pela População Rural

“…Informações sobre o descarte dos resíduos de medicamentos na área rural ainda são escassas no Brasil, assim como o acesso da população rural as políticas de saneamento básico. Um estudo desenvolvido em um município serrano de Santa Catarina mostrou que resíduos de medicamentos de uso veterinário em propriedades rurais têm sido descartados de forma inadequada, como depositar no resíduo doméstico, enterrar, doar a outras pessoas, queimar ou colocar na pia/vaso (OLIVEIRA et al, 2019).…”

Disposal of Pharmaceutical Waste by the Rural Population

“…Information about medicine waste disposal in rural area are yet scarce in Brazil, as politics to provide the rural population's access to sanitation. Research developed in a plateau municipality in Santa Catarina reported that veterinary medicine waste has been discarded inadequately in rural lands, as example discarding at home trash, burying, donating to other people or throw away into the sink/toilet (OLIVEIRA et al, 2019).…”

Exposure of patients with chronic kidney disease on dialysis to pesticides

“…For example, in Mato Grosso, Goiás and Mato Grosso do Sul there is extensive production of soy, which is currently the crop that most consumes pesticides in Brazil 7 . In Santa Catarina, there is also intense use of pesticides, but the use is directed to apple cultivation mainly, in which an average of 35 applications per crop can occur 8 .…”