IMPACTS OF EMERGING CONTAMINANTS ON HUMAN HEALTH AND WATER SECURITY: AN INTERDISCIPLINARY ANALYSIS WITH A FOCUS ON THE PCJ BASINS

The Piracicaba, Capivari, and Jundiaí (PCJ) river basins face critical water security challenges due to intense urbanization and agro-industrial activities, which introduce a complex load of pollutants into water bodies. The central research problem lies in the need to understand how emerging contaminants (physical-chemical and microbiological) impact human health and ecosystem integrity, especially in a scenario of climate and social vulnerability. The objective of this study is to identify and map these contaminants and their effects on public health, evaluating the effectiveness of current detection methods. The methodology adopted a mixed approach, based on a systematic review of the literature according to the PRISMA protocol and the PICO strategy. Thirty-seven articles selected from high-impact databases (Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science) were analyzed, filtered from an initial universe of 3,135 publications. The results reveal a spatial dichotomy: industrial areas have a high incidence of heavy metals and persistent organic compounds, while regions with poor sanitation suffer from microbiological contamination. A direct correlation was identified between water quality and an increase in infectious diseases, cancer risks, and antimicrobial resistance. The study concludes that sustainable management in the PCJ Basins requires the implementation of advanced monitoring and integrated public policies that prioritize the protection of vulnerable populations and water security.