Contaminated land is a widespread, global issue affecting millions of people. Atrazine is a commonly used herbicide which often contaminates groundwater and drinking water supplies and is associated with adverse health outcomes. Biochar is the solid product of pyrolysis and is associated with several environmental benefits. It may be an effective remediation tool when used as a soil amendment. This thesis investigates the mechanisms through which biochar can immobilise atrazine, and the implications of the mechanisms for remediating contaminated land. Nine biochar samples were obtained from the United Kingdom Biochar Research Centre , which were produced from softwood pellets (SWP), wheat straw pellets (WSP), miscanthus straw pellets (MSP), rice husk (RH) and oil seed rape (OSR) each at pyrolysis temperatures of 550°C and 700°C (excluding OSR at 700°C). The sorption mechanisms controlling atrazine sorption to these biochars were determined through various characterisation methods and batch sorption experiments. The sorption tests showed that sorption to each of the standard biochars occurs via multiple simultaneously occurring mechanisms, which are each promoted under certain conditions. Studies investigating sorption kinetics, isotherms and interactions with humic acids showed that for all biochars in this study, pore filling was a significant process through which atrazine is transported to adsorption sites, although poor intraparticle diffusion for softwood and oil seed rape biochars can prevent efficient transport. Wheat straw and rice husk biochars showed effective pore diffusion, resulting in high sorption capacities. Partitioning was associated with poor remediation outcomes and was significant to softwood biochars, although adsorption dominated overall sorption for all other biochars. pH was shown to significantly influence the occurrence of various sorption mechanisms. At low pH values, most biochars showed evidence of electrostatic repulsion between positive atrazine species and the positively charged biochar surface. At intermediate pH values, all biochars showed strong hydrogen bonding between H+ groups on the surface of the biochar and atrazine. A meta-analysis of previous relevant studies provided further evidence for hydrogen bonding of atrazine to biochar and showed that hydrophobic effects likely play little role in adsorption after accounting for the effects of surface area. Varying contributions of π-π EDA interactions, hydrogen bonding involving biochar O- groups, and interactions with ash minerals resulted in different sorption profiles for each biochar at high pH values. In order to further determine the mechanisms controlling sorption at high pH, surface compositions of SWP550, RH700 and OSR550 biochars were modified using hydrofluoric acid. Modification with hydrofluoric acid successfully removed the ash contents of rice husk and oil seed rape biochars and reduced atrazine removal at high pH values. This suggested that the ash fraction increases atrazine removal at high pH through complexation or catalytic hydrolysis. The roles of the various mechanisms are related to remediation outcomes in a novel manner allowing for the improved design of biochar for environmental remediation.

O interesse na remoção de material orgânico no tratamento de águas de abastecimento surgiu em decorrência do aumento na poluição dos mananciais, da descoberta de novas doenças de veiculação hídrica e do melhor conhecimento das propriedades mutagênicas e carcinogênicas de poluentes orgânicos, entre eles os agroquímicos. Na presente pesquisa foi estudada a seqüência de processos de tratamento: pré-filtração; pré-oxidação com ozônio e ozônio associado ao peróxido de hidrogênio e filtração lenta com leito de areia e leito de carvão ativado granular. Para concentração de atrazina no afluente entre 2,2 e 110,3 µg/L o filtro lento de areia com camada intermediária de carvão ativado granular apresentou para a condição de não utilização de pré-oxidação valores para atrazina no efluente inferiores a 2,0 µg/L e para dose de ozônio entre 0,9 e 3,7 mg/L e para relação de peróxido de hidrogênio entre 0,1 e 1,1 valores para atrazina inferiores a 0,1 µg/L. O sistema de tratamento com pré-filtração, pré-oxidação com ozônio e ozônio associado ao peróxido de hidrogênio seguido da filtração lenta com camada intermediária de carvão ativado granular, mostrou-se eficiente na remoção de atrazina para concentrações inferiores a 0,1 µg/L. / The interest in removing organic matter in supplying waters treatment processes emerged from the increasing levels of water pollution worldwide, the discovery of new water-born diseases and of a better knowledge of mutating (mutagenic) and carcinogenic features of organic pollutants, including the pesticides. The two sequential arrangements for the water treatment process considered in this research were: 1) pre-filtration, slow sand filtration and granular activated carbon filtration; and 2) pre-filtration, pre-oxidation with ozone and ozone associated to hydrogen peroxide, slow sand filtration and granular activated carbon filtration. For concentrations of atrazine between 2.2 and 110.3 µg/L in the affluent, its concentration in the effluent was lower than 2.0 µg/L for the first arrangement, and lower than 01 µg/L for the second one, in this case for consumed doses of ozone between 0.9 and 3.7 mg/L and ratio H2O2/O3 between 0.1 and 1.1. The treatment system used composed of pre-filtration, pre-oxidation with ozone and ozone associated to hydrogen peroxide followed by the slow filtration, with an intermediate layer of granular activated carbon, was found efficient in reducing atrazine to levels inferior to 0.1 µg/L.

Understanding the potential for karst aquifer contamination by sediment-sorbed pesticides is important for cave conservation efforts in agricultural landscapes. Flow rate, water quality parameters and suspended sediment concentrations were measured in Logsdon River, a ~10km karst conduit within the Turnhole Spring Groundwater Basin of Mammoth Cave National Park to determine characteristics of storm-period transport of sediment-sorbed atrazine through a conduit-flow karst aquifer. Analysis of two independent precipitation events occurring in the Spring of 2008 from May 2-4 and May 27-29 demonstrated the rapid response of the Logsdon River to precipitation events with detections of atrazine increasing during the initial turbidity peak and decline in spC, indicating that the atrazine arrives with the initial flush of surface waters that enters the conduit. Distinct peaks of atrazine did not coincide with fine grained (silt and clay-sized) sediment peaks and concentrations of atrazine remained elevated on the falling limb of the hydrograph as turbidity declined. In addition, no systematic relation between filtered and unfiltered samples was evident. There was also exceedingly weak correlation between the concentration of atrazine and suspended sediment, suggesting that if atrazine is sorbed to fine sediment particles this sorption involves only the fractions finer than 0.22 μm.

In the field of chemical and biological sensors, the increased need for better sensitivity, faster response and higher selectivity during an analysis process, requires the development of more and more efficient transducing sensing layers. In this context, and with the aim to detect small non-electroactive molecules, such as atrazine (ATZ), we designed, characterized and developed sensing layers constituted by functionalized Molecularly Imprinted Conducting Polymers (MICP) and we integrated them into electrochemical and gravimetrical sensors. Starting from acetonitrile pre-polymerization media containing ATZ as template molecules in the presence of thiophene-based functional monomers (FM, namely TMA, TAA, EDOT, TMeOH or Th), differently functionalized and structurally different polythiophene-based FM-MICP films were electrosynthesized onto gold substrates and used for ATZ detection. The sensing properties of FM-MICP layers were shown to result from the presence in their backbones of pre-shaped FM-functionalized imprinted cavities which keep the memory of the targets. Nevertheless, non-specific adsorption onto the surface of the sensing layers takes place systematically, which affects the selectivity of the recognition process. Thanks to surface characterization techniques, we highlighted the influence of the thickness and of the structural properties of the layers on the efficiency of the recognition process. Besides, this latter was shown to operate in the bulk of the polymer matrixes thanks to layers porosity. On another hand, electrochemical measurements correlated with semi-empirical calculations demonstrated the influence of the nature of FM on the strength of the ATZ-FM interaction in the pre-polymerization medium, and then on the number of ATZ molecular imprints and on the sensitivity towards ATZ of the FM-MICP layers. We showed that TAA-MICP, which presents a low limit of detection (10-9 mol L-1) and a large dynamic range (10-8 to 10-4 mol L-1), is the best sensing layer since it offers the best compromise between high level of specific detection of ATZ and low level of non-specific adsorption. Finally, TAA-MICP was used as sensitive layer in an original Electrochemical Surface Acoustic Wave sensor (ESAW) which enabled simultaneous coupled gravimetric and electrochemical measurements.

L'atrazine, un des herbicides les plus utilisés pour contrôler le développement des plantes adventices dans les cultures, a conduit à la contamination de l'environnement. L'exposition chronique à cet herbicide a conduit à l'émergence de populations microbiennes du sol capables de dégrader l'atrazine et de l'utiliser comme une source d'azote pour leur croissance. Ces populations microbiennes sont responsables de la biodégradation accélérée (BDA) de l'atrazine, un service écosystémique contribuant à diminuer la persistance de cet herbicidedans l'environnement. L'objectif de ce travail était d'étudier les mécanismes génétiques et physiologiques responsables du fonctionnement et de l'amélioration de ce service écosystémique. Nous avons appliqué une démarche expérimentale allant des gènes codant la dégradation à des communautés microbiennes afin d'identifier les processus adaptatifs impliqués dans l'évolution de la fonction de BDA de l'atrazine.Le premier volet a consisté à évaluer l'importance de mutations accumulées dans le gène atzA dans la transformation de l'atrazine en hydroxyatrazine catalysée par AtzA. Le séquençage de gènes atzA de différents isolats bactériens dégradant l'atrazine (Pseudomonas sp. ADP WT, Pseudomonas sp. ADP Ps et différents Chelatobacter heintzii) a montré que la séquence du gène atzA était très conservée. Toutefois quatre mutations non silencieuses ont pu être identifiées (1 chez Pseudomonas sp. ADP MSE et 3 chez Chelatobacterheintzii). La modélisation de la structure de la protéine AtzA a permis de montrer que trois des mutations étaient situées dans des régions importantes (site actif, poche de liaison avec l'atrazine et liaison avec le métalFe2+. [...] Le second volet a consisté à étudier la plasticité de la voie de biodégradation de l'atrazine dans deux conditions opposées : (i) la première visait à évaluer la persistance de la capacité de dégradation en absence de pression de sélection et (ii) la seconde visait à évaluer l'évolution de la capacité de dégradation en présence d'une pression de sélection élevée. Pour conduire ces études, des manipulations d'évolution expérimentale sur Pseudomonas sp. ADP ont été menées. (i) L'exposition à l'acide cyanurique, intermédiaire métabolique de l'atrazine, a conduit à la sélection d'une population nouvellement évoluée capable de croître plus rapidement dans un milieu de culture ne contenant que l'acide cyanurique comme source d'azote. Cette population est caractérisée par une délétion d'une région de 47 kb du plasmide ADP1 contenant les gènes atzABC. Les analyses conduites ont permis de conclure que le gain de compétitivité de la population évoluée résidait dans la perte du fardeau génétique représenté par la région de 47 kb, la capacité de dégradation de l'acide cyanurique restant inchangée. (ii) L'exposition à l'atrazine a conduit à la sélection d'une populationnouvellement évoluée caractérisée par l'insertion du plasmide ADP1 en quasi-totalité sur le chromosome bactérien. [...] Le troisième volet a consisté à développer un outil permettant d'évaluer, à l'échelle d'une communauté microbienne synthétique, l'évolution du potentiel génétique dégradant. Pour ce faire quatre souches dégradantes dont une, Arthrobacter sp. TES6, isolée au cours de cette étude, ont été choisies. [...] Ces travaux montrent que la fonction de biodégradation accélérée de l'atrazine est très versatile et qu'elle est en constante évolution. Il met en évidence que le principal facteur pilotant cette évolution est le niveau d'exposition des populations dégradantes au pesticide.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:29:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-09-03Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:38:23Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 zanini_j_me_ilha.pdf: 1080071 bytes, checksum: 7aa5594eb6858d6c7003b23420437aaf (MD5) / Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) / O aumento da contaminação de corpos hídricos por pesticidas juntamente com o melhor conhecimento das propriedades nocivas desses poluentes, têm aumentado o interesse na remoção destes compostos durante o tratamento de água potável. Sendo os pesticidas constituídos por moléculas biologicamente ativas e de difícil remoção durante o processo convencional de tratamento de água, o uso de filtros lentos de areia seguidos por filtros de carvão ativado biologicamente pode representar um sistema eficiente no tratamento de água. Considerando estes aspectos, o presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a eficiência da filtração lenta e da filtração utilizando carvão ativado biológico (CAB) na remoção do herbicida atrazina em escala de bancada e a composição fenotípica e genotípica dos microrganismos associados na degradação do herbicida. A remoção de atrazina atingiu uma remoção próxima de 100% nos efluentes dos filtros de areia e carvão. Foi verificada a presença de microrganismos (Bacillus e Salirhabdus) em ambos conjunto de filtros, podendo estes estarem ligados à degradação do herbicida da água. Os resultados deste estudo demonstraram eficiência na remoção de atrazina em níveis resguardados pela legislação sanitária, possibilitando o uso deste sistema na remoção do herbicida avaliado, assegurando a distribuição e consumo humano desta água. Além de avaliar a viabilidade do uso de filtros biológicos de carvão antecedidos por filtros lentos de areia na remoção de pesticidas, o presente trabalho poderá contribuir para realização de novas pesquisas... / The increased contamination of watercourses by pesticides along with better knowledge of the harmful properties of these pollutants have increased interest in the removal of these compounds during treatment of drinking water. Since pesticides consisting of biologically active molecules and hard to remove during conventional water treatment, use of slow sand filters followed by biologically activated carbon filters may represent an efficient system for water treatment. Considering these aspects, this study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of slow sand filtration and biological filtration using activated carbon (BAC) in the removal of the herbicide atrazine in bench scale and phenotypic and genotypic composition of the microorganisms involved in degradation of the herbicide. The removal of atrazine reached a level close to 100% in effluent from sand and carbon filters compounds. We observed the presence of microorganisms (Bacillus and Salirhabdus) in both set of filters and they can be linked to degradation of the herbicide from water. The results showed removal efficiency of atrazine at levels controlled by the health legislation, enabling the use of this system in the removal of the herbicide evaluated, ensuring the distribution and consumption of water. Besides evaluating the feasibility of using biological filters charcoal preceded by slow sand filters for removal of pesticides, this study may contribute to new research on the technologies used in the treatment of drinking water contaminated by recalcitrant compounds.

A avaliação da qualidade da água do rio Piracicaba foi realizada utilizando diferentes metodologias e organismos teste, e para tanto, de fevereiro de 2011 a janeiro de 2012 amostras de água foram coletadas em seis locais de amostragens ao longo do rio Piracicaba. Parâmetros físicos e químicos da água foram mensurados e de acordo com a condutividade elétrica e demanda bioquímica de oxigênio, baixa qualidade foi observada em locais próximos a Americana e Piracicaba. Efeitos sobre a reprodução de Ceriodaphnia dubia e Ceriodaphnia silvestrii foram observados em fevereiro e março de 2011 e janeiro de 2012, e ocorreram em amostras coletadas próximas às cidades de Americana e Piracicaba. A avaliação das brânquias do peixe Danio rerio mostrou que para todos os meses, exceto fevereiro, setembro e outubro para alguns pontos, as alterações não foram significativas. Amostras de água coletada em todos os locais, assim como em todos os meses apresentaram valores de clorofila a abaixo do estabelecido pela legislação ambiental brasileira. A água coletada nos meses de outubro e novembro e aquelas amostradas à montante e à jusante de Piracicaba apresentaram maiores valores de índice de estado trófico comparado aos outros pontos e meses do ano, no entanto, não foram classificadas como eutrofizadas. Concentrações dos herbicidas atrazina e ametrina também foram determinadas na água do rio Piracicaba e variaram de 0,11 a 1,92 \'mü\'g L-1 e 0,25 a 1,44 \'mü\'g L-1, respectivamente, e mostraram ter potencial mutagênico e genotóxico para D. rerio. Um estudo avaliando a toxicidade da vinhaça antes e após a correção do pH também foi realizado já que o rio Piracicaba está localizado em uma região influenciada por plantações de cana-de-açúcar. Os resultados apresentados confirmam que a vinhaça possui alta toxicidade aguda para organismos aquáticos, no entanto, esta pode ser reduzida através da correção do seu pH para 6,5 / An assessment of water quality of the Piracicaba River was performed using different methodologies and organisms, and therefore, from February 2011 to January 2012 water samples were collected at six sampling sites along the Piracicaba River. Physical chemical parameters of the water were measured and demonstred low water quality according to the conductivity and biochemical oxygen in places close to Americana and Piracicaba. Effects on the reproduction of Ceriodaphinia dubia and Ceriodaphnia silvestrii were observed in February and March 2011, and January 2012 and occurred in samples collected close to Americana and Piracicaba cities. Evaluation of the gills of Danio rerio showed no significant difference during all months, except in February, September and October for some locations. During the study period, water samples collected in all sampling sites and months presented values of chlorophyll a below the limit set by the Brazilian environmental law. Water collected in October and November and those sampled upstream and downstream of Piracicaba presented higher values of throfic state index than the other sites and months, however, were not classified as euthrofic. Concentrations of atrazine and ametrine during the sampling period were also measured and ranged from 0.11 to 1.92 \'mü\'g L-1 and from 0.25 to 1.44 \'mü\'g L-1, respectively, and showed genotoxic and mutagenic potentials to D. rerio. A study evaluating the acute toxicity of vinasse before and after the pH correction was conducted due to the influence of sugar cane cultures on the Piracicaba River area. The results confirmed the high acute toxicity of vinasse to aquatic organisms, however, this can be reduced by correcting its pH to 6.5

O interesse na remoção de material orgânico no tratamento de águas de abastecimento surgiu em decorrência do aumento na poluição dos mananciais, da descoberta de novas doenças de veiculação hídrica e do melhor conhecimento das propriedades mutagênicas e carcinogênicas de poluentes orgânicos, entre eles os agroquímicos. Na presente pesquisa foi estudada a seqüência de processos de tratamento: pré-filtração; pré-oxidação com ozônio e ozônio associado ao peróxido de hidrogênio e filtração lenta com leito de areia e leito de carvão ativado granular. Para concentração de atrazina no afluente entre 2,2 e 110,3 µg/L o filtro lento de areia com camada intermediária de carvão ativado granular apresentou para a condição de não utilização de pré-oxidação valores para atrazina no efluente inferiores a 2,0 µg/L e para dose de ozônio entre 0,9 e 3,7 mg/L e para relação de peróxido de hidrogênio entre 0,1 e 1,1 valores para atrazina inferiores a 0,1 µg/L. O sistema de tratamento com pré-filtração, pré-oxidação com ozônio e ozônio associado ao peróxido de hidrogênio seguido da filtração lenta com camada intermediária de carvão ativado granular, mostrou-se eficiente na remoção de atrazina para concentrações inferiores a 0,1 µg/L. / The interest in removing organic matter in supplying waters treatment processes emerged from the increasing levels of water pollution worldwide, the discovery of new water-born diseases and of a better knowledge of mutating (mutagenic) and carcinogenic features of organic pollutants, including the pesticides. The two sequential arrangements for the water treatment process considered in this research were: 1) pre-filtration, slow sand filtration and granular activated carbon filtration; and 2) pre-filtration, pre-oxidation with ozone and ozone associated to hydrogen peroxide, slow sand filtration and granular activated carbon filtration. For concentrations of atrazine between 2.2 and 110.3 µg/L in the affluent, its concentration in the effluent was lower than 2.0 µg/L for the first arrangement, and lower than 01 µg/L for the second one, in this case for consumed doses of ozone between 0.9 and 3.7 mg/L and ratio H2O2/O3 between 0.1 and 1.1. The treatment system used composed of pre-filtration, pre-oxidation with ozone and ozone associated to hydrogen peroxide followed by the slow filtration, with an intermediate layer of granular activated carbon, was found efficient in reducing atrazine to levels inferior to 0.1 µg/L.

In agricultural watersheds, streams are intimately connected with croplands and may be inadvertently exposed to agrochemicals such as fertilizers and herbicides. Riparian plants and aquatic primary producers (aquatic plants, phytoplankton and periphyton) may be particularly affected by agrochemicals due to their taxonomic similarity to the intended targets (crop and weed species). The overall objective of this thesis was to assess the effects of fertilizers and the herbicide atrazine on riparian plants and aquatic primary producers. Effects were assessed across varying scales of observation ranging from empirical field studies at the watershed scale to in-situ experimental manipulations in two temperate streams to a laboratory concentration-response experiment. Twenty-four stream/river sites located across the South Nation River watershed, Canada ranged in surrounding agricultural land use (6.7-97.4 % annual crops) and in-stream concentrations of reactive phosphate (4-102 μg/L) and nitrate (3-5404 μg/L). A gradient of atrazine contamination spanning two orders of magnitude (56 d time-weighted-average concentrations of 4-412 ng/L) was observed using polar organic chemical integrative samplers (POCIS). A total of 285 riparian and aquatic plant species were identified with species richness ranging from 43-107 species per site. Atrazine and the percentage of surrounding annual crops had no statistically significant effects on community structure. In contrast, an increase in the percentage of non-native species, a decrease in submerged macrophytes and a decrease in overall floristic quality was observed along a gradient of increasing nitrate. Similarly, periphyton biomass increased with increasing nitrate across the watershed and was associated with the Chlorophyta. In contrast, no clear response was observed in periphyton exposed to nutrient enrichment and atrazine contamination in in-situ periphytometer experiments in two streams. Greenhouse concentration-response experiments provided evidence that the sensitivity of duckweed (Lemna minor) to atrazine was lower in populations previously exposed to the herbicide. However, the overall range in biomass 25% inhibition concentrations was small (19-40 μg/L atrazine). A clear gradient in agrochemical contamination was observed at the watershed scale and this research provided evidence of negative effects on riparian and aquatic primary producers. Effects of nutrients, specifically nitrate, superseded observable effects of the herbicide atrazine.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-01-26T18:56:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Tamiris Garbiatti de Oliveira.pdf: 1606086 bytes, checksum: cf9e26811174e34243865dc9dfffec23 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-03-23 / The unlimited use of pesticides, besides contribute with to increase environmental pollution, is also influencing negatively the health of the living beings, including the people health. Many studies show the result these chemicals in the reproductive system of animals and even same at man, can cause infertility problem, which can originate, among other factors, the low sperm quality and quantity. This is study aimed at evaluating human sperm quality parameters and the chemical evaluation of the core of the sperm trough Raman Scaterring Spectroscopy, after in vitro exposure to different concentrations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and atrazine. The choice of the use of the these herbicides was because they are widely use throughout the world, especially in Brazil, highlighted the west Paulista region, used at cane sugar plantation, significant culture of the region. In this context, sperm samples were selected according to the normal testing parameters that evaluate sperm quality, such as liquefaction, viscosity, appearance, volume, pH, sperm, vitality, morphology and motility. Semen samples of 10 healthy donor were exposed to study herbicides varying the concentration and time. After the different exposures (0.05, 0.5, 1.0, 5.0 and 125 &#956;g/mL, 30 and 60 min), the analysis of motility and vitality were again evaluated. The Raman Scaterring spectra were obtained from samples control sperm and after exposure to the herbicide 2,4-D e atrazine at concentration of 125 &#956;g/mL and 60 min incubation. The progressive motility and total motility decreased from the concentration 0,5 &#956;g/mL at times 30 and 60 minutes while the percentage of sperm properties increased. The progressive motility and total motility decreased from the concentration 0.5 mg / mL at times 30 and 60 minutes while the percentage of sperm immotile increased. The vitality (viable sperm) decreased significantly (p <0.05) from the exposure concentration 0.5 &#956;g/mL to 2,4-D and from 1.0 &#956;g/mL atrazine, at times 30 and 60 minutes, showing that there is a functional change of trend of human sperm after exposure to these herbicides, and this change is intensified with the exposure time factor and concentration of herbicides. Through the Raman Scaterring technique allowed us to characterize normal human sperm and exposed to herbicides and verify the change in the molecular structure in the exposed sperm, evidenced by changes in relative intensities of the bands 785, 1095, 1255, 1336, 1374, 1486 and 1575 cm-1 treated with 2,4-D and a decrease at 1095 after exposure to atrazine. These results indicate the modification of nitrogenous bases and the phosphate group that make up DNA present in the nucleus of the sperm. / A utilização desenfreada de praguicidas, além de contribuir com o agravamento da poluição ambiental, também está influenciando de forma negativa a saúde dos seres vivos, inclusive a saúde das pessoas. Muitos estudos mostram a interferência desses produtos químicos no sistema reprodutor de animais e até mesmo do homem, podendo acarretar problemas de infertilidade, que podem ser originados, dentre vários fatores, pela baixa quantidade e qualidade espermática. Este estudo visa á avaliação de parâmetros de qualidade espermática humana e a avaliação química do núcleo do espermatozoide, por meio de Espectroscopia de Espalhamento Raman, após a exposição in vitro a diferentes concentrações de ácido 2,4-diclorofenoxiacético (2,4-D) e atrazina. Estes herbicidas são amplamente utilizados em todo o mundo, principalmente no Brasil, em destaque a região do Oeste Paulista, por serem empregados na cana-de-açúcar, cultura significativa da região. Neste contexto, foram selecionadas amostras de espermatozoides de acordo com os parâmetros normais de testes que avaliam a qualidade espermática, como: liquefação, viscosidade, aparência, volume, pH, concentração de espermatozoides, vitalidade, morfologia e motilidade. Amostras de sêmen de 10 doadores saudáveis foram expostas aos herbicidas de estudo, variando o tempo e a concentração. Após as diferentes exposições (0,05; 0,5; 1,0; 5,0 e 125 &#956;g/mL, 30 e 60 min), as análises de motilidade e vitalidade foram novamente avaliadas. Os espectros de Espalhamento Raman foram obtidos das amostras de espermatozoide controle e após a exposição aos herbicidas 2,4-D e atrazina na concentração de 125 µg/mL em 60 min de incubação. A motilidade progressiva e motilidade total diminuíram a partir da concentração 0,5 &#956;g/mL nos tempos 30 e 60 min enquanto que a porcentagem de espermatozoides imóveis aumentou. A vitalidade (espermatozoides viáveis) diminuiu significativamente (p<0,05) a partir da exposição da concentração 0,5 &#956;g/mL para o 2,4-D e a partir de 1,0 &#956;g/mL para a atrazina, nos tempos 30 e 60min, mostrando-se que há uma tendência de alteração funcional do espermatozoide humano após a exposição a estes herbicidas, e esta alteração é intensificada com o fator de tempo de exposição e concentração dos herbicidas testados. Por meio da técnica de Espalhamento Raman foi possível caracterizar o espermatozoide humano normal e os expostos aos herbicidas e verificar a alteração na estrutura molecular nos espermatozoides expostos, evidenciadas pelas alterações nas intensidades relativas das bandas 785, 1095, 1255, 1336, 1374, 1486 e 1575 cm-1 do tratado com 2,4-D, e uma diminuição na banda de 1095 após a exposição à atrazina. Estes resultados indicam a alteração das bases nitrogenadas e do grupo fosfato que compõem o DNA presente no núcleo do espermatozoide.