The Perema Municipal Controlled Landfill is used for final disposal of solid waste in
the municipality of Santarém - PA, however, it is not yet in the ideal operating
conditions. The consequence is that waste pickers remain in the landfill, subject to
the risk of various types of accidents, including those involving venomous animals.
The objective of this study was to verify the presence of venomous animals inside
the Perema Landfill and to associate it with the risk of accidents in landfill workers
and residents of nearby communities. In this study two methods were used: i) survey
of the occurrence of poisonous or venomous animals by the active collection
technique and use of pitfalls), and ii) interviews with landfill collectors and residents
of nearby communities to evaluate their level of knowledge about the subject.
Respondents mentioned the presence of venomous animals such as snakes and
scorpions in the landfill. By the field work, only specimens of ants, wasps and spiders
were captured. However, the presence of other venomous animals cannot be ruled
out at the site. Both waste pickers and community residents have some knowledge
about the risks of venomous animals and the need for care in a health facility in the
case of envenomation. It is noteworthy that in the opinion of the majority of the
pickers and the community dwellers who live near the Perema Landfill, it does not
influence or contribute to the appearance of venomous animals at the landfill itself,
nor at the communities. More detailed studies should be carried out in order to clarify
the relationship between the presence of these animals and the occurrence of
accidents at the Perema Landfill.
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