Land use and soil contamination-aspects of environmental quality in The City of Sao Paulo, Brazil

摘要

The process of industrialization in Sao Paulo started late in XIX Century, got the climax in1970 decade and started declining in early in 80's, shifting the economic profile from industrialto service, as many industrial plants were shut down either because many industries went tobankruptcy or have moved to other places aiming tax benefits as lower production costs.As a result, there was a change in the land use and the raise of derelicted areas and contaminatedsites, where low income people have been settled down raising social, public health andenvironmental concerns.As example, in the City of Maua, a 56 buildings condominium were built over a contaminatedsite, that was a former illegal industrial waste dumping area and about 44 different chemicalswere identified and threatening 5,600 people.In May, 2002 The Sao Paulo State Environmental Agency (CETESB) issued the first report oncontaminated sites, pointing out 255 sites throughout the state. The 2006 report, issued inNovember reported 1,884 sites throughout The State of Sao Paulo, 594 located within The Cityof S?o Paulo boundary.In order to tackle that issues, both Local and State Governments have been putting in place alegal framework aiming to foster local economy and contaminated/underutilized areasrevitalization by setting new land use and zoning as well as setting environmental qualitystandards on soil and groundwater contamination.As the redevelopment of contaminated sites is more complex than simply remediate a site, thereis a need of cooperation gathering public agencies, private organizations and communityrepresentatives aiming to put in place the concept of sustainable development, by environmentalprotection, economic development and social equity in a heavily urbanized city.