Distribution and ecotoxicology of bioavailable metals and As in surface sediments of Paraguaçu estuary, Todos os Santos Bay, Brazil. Issue 1 (15th October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pereira, Taís de S.; Moreira, Ícaro T.A.; de Oliveira, Olívia M.C.; Rios, Mariana C.; Filho, Wilton A.C.S.; de Almeida, Marcos; de Carvalho, Gilson Correia
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 99:Issue 1/2(2015)
• Page Start: 166
• Page End: 177
• Publication Date: 2015-10-15
• Subjects: Bioavailability -- Metals -- Sediments -- Estuaries; Marine pollution -- Periodicals; Marine Biology -- Periodicals; Water Pollution -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Périodiques; Publications périodiques; Pollution des mers; Lutte antipollution; Electronic journals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.07.031
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Highlights: Metal enrichment in Paraguaçu estuary was assessed by acid digestion. EF, I geo, PIN and SQGs were used in the evaluation of heavy metal pollution. Most of metals concentrations are below the sediment quality guidelines. Mn was identified as the element with the highest enrichment. Strong correlations were found between metals, nutrients and finer grain size. Abstract: Surface sediments collected in the intertidal zone of Paraguaçu estuary in July, 2013, were analyzed for organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, grain size fractions and partial concentrations of 16 metals. The USEPA 3051A method and ICP-OES and CV-AAS techniques were chosen to metal analysis. Pollution indices (EF, I geo and PIN ) and a comparison with sediment quality guidelines (UET, ERL, ERM, TEL and PEL of NOAA) were conducted in order to evaluate the potential metal impacts over the area. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Pearson correlation results showed the importance of organic matter content and the fine-grained fraction of sediments on the control of the bioavailable metals distribution. The Paraguaçu estuary already has anthropogenic enrichment relative to the background level, especially for Mn, whose values exceeded almost 30 times the background at one site (Mn: 1197.30 mg kg −1 ). However, metal levels are still below the reference values with the exception of Hg at one site (Hg: 0.25 mg kg −1, exceeded TEL and ERL).