Biodisponibilidade de mercurio e outros metais-traço em sedimentos do Rio Cubatão, Sistema Estuarino de Santos-Cubatão (SP) / Bioavailability of mercury and other trace-metals in sediments of Cubatão River, Santos-Cubatão Estuarine System (SP)

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2007

RESUMO

Coastal-estuarine ecosystems from the south of São Paulo State are presently degraded specially in Cubatão municipality, in consequence of population concentration and, industrial and petrochemical complexes. These environmental impacts have begun in the 1950’s after the construction of the largest Latin America petrochemical complex in the Cubatão city. Despite the control by government agencies, effluent emissions from these industries have raised mercury (Hg) concentrations to critical levels within the Cubatão river sediments. Mercury (Hg) constitutes one of the greatest risk pollutants for ecological balance and human health risus. This metal has high toxicity and bioaccumulation potential, as well as biomagnification potential through food chains. The objective of this study is to analyze seasonal bioavailability of mercury and trace-metals concentrations in Cubatão river sediments. Several aspects were investigated in sediment cores as mercury and other metals concentrations in whole sample, acid volatile sulfides (AVS) and simultaneously extracted metals (SEM = Ni, Zn, Cd, Cu, Pb and Hg). The molar ratio SEM/AVS <1 is an indication of non bioavailability of trace-metals. The roles of pH and Eh from pore water, organic matter and grain-size were also studied as potential regulators of metal concentrations in the sedimentary environment. As results, mean mercury concentrations in sediments during summer (0.7 mg/kg) are higher than in winter (0.05 mg/kg) and other trace-metal concentrations (Ni, Zn, Cd, Cu and Pb) have the same behavior. AVS and SEM molar ratios were less than one, indicating an excess of trace-metal in relation to sulfides, especially in summer. This means that AVS control bioavailability is limited in this season. Conditions as slightly acid to neutral pH, reduced Eh and greater organic matter content favor sulfide formation, which are important for metal sorption by sediments. In addition, the fine texture of sediments was important to control total metal concentrations, AVS and SEM.

ASSUNTO(S)

contamination mercurio - contaminação contaminação mercury pollution poluição - cubatão(sp) sedimentos (geologia) sediment (geology)

ACESSO AO ARTIGO

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