Mercury occorrence at the Iguaçu River Basin, State of Parana, Brasil / Ocorrencia de mercurio na Bacia do Rio Iguaçu, Estado do Parana, Brasil

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2007

RESUMO

Mercury contents in rocks, soil and stream sediment were determined to investigate the origin of the geochemical anomaly found in sediments of the Iguaçu River, as indicated in previous studies of a regional geochemistry survey. Except for its headwaters in the Curitiba area, with Precambrian basement rocks and Pleistocenic sediments of the Curitiba Basin, the Iguaçu River lies across the Paraná Basin, comprising Paleozoic to Mesozoic sedimentary and volcanic rocks. In the study area, the geological units include basaltic and dacitic rocks of the Serra Geral Formation (Cretaceous) and black shale of the Irati Formation (Permian-Triassic). Total Hg was measured by thermal decomposition Zeeman corrected atomic absorption spectrometry in volcanic rocks (0.2 to 0.4 ng/g), black shale (286 and 430 ng/g), soil (average of 103±57 ng/g, grain size <177 µm) and sediment (average of 37±18 ng/g, grain size <177 µm). In order to characterize rocks and soil, bulk compositions were determined by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. The quality of Iguaçu river water was evaluated by ion chromatography. These analyses revealed that the water in the eastern portion of the river is geologically influenced by interaction with crystalline rocks and, slightly polluted in the central portion probably due to sewerage discharge and/or industrial effluents. The elevated mercury and loss-on-ignition values enrichments in soil was assessed by mass balance calculation. No human-induced mercury inputs to the environment as well as subjacent mercury-rich rocks that could act as natural sources of the metal were observed, nevertheless the historical occurrences point out to a geogenic origin of the metal. The highest Hg levels in soil and sediment were observed at the central area with relatively preserved Atlantic Forest cover which may have contributed to these enrichment processes. During the present study no mercury pollution signal or public health risks were identified at the Iguaçu river basin. The mercury concentrations in the Iguaçu river sediment are similar to those found in other Brazilian hydrographic basins with normal and non-contaminated mercury levels.

ASSUNTO(S)

mercurio - contaminação geoquimica - bacia do rio iguaçu (pr) geoquimica mercury geochemistry geochemistry

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