Metal content and distribution in surface sediments in an industrial region

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate Cu, Cr, Ni, Zn, Pb, Mn, Al, and Fe contents, as well as their geochemical partitioning in Sinos River basin sediments in southern Brazil. This basin is a densely populated area with a substantial number of industries, especially metallurgy, electroplating works, steel mills, petrochemicals, and tanneries. The total metal concentrations were determined by X-ray fluorescence and the sediment phase concentrations were determined by applying the BCR-701 sequential extraction method proposed by the Community Bureau of Reference of the European Community, using ICP/OES. The contents extracted by a solution of 0.5 mol/L HCl were also considered. Metal contents were evaluated in the sediment fraction <63 µm. Results in the industrialized and densely populated region showed an increase in the total concentrations of Cu, Cr, Zn, and Pb, and in the potentially mobile fractions for Cu, Cr, Zn and Ni sequentially extracted. Cr stood out particularly in the Portão stream, showing 1,286 mg/kg as a result of the total concentration, considering the tannery region influence.

Study of Reflectance Spectroscopy in River Sediments

“…The area covers 3,820 km 2 and crosses through 29 counties, of which 21 are within the Porto Alegre Metropolitan Area, the capital of the state (see Figure 1). The geographical boundaries are the Serra Geral the east, the Caí River basin to the west and north, and the Gravataí River basin to the south (Schneider et al, 2014). The Sinos River main course flow is 190 km, with the source at an altitude of 600 m and it discharges at an altitude of 12 m. Approximately 1.3 million people inhabit its basin (Schneider et al, 2014), representing 13% of the total population of the state concentrated in only 3.5% of its territory.…”

“…The geographical boundaries are the Serra Geral the east, the Caí River basin to the west and north, and the Gravataí River basin to the south (Schneider et al, 2014). The Sinos River main course flow is 190 km, with the source at an altitude of 600 m and it discharges at an altitude of 12 m. Approximately 1.3 million people inhabit its basin (Schneider et al, 2014), representing 13% of the total population of the state concentrated in only 3.5% of its territory. The climate is subtropical with an annual average temperature of 20°C and about 1,600 mm of rain annually, well-distributed over the four seasons (FEPAM, 2006).…”

“…The climate is subtropical with an annual average temperature of 20°C and about 1,600 mm of rain annually, well-distributed over the four seasons (FEPAM, 2006). Schneider et al (2014) describe that the Sinos River basin can be divided according to the corresponding section of the river into three different regions: upper, middle, and lower. In the upper section, characterized by a more rugged terrain and agricultural activities on small farms, were selected two sampling sites (Table 1).…”

Taxonomic and non-taxonomic responses of benthic macroinvertebrates to metal toxicity in tropical reservoirs. The case of Cantareira Complex, São Paulo, Brazil

“…Potentially toxic metals are one of the most worrisome pollutants in continental waters (Zhang & Liu 2014, Schneider et al 2014, López-Dovál et al 2015. Attention to these metals is necessary, primarily because they are widely distributed, they are persistent in the environment and they can be bioaccumulated, leading to damage in ecosystems as also to human health (Schwarzenbach et al 2006, Bin et al 2013, Alves et al 2014, Roig et al 2016.…”

Niche overlap analysis of a lizard assemblage from the Atlantic Rainforest, evaluation of arsenic toxicity in cladocerans, and molecular biology of mycoplasmas

“…Pollution is a main concern of modern societies, with metals being the most common pollutants, particularly in aquatic environments (e.g., Schneider et al 2014). Although most of such substances are introduced to the environment due to anthropogenic activity, including industries and mining (e.g., Campaner et al 2014), others can be quite common in nature, such as the metalloid arsenic (Wang and Mulligan 2006), whose more toxic form is usually present in groundwater (Sharma and Sohn 2009).…”