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Assessment of mercury contamination based on mercury distribution in sediment, macroalgae, and seagrass in the Todos os Santos bay, Bahia, Brazil

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Abstract

The Todos os Santos bay (TSB) is the second largest Brazilian bay. Despite the large number of potential anthropogenic sources of mercury (Hg) in the bay, data on this element in this marine environment are very scarce. Total Hg concentrations were therefore determined in sediment, macroalgae, and seagrass species collected during dry and rainy seasons, from eight locations. In ~45 % of the sediment samples, Hg concentration was two to four times higher than the upper value considered the regional Hg background (15 μg kg−1). Geoaccumulation index indicated that Hg contamination was at none to heavily contaminated. In Padina sp., Caulerpa sp., Hypnea sp., and Halodule wrigthii, Hg concentrations ranged from 10.61–297.61, 15.59–74.50, 12.84–158.03, and 4.02–67.25 μg kg−1, respectively.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado da Bahia (FAPESB), Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP 2010/19040-4), and the Conselho National de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) for financial support and the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) for post-graduate scholarship.

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  1. Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas (Unicamp), P.O. Box 6154, Campinas, SP, 13083-970, Brazil

    Anne H. Fostier

  2. Group of Research in Analytical Chemistry (GPQA), Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Campus of Ondina, P.O. Box 40170-115, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

    Fernanda do N. Costa & Maria das Graças A. Korn

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  1. Anne H. Fostier
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  2. Fernanda do N. Costa
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Correspondence to Anne H. Fostier.

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Fostier, A.H., do N. Costa, F. & Korn, M.d.G.A. Assessment of mercury contamination based on mercury distribution in sediment, macroalgae, and seagrass in the Todos os Santos bay, Bahia, Brazil. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 19686–19695 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7163-6

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