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Metals in sediments as indicators of anthropogenic impacts in estuaries of south-southeast Brazil

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Abstract

The coastal region of Brazil is historically impacted by anthropogenic activities, which release contaminants such as metals. In the estuaries of Paranaguá, Cananéia, and Santos in southern Brazil, these activities are present at differing levels. In the present study, concentrations of aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, copper, chromium, iron, nickel, zinc and mercury were investigated, and geochemical parameters in sediments. Bulk carbon and nitrogen isotopic analyses were performed by EA-IRMS, and metal analyses were performed by ICP-OES-VGA. The As, Cr, Ni, Zn and Hg had higher concentrations in Santos estuary sediments. The effects range-median quotient indicating the potential for adverse effects to biota was found in this estuary, coinciding with the site with the greatest intensity of anthropogenic activities and higher percentages of mud. The levels of metals in the Paranaguá and Cananéia estuaries were similar, demonstrating that even with different degrees of anthropogenic pressures, the connection between these estuaries and the establishment of protected areas avoids contamination of these coastal regions that are World Heritage site and a biosphere reserve. Despite the decrease in the levels of metals in all the estuaries studied over time, the present study serves as a warning of the need for monitoring and coastal management actions. Mainly for Hg, which is available in sediments and above the sediment quality guidelines, to maintain the environmental quality of these important coastal regions of South America.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico [CNPq; Grant number 162446/2014-4].

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  1. Instituto Oceanográfico, Universidade de São Paulo, Praça do Oceanográfico 191, São Paulo, SP, 05508-120, Brazil

    Tailisi Hoppe Trevizani, Keila Modesto Tramonte, Michel Michaelovitch de Mahiques & Rubens Cesar Lopes Figueira

  2. Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação-Centro de Estudos do Mar, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Pontal do Paraná, PR, 83255-000, Brazil

    Camila Domit

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  1. Tailisi Hoppe Trevizani
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Trevizani, T.H., Domit, C., Tramonte, K.M. et al. Metals in sediments as indicators of anthropogenic impacts in estuaries of south-southeast Brazil. J. Sediment. Environ. 6, 417–430 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43217-021-00069-0

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