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Dealing with complex contamination scenarios: using a multi-geochemical approach to assess environmental quality and identify pollution sources in a semi-arid estuary from Brazil

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Abstract

The Jundiaí-Potengi Estuary (EJP) is located on the semi-arid coast of northeastern Brazil and is influenced by multiple sources of contamination. The sediment quality of EJP was assessed by using a multi-geochemical approach during the dry and wet seasons. Sediments were analyzed for concentrations of nutrients, metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pesticides, hormones (natural and synthetic), and sterols. The results were integrated by multivariate methods. The sediment was altered by the presence of contaminants from anthropogenic and natural sources. The middle and lower estuarine areas were considered more degraded in both seasons. In these regions, metals, hormones, sterols, and PAHs were found, indicating that these regions are severely affected by industrial, sanitary and aquaculture effluents, combustion of fossil fuels, and oil spills. The upstream region was contaminated by pesticides. The contamination pattern along the EJP shows the prevalence of local sources which continuously release the chemicals into the estuary. Worse conditions occurred during the rainy season, when the runoff from urban and rural areas is more intense and carries a greater load of contaminants to the EJP.

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The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Funding

This investigation was funded by the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development — CNPq (processes: #484171/2010–0 and #480583/2012–9) and FUNCAP (process: #150.01.00/09). Dr. R.M. Cavalcante (Process #201952/2017–3) and Dr. D.M.S Abessa (Processes #311609/2014–7 and #308533/2018–6) also thank CNPq for the PQ grants.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rio Grande Do Norte (IFRN), Av. Senador Salgado Filho, 1559, Natal, RN, 59015-000, Brazil

    Ivanildo S. Souza

  2. Institute of Marine Sciences, Federal University of Ceará, Av. Abolição, 3207, Fortaleza, CE, 60165-081, Brazil

    Ivanildo S. Souza, Felipe R. Santos, Davi A. Martins, Pollyana C. V. Morais, Allyne F. Gama, Rivelino M. Cavalcante & Denis M. S. Abessa

  3. Department of Analytical Chemistry and Physical Chemistry, Federal University of Ceará, R. Humberto Monte S/N, Campus do Pici, BL 340, Fortaleza, Ceará, 60455760, Brazil

    Felipe R. Santos & Ronaldo F. Nascimento

  4. Oceanographic Institute, University of São Paulo, Praça Do Oceanográfico, 191, São Paulo, SP, 05508-120, Brazil

    Felipe R. Santos

  5. São Paulo State University – UNESP, Praça Infante Dom Henrique, s/n., São Vicente, SP, 11330-900, Brazil

    Denis M. S. Abessa

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  1. Ivanildo S. Souza
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  3. Davi A. Martins
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  4. Pollyana C. V. Morais
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  5. Allyne F. Gama
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  6. Ronaldo F. Nascimento
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  7. Rivelino M. Cavalcante
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  8. Denis M. S. Abessa
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Contributions

Ivanildo Souza: Conceptualization, Formal Analysis, Investigation, Writing—Original Draft. Felipe Santos: Methodology, Writing—Review & Editing. Davi Martins: Validation. Pollyana Morais: Methodology, Validation, Data Curation. Allyne Gama: Validation. Ronaldo Nascimento: Resources. Rivelino Cavalcante: Investigation, Resources, Writing—Review & Editing. Denis Abessa: Conceptualization, Writing—Review & Editing, Supervision.

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Souza, I.S., Santos, F.R., Martins, D.A. et al. Dealing with complex contamination scenarios: using a multi-geochemical approach to assess environmental quality and identify pollution sources in a semi-arid estuary from Brazil. Environ Monit Assess 194, 567 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-10238-x

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