Geoquímica e espacialização de metais em sedimentos no estuário do Rio Serinhaém, Bahia – Brasil

Abstract

This study aimed to quantify and spatialise the chemical elements copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), tin (Sn), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), aluminium (Al), beryllium (Be), barium (Ba), lithium (Li), cobalt (Co) and vanadium (V) in surface sediments of the Serinahém river estuary. For quantification Inductively Coupled Plasma- Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP/OES) was used. It was observed that, in general, the chemicals do not exceed the limitrophe Brazilian reference values, indicating the quality of the estuary waters. Moreover, anthropogenic activities along the drainage basin did not seem to affect the environmental dynamics of the Serinahém river estuary, not demonstrating risks to human health or the environment. It is noteworthy that most of the quantified elements showed, with spatialization, a decrease in concentration toward the mouth of the estuary, concentrating upstream, after the river discharge point. When compared to other estuarine environments the Serinahém river estuary showed low concentrations, highlighting the higher concentrations for the chemical elements Al, Fe and Mn, that are elements found in high concentrations in the lithology of the estuary basin. With respect to the particle size concentration, the first segment showed the highest concentration of chemical elements (Fe, Al, Co, Cr, Ni, V, Zn, Mn e Cu), since, due to the presence of mangrove areas, river islands become sediment retention barriers and the presence of small tributaries help in the transport of sediments that accumulate in this region.