Assessment of trace metals pollution in estuarine sediments using SEM-AVS and ERM-ERL predictions

摘要

This paper presents the distributions of the investigation of trace metals geochemistry in surface sediments of the Sergipe river estuary, northeast Brazil. Analyses were carried out by Flame or electrothermal atomic absorption spec-trometry (FAAS or ETA AS). Principal compo nent analysis was applied to results to identify any groupings among the different sampling sites. In order to determine the extent of contamina tion, taking into account natural variability within the region, metal concentrations were normalized relative to aluminium. Cr, Cu, Ni and Zn con tamination was observed in sediments from the area receiving highest inputs of domestic wastes, while cadmium contamination occurred in sedi ments from the region affected by highest inflows of industrial effluents. Possible toxicity related to these metals was examined using the relation ship simultaneously extracted metals/acid volatile sulfide and by comparing sediment chemical data with sediment quality guidelines ERL-ERM val ues. Results obtained using the two methods were in agreement and indicated that adverse effects on aquatic biota should rarely occur.