Abstract
The Mundaú lagoon (Maceió, AL), besides being relevant socially, economically, and culturally, also in its surroundings, presents an intense anthropic occupation, characterized by a large population and the industrial activities presence. In this systematic environmental monitoring study (from 2017 to 2019), concentrations of Al, As, Bi, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sn, V, and Zn in surface waters, and total Hg content in the bivalve Mytella charruana (sururu) were recorded, using cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry (or hydride generation) (HG/CV AFS), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and chronopotentiometry. In the water samples, the following elements presented concentrations above the values recommended by the National Council for the Environment (CONAMA), in μg L-1: Al (24.4 -2008), Cu (1.88‑13.03), Fe (84.9‑4107), Hg (< 0.0069-2.92), Mn (10.65-200), Pb (192-1443) and Zn (121‑997), and therefore, the water was classified following the water pollution index (WPI), as highly impure and polluted. The Hg content in sururu, the main food in Mundaú lagoon, ranged from 0.036‑0.63 mg kg-1 (dry weight). Further, the chemometric evaluation of the data based on the principal component and correlation analysis suggested a chemical-defined profile at the different sampling points.
Highlights
The Mundaú-Manguaba estuarine lagoon complex (MMELC) in Alagoas (Brazil) supports 260 thousand inhabitants living in its surroundings and is considered one of the most important ecosystems in the State
Mundaú lagoon (Maceió, AL) stands out for its accelerated processes of environmental degradation, which are due to various anthropic activities and a high population, the absence of basic sanitation and solid waste collection in various places, to silting, and its proximity to an industrial hub which includes sugar-alcohol activity.[2]
In the present study, differing analytical strategies were applied to quantify potentially toxic elements (Al, As, Bi, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sn, V, and Zn) in Mundaú lagoon estuarine water samples between June 2017 and April 2019, this, together with mercury levels in sururu to assess the impact of environmental contamination on this system
Summary
The Mundaú-Manguaba estuarine lagoon complex (MMELC) in Alagoas (Brazil) supports 260 thousand inhabitants living in its surroundings and is considered one of the most important ecosystems in the State. MMELC is an estuary with a massive nutrient subsidy, a highly productive system where organisms are developed and serve as food and a source of income for the local population This activity has presented problems due to anthropic impacts on the environment since it influences the alteration of this estuary’s chemical constitution.[7] In this system, bivalve mollusks, which are extensively consumed and commercialized, are the principal source of income, especially Mytella charruana.[8] Bivalves are filtering, sessile organisms, which are easy to harvest. In the present study, differing analytical strategies were applied to quantify potentially toxic elements (Al, As, Bi, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sn, V, and Zn) in Mundaú lagoon estuarine water samples between June 2017 and April 2019, this, together with mercury levels in sururu to assess the impact of environmental contamination on this system. For WPI ≤ 0.3, the water is considered very pure, WPI in the range 0.3-1.0 the water is considered pure, WPI in the range 1.0-2.0 is considered moderately polluted, WPI in the range 2.0‐4.0 is considered polluted, WPI in the range 4.0-6.0 is considered impure and, and when WPI > 6.0 the water is considered very impure-polluted.[16]
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