Abstract
This study has the objective of evaluating the total mercury concentrations (Hg) in plankton samples of Puruzinho Lake, which is located on the left margin of the Madeira River, 20 km downstream of the Humaitá city (Amazon state, Brazil). Three samples were taken at a central part of the lake (S07°22’19.2”; W063°02’32.2”) during rainy (February 2004 and May 2005) and dry (October 2004) seasons. Plankton samples were collected using two nets of nylon. An aliquot of each plankton filtrate was preserved for posterior plankton identification, and another lyophilized for Hg analysis. The total mercury was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry and cold vapor generation (FIMS-400). The highest concentration of mercury in the plankton was observed in February of 2004 (337 μg kg–1), the rainy period. Levels in the plankton were comparable to those from regions considered contaminated by Hg. Inputs of mercury are likely to happen due to run off after soil flooding during the rainy season, which also turn this metal available to the planktonic community.
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