Abstract
Investigation of metal distribution in preserved areas is highly relevant due to the present-day lack of reliable databases against which to assess contamination. 23 samples of surface sediments from the Ribeira Bay, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, were analyzed by ICP/AES for Ti, Ca, Mg, Fe, Al, Sr, La, V, Y, Ni, Cu, Cr, Mn and Zn. Hg concentrations were determined by CVAAS. With respect to Al, metals were classified as strongly correlated, correlated, inversely correlated and non-correlated. Cluster analysis of the concentration data confirmed this, except for Hg. Cluster analysis of the sampling sites produced three groups, on the basis of grainsize, continental input, and marine input. Climatic and hydrodynamic factors, as well as soil characteristics, are important controls of the metal distribution in this region. The Ribeira Bay has a natural background metal content, when compared with average shales and with other impacted and non-impacted regions.
Highlights
IntroductionForeign trade has driven industrialization to coastal areas, due to the easy establishment of port passages to exportation
In many tropical countries, foreign trade has driven industrialization to coastal areas, due to the easy establishment of port passages to exportation
This study aims to investigate metal distribution on coastal marine sediments of the Ribeira Bay, a region currently showing a reasonably high degree of preservation, with no significant anthropogenic metal sources
Summary
Foreign trade has driven industrialization to coastal areas, due to the easy establishment of port passages to exportation. In Brazil, research on metal contamination is currently carried out in regions under high environmental threat, such as the Santos (São Paulo state), Guanabara (Rio de Janeiro state), and Todos os Santos (Bahia state) bays; in more preserved regions, avaliable data are still much scarce[2]. Considering its well preserved condition, the few available data on the metal content of its sediments[3] have been used as natural (background) reference values for comparison with metal distribution data from other, more contaminated bays of the region. Another highly relevant factor is the location of the Ribeira Bay between two major industrial centres: the
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