Geophysical investigation using the GPR method: a case study on the contamination of lead in the Santo Amaro town, Bahia, Brazil

In Brazil, until the 1970s, industrial and urban waste was directly disposed of in the soil, as it was believed that the soil was an unlimited receptor for disposable and noxious substances. However, this capability was overestimated, causing irreparable damage to the environment. Geophysics has bee...

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Main Authors: Alexandre Lisboa Lago, Iago Sousa Lima Costa, Fernanda Gonçalves da Cunha, Frederico Ricardo Ferreira Rodrigues de Oliveira e Sousa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Serviço Geológico do Brasil (CPRM) 2018-07-01
Series:Journal of the Geological Survey of Brazil
Online Access:https://jgsb.cprm.gov.br/index.php/journal/article/view/25
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author Alexandre Lisboa Lago
Iago Sousa Lima Costa
Fernanda Gonçalves da Cunha
Frederico Ricardo Ferreira Rodrigues de Oliveira e Sousa
author_facet Alexandre Lisboa Lago
Iago Sousa Lima Costa
Fernanda Gonçalves da Cunha
Frederico Ricardo Ferreira Rodrigues de Oliveira e Sousa
author_sort Alexandre Lisboa Lago
collection DOAJ
description In Brazil, until the 1970s, industrial and urban waste was directly disposed of in the soil, as it was believed that the soil was an unlimited receptor for disposable and noxious substances. However, this capability was overestimated, causing irreparable damage to the environment. Geophysics has been shown to be effective in identifying areas contaminated by waste disposal, contributing to the greater efficiency of soundings programs and the installation of monitoring wells. In this work we have evaluated the potential of the Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) method in the characterization of a hazardous waste site generated by the lead ore processing, where the slag resulting from this process was used to pave streets and backyard residences in the town of Santo Amaro, state of Bahia, situated on the domain of the massapê soil. The used method enabled the identification of geophysical anomalies, which characterized the presence of contamination from slag material. It was also possible to define the interface between the paving and the soil-slag, as well as the interface between the soil-slag and the massapê soil. Chemical analysis of the soil confirmed the contamination, with high concentrations of lead found in at least three drill holes. The geophysical method used in the investigation provided an excellent tool for environmental characterization of the area, and could be applied in the study of similar areas elsewhere. Interactive Infographic
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spelling doaj.art-24fcedd6a8e34be5ad71a0a030bf0b952023-09-02T05:39:48ZengServiço Geológico do Brasil (CPRM)Journal of the Geological Survey of Brazil2595-19392018-07-011210.29396/jgsb.2018.v1.n2.1Geophysical investigation using the GPR method: a case study on the contamination of lead in the Santo Amaro town, Bahia, BrazilAlexandre Lisboa LagoIago Sousa Lima Costa0Fernanda Gonçalves da CunhaFrederico Ricardo Ferreira Rodrigues de Oliveira e SousaCPRMIn Brazil, until the 1970s, industrial and urban waste was directly disposed of in the soil, as it was believed that the soil was an unlimited receptor for disposable and noxious substances. However, this capability was overestimated, causing irreparable damage to the environment. Geophysics has been shown to be effective in identifying areas contaminated by waste disposal, contributing to the greater efficiency of soundings programs and the installation of monitoring wells. In this work we have evaluated the potential of the Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) method in the characterization of a hazardous waste site generated by the lead ore processing, where the slag resulting from this process was used to pave streets and backyard residences in the town of Santo Amaro, state of Bahia, situated on the domain of the massapê soil. The used method enabled the identification of geophysical anomalies, which characterized the presence of contamination from slag material. It was also possible to define the interface between the paving and the soil-slag, as well as the interface between the soil-slag and the massapê soil. Chemical analysis of the soil confirmed the contamination, with high concentrations of lead found in at least three drill holes. The geophysical method used in the investigation provided an excellent tool for environmental characterization of the area, and could be applied in the study of similar areas elsewhere. Interactive Infographichttps://jgsb.cprm.gov.br/index.php/journal/article/view/25
spellingShingle Alexandre Lisboa Lago
Iago Sousa Lima Costa
Fernanda Gonçalves da Cunha
Frederico Ricardo Ferreira Rodrigues de Oliveira e Sousa
Geophysical investigation using the GPR method: a case study on the contamination of lead in the Santo Amaro town, Bahia, Brazil
Journal of the Geological Survey of Brazil
title Geophysical investigation using the GPR method: a case study on the contamination of lead in the Santo Amaro town, Bahia, Brazil
title_full Geophysical investigation using the GPR method: a case study on the contamination of lead in the Santo Amaro town, Bahia, Brazil
title_fullStr Geophysical investigation using the GPR method: a case study on the contamination of lead in the Santo Amaro town, Bahia, Brazil
title_full_unstemmed Geophysical investigation using the GPR method: a case study on the contamination of lead in the Santo Amaro town, Bahia, Brazil
title_short Geophysical investigation using the GPR method: a case study on the contamination of lead in the Santo Amaro town, Bahia, Brazil
title_sort geophysical investigation using the gpr method a case study on the contamination of lead in the santo amaro town bahia brazil
url https://jgsb.cprm.gov.br/index.php/journal/article/view/25
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