DISTRIBUIÇÃO E FRACIONAMENTO DO Hg EM SEDIMENTOS DO RIO PARAÍBA DO SUL – RJ, BRASIL

Mercury distribution and fractionation were determined in sediments from the Paraíba do Sul River – RJ, Brazil. Total mercury concentration ranged from 1 to 158 ng g-1. Hg associated with the weakly bound fraction was dominant in the estuarine areas (main - 60% and secondary - 55%); followed by fluv...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Beatriz Ferreira Araujo, Marcelo Gomes de Almeida, Thiago Pessanha Rangel, Carlos Eduardo de Rezende
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Química 2015-01-01
Series:Química Nova
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-40422015000100030&lng=en&tlng=en
Description
Summary:Mercury distribution and fractionation were determined in sediments from the Paraíba do Sul River – RJ, Brazil. Total mercury concentration ranged from 1 to 158 ng g-1. Hg associated with the weakly bound fraction was dominant in the estuarine areas (main - 60% and secondary - 55%); followed by fluvial end member (48%) and mangrove (18%). These results reinforce the mercury availability to fluvial and estuarine areas and emphasize the key role played by mangroves as an efficient biogeochemical barrier. In conclusion, the continuous reduction of the mangrove ecosystem around the world can exacerbate the damage resulting from the mercury accumulation.
ISSN:1678-7064