Magnetic signatures of a creosote oil contaminated site: case study in São Paulo, Brazil
Abstract Soils and groundwater contamination modifies the physical–chemical conditions of the environment, altering natural biogeochemical processes of the ground. As a result, several mineral transformations occur, in which iron plays a decisive role. The presence of iron enables the study of magne...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-23493-2 |
| _version_ | 1811292439566090240 |
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| author | Carolina Silveira de Moraes Andrea Teixeira Ustra Alexandre Muselli Barbosa Rosely Aparecida Liguori Imbernon Cinthia Midory Uehara Tengan |
| author_facet | Carolina Silveira de Moraes Andrea Teixeira Ustra Alexandre Muselli Barbosa Rosely Aparecida Liguori Imbernon Cinthia Midory Uehara Tengan |
| author_sort | Carolina Silveira de Moraes |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Soils and groundwater contamination modifies the physical–chemical conditions of the environment, altering natural biogeochemical processes of the ground. As a result, several mineral transformations occur, in which iron plays a decisive role. The presence of iron enables the study of magnetic properties, improving the understanding of the geophysical signatures of highly dynamic environments (e.g., biogeochemical hotspots and contamination plumes). In this work, we seek to identify creosote biodegradation related to the precipitation of magnetic minerals on sediments at a contaminated site in São Paulo, Brazil. Several rock magnetism analyses were carried out to provide the magnetic mineralogy of the samples in terms of their composition, size, and abundance. We conducted high-temperature thermomagnetic curves, frequency-dependent magnetic susceptibility, anesthetic remanent magnetization (ARM) and isothermal remanent magnetization (IRM) data, superparamagnetic concentration and dipole moment (SPCDM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses. The magnetic signatures of the contaminated samples suggest an increase of superparamagnetic grains in the water table fluctuation zone if compared to the magnetic signatures of the uncontaminated samples. Thermomagnetic curves of contaminated samples showed a lower heterogeneity of the magnetic mineral phases than the uncontaminated ones. This work contributes to the advancement of the understanding of how natural biogeochemical processes are impacted by human actions, such as soil contamination, and even by climate change, which should affect soil redox conditions in periods of drought and flooding. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T04:45:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cc88ba7652bc425ba5a44f6fd5a7c795 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T04:45:25Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-cc88ba7652bc425ba5a44f6fd5a7c7952022-12-22T03:01:51ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222022-12-0112111010.1038/s41598-022-23493-2Magnetic signatures of a creosote oil contaminated site: case study in São Paulo, BrazilCarolina Silveira de Moraes0Andrea Teixeira Ustra1Alexandre Muselli Barbosa2Rosely Aparecida Liguori Imbernon3Cinthia Midory Uehara Tengan4Departamento de Geofísica, Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas, Universidade de São PauloDepartamento de Geofísica, Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas, Universidade de São PauloInstituto de Pesquisas TecnológicasEscola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades, Universidade de São PauloDepartamento de Geofísica, Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas, Universidade de São PauloAbstract Soils and groundwater contamination modifies the physical–chemical conditions of the environment, altering natural biogeochemical processes of the ground. As a result, several mineral transformations occur, in which iron plays a decisive role. The presence of iron enables the study of magnetic properties, improving the understanding of the geophysical signatures of highly dynamic environments (e.g., biogeochemical hotspots and contamination plumes). In this work, we seek to identify creosote biodegradation related to the precipitation of magnetic minerals on sediments at a contaminated site in São Paulo, Brazil. Several rock magnetism analyses were carried out to provide the magnetic mineralogy of the samples in terms of their composition, size, and abundance. We conducted high-temperature thermomagnetic curves, frequency-dependent magnetic susceptibility, anesthetic remanent magnetization (ARM) and isothermal remanent magnetization (IRM) data, superparamagnetic concentration and dipole moment (SPCDM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses. The magnetic signatures of the contaminated samples suggest an increase of superparamagnetic grains in the water table fluctuation zone if compared to the magnetic signatures of the uncontaminated samples. Thermomagnetic curves of contaminated samples showed a lower heterogeneity of the magnetic mineral phases than the uncontaminated ones. This work contributes to the advancement of the understanding of how natural biogeochemical processes are impacted by human actions, such as soil contamination, and even by climate change, which should affect soil redox conditions in periods of drought and flooding.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-23493-2 |
| spellingShingle | Carolina Silveira de Moraes Andrea Teixeira Ustra Alexandre Muselli Barbosa Rosely Aparecida Liguori Imbernon Cinthia Midory Uehara Tengan Magnetic signatures of a creosote oil contaminated site: case study in São Paulo, Brazil Scientific Reports |
| title | Magnetic signatures of a creosote oil contaminated site: case study in São Paulo, Brazil |
| title_full | Magnetic signatures of a creosote oil contaminated site: case study in São Paulo, Brazil |
| title_fullStr | Magnetic signatures of a creosote oil contaminated site: case study in São Paulo, Brazil |
| title_full_unstemmed | Magnetic signatures of a creosote oil contaminated site: case study in São Paulo, Brazil |
| title_short | Magnetic signatures of a creosote oil contaminated site: case study in São Paulo, Brazil |
| title_sort | magnetic signatures of a creosote oil contaminated site case study in sao paulo brazil |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-23493-2 |
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