Evolução e situação atual da poluição na enseada do Mucuripe (Fortaleza - Ceará- Brasil)

Abstract

The first study on pollution in Mucuripe Cove, in 1979, indicated high values of anthropic pollutants in sediments, mainly oils and greases (up to 8.1% of dry weight). After dredging work carried out between 1979 and 1989 in the port basin, the concentrations of pollutants in sediments showed a decreasing trend. However, the sediments of the central area of the cove present high values of oils and greases, reaching 0.51% of the dry weight, still higher than the levels recommended by international legislation. The low levels of organic carbon associated with the high values of chemical oxygen demand indicate a tendency of domination of chemical oxidation over the processes Biochemical. The water presented normal values of temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen, with no stratification between the surface and bottom layers. A small decrease in dissolved oxygen content swelled between the surface and bottom, indicating a higher consumption of 0 2 at the water-sediment interface. In the case of Mucuripe Cove, it is possible that dredging work has contributed to an improvement in substrate quality by dilution of pollutants by sediment dispersion.