Metais em sedimentos estuarinos: uma análise comparativa entre os estuários Humber, Inglaterra e Jaguaribe, Brasil.

Abstract

Estuarine environments are subject to tensioning actions of anthropic origin, which may adversely affect the flora and fauna of these environments through the disposal of metal contaminated effluents. These effluents are the result of agricultural, industrial, aquaculture and urbanization. This study aimed to characterize the distribution of some of these metal pollutants, Fe, Ni, Cu, Cd, Zn and Pb in sediment cores from two estuarine areas under different anthropic pressures: Jaguaribe, Brazil, and Humber, England are presented. The main economic activity in the Jaguaribe is aquaculture, whilst in the Humber industrial activities prevail. A review of the specific legislation for each country was made. The higher metal concentrations at the Jaguaribe area were Fe, Ni and Zn, whereas at the Humber, highest concentrations were of Fe, Zn and Pb. All the values found were within the specific legislation's limits. It is concluded that the core's contamination for the Jaguaribe area is due to natural sources, meanwhile in the Humber they are likely due to its industrial background.