Heavy metals in sediments of the lower Paraíba do Sul River and estuary, southeastern Brazil

Abstract

This study investigated the behavior of soluble and particulate manganese, during tidal cycles in a mangrove tidal creek and adjacent mud flats in SE Brazil. We identify the major processes affecting manganese transport to mangroves. The results showed that manganese variability occurs both seasonally, and over the tidal cycle, in response to changing redox potentials. Tidal water flooding mud flats are enriched in manganese, originating from upward migration of reduced species and further adsorption onto suspended particles under oxic conditions. During the tidal cycle, particulate manganese concentrations are higher during flood periods, whilst dissolved concentrations are higher during ebb periods. Although quantitatively different, this pattern occurs both in winter and summer. The dynamics of manganese characterized in this study suggest that this metal may play a significant role as a conveyor of trace metals to mangrove ecosystems, as suggested by earlier studies.