Evaluation of sediment quality - case study: sub-watershed of Espírito Santo stream, affluent of the São Francisco river

Quimica nova

Jacomino, Vanusa Maria Feliciano¹  Palmieri, Helena Eugênia Leonhardt¹  Nascimento, Marcos Roberto Lopes do²  Saraiva, Vanessa Kelly³ 

[1] Comissão Nacional de Energia Nuclear, Belo Horizonte, Brasil;Comissão Nacional de Energia Nuclear, Poços de Caldas, Brasil;Instituto Mineiro de Gestão das Águas, Belo Horizonte, Brasil

关键词: sediments;    acid volatile sulfite;    benthos.;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S0100-40422009000800003

学科分类：化学（综合）

来源: Sociedade Brasileira de Quimica

【 摘 要 】

This study evaluated the environmental impact resulting from surface water and sediment contamination by metals in a watershed affected by a tailing basin that controls effluents coming from a zinc-ore beneficiation plant. The studies combined assessments of sediment chemistry (exceedances of sediment quality guidelines), benthic assemblage structure and acute and chronic ecotoxicity. The results showed that the levels of metal contamination in sediments are not yet enough to cause deleterious effects to the biota.  However, the ecotoxicity tests indicated the occurrence of chronic effects, demonstrating that other factors, as the use of fertilizers, could also be a source of contamination.

【 授权许可】

CC BY