title: Identification of copper sources in urban surface waters using the principal component analysis based on aquatic parameters.
abstract: The goal of this work was to identify the sources of copper loads in surface urban waters using principal component analysis under the aquatic parameters data evaluation approach. Water samples from the Irai and Iguacu rivers were collected monthly during a 12-month period at two points located upstream and downstream of a metropolitan region. pH, total alkalinity, dissolved chloride, total suspended solids, dissolved organic matter, total recoverable copper, temperature, and precipitation data provided some reliable information concerning the characteristics and water quality of both rivers. Principal component analysis indicated seasonal and spatial effects on copper concentration and loads in both environments. During the rainy season, non-point sources such as urban run-off are believed to be the major source of copper in both cases. In contrast, during the lower precipitation period, the discharge of raw sewage seems to be the primary source of copper to the Iguacu River, which also exhibited higher total metal concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Quimica, Universidade Federal do Parana, Curitiba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernando Fabriz
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Sodre
authors.forename: Vanessa Egea
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: dos Anjos
authors.forename: Ellen Christine
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Prestes
authors.forename: Marco Tadeu
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Grassi
mesh_terms: D002947:Cities; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D011786:Quality Control; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013997:Time Factors; D014504:Urban Health; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D003300:Copper