title: Study of pollutant distribution in the Guaxindiba Estuarine System--SE Brazil.
abstract: The Guaxindiba Estuarine System is located in the northeast portion of Guanabara Bay. Despite the location inside an environmental protection zone, the main affluent of the river runs through the extremely urbanized area of the cities of Niterói and São Gonçalo. In order to understand the contamination levels of the estuary, 35 surface sediment samples were collected along the river and estuarine area and analyzed for the presence of heavy metals, PAHs, organochlorated pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyl and other contaminants. The analyzed data revealed a greatly affected environment with respect to most of these substances. The results suggested propitious deposits of contaminants, with high concentrations of organic matter and fine sediment. The levels of heavy metal in the entire estuarine system were high compared with the local background. The total mean concentrations of As, Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Hg, Cr and Ni in the surface sediments were: 3.74; 0.03; 19.3; 15.0; 99.0; n.d.; 29.0; and 22.0mg/kg, respectively, confirming, in certain cases, the high capacity of the environment to concentrate pollution.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Geologia/LAGEMAR - Universidade Federal Fluminense-Brazil, Av. General Milton Tavares de Souza, s/n, 4° andar, Campus da Praia Vermelha, Gragoatá, 24210-346 Niterói, RJ, Brazil. Electronic address: oceano25@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Fonseca
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Geologia/LAGEMAR - Universidade Federal Fluminense-Brazil, Av. General Milton Tavares de Souza, s/n, 4° andar, Campus da Praia Vermelha, Gragoatá, 24210-346 Niterói, RJ, Brazil. Electronic address: jabneto@id.uff.br.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Baptista Neto
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Geologia/LAGEMAR - Universidade Federal Fluminense-Brazil, Av. General Milton Tavares de Souza, s/n, 4° andar, Campus da Praia Vermelha, Gragoatá, 24210-346 Niterói, RJ, Brazil. Electronic address: marcos.forest@gmail.com.
authors.forename: M P S
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Geologia/LAGEMAR - Universidade Federal Fluminense-Brazil, Av. General Milton Tavares de Souza, s/n, 4° andar, Campus da Praia Vermelha, Gragoatá, 24210-346 Niterói, RJ, Brazil. Electronic address: cguizan@id.uff.br.
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Geologia/LAGEMAR - Universidade Federal Fluminense-Brazil, Av. General Milton Tavares de Souza, s/n, 4° andar, Campus da Praia Vermelha, Gragoatá, 24210-346 Niterói, RJ, Brazil. Electronic address: joao.durval@ecologybrasil.com.br.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Arantes
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D063366:Estuaries; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Estuary; Heavy metals; Industrial disposal; Persistent organic pollutants; Sediment pollution