title: Metal concentrations in surface water and sediments from Pardo River, Brazil: human health risks.
abstract: Pardo River (Brazil) is suffering from an important anthropogenic impact due to the pressure of highly populated areas and the influence of sugarcane cultivation. The objective of the present study was to determine the levels of 13 trace elements (As, Be, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Mn, Hg, Ni, Tl, Sn, V and Zn) in samples of surface water and sediments from the Pardo River. Furthermore, the human health risks associated with exposure to those metals through oral intake and dermal absorption were also evaluated. Spatial and seasonal trends of the data were closely analyzed from a probabilistic approach. Manganese showed the highest mean concentrations in both water and sediments, remarking the incidence of the agricultural activity and the geological characteristics within the basin. Thallium and arsenic were identified as two priority pollutants, being the most important contributors to the Hazard Index (HI). Since non-carcinogenic risks due to thallium exposure slightly exceeded international guidelines (HI>1), a special effort should be made on this trace element. However, the current concentrations of arsenic, a carcinogenic element, were in accordance to acceptable lifetime risks. Nowadays, there is a clear increasing growth in human population and economic activities in the Pardo River, whose waters have become a serious strategic alternative for the potential supply of drinking water. Therefore, environmental monitoring studies are required not only to assure that the current state of pollution of Pardo River does not mean a risk for the riverside population, but also to assess the potential trends in the environmental levels of those elements.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Ecotoxicology and Environmental Parasitology, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renato I S
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Ecotoxicology and Environmental Parasitology, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carolina F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Sampaio
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Martí
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nadal
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Catalonia, Spain; Departament d'Enginyeria Quimica, ETSEQ, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schuhmacher
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Domingo
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Ecotoxicology and Environmental Parasitology, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: susis@eerp.usp.br.
authors.forename: Susana I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Segura-Muñoz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001151:Arsenic / Q000009:adverse effects; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000009:adverse effects; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008345:Manganese / Q000009:adverse effects; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012621:Seasons; D013793:Thallium / Q000009:adverse effects; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water; D008670:Metals; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008345:Manganese; D013793:Thallium; D001151:Arsenic
keywords: Environmental monitoring; Human health risk assessment; Metals; Sediments; Surface water