title: Spatial distribution and enrichment assessment of heavy metals in surface sediments from Baixada Santista, Southeastern Brazil.
abstract: The Baixada Santista, besides being an important estuarine system, is responsible for most of the international trade and economic development in the region because of the Santos Port and the Cubatão Industrial Complex. The aim of this study is to assess heavy metal contamination of the Santos São Vicente Estuary using enrichment factors (EFs) and sediment quality guidelines (SQGs). Thus, superficial sediment samples were subjected to acid digestion and analyzed (Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sc, V, and Zn) by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The results indicated an absence of contamination, with the EFs indicating moderate enrichment. As and Pb presented higher enrichment probably due to the natural processes of weathering and sedimentation, and the influence of human activity. This conjoint analysis showed that potentially polluting activities are of concern as the highest values converge near the Cubatão Industrial Complex, which correspond to intense urbanization and industrial activity.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Oceanográfico, Universidade de São Paulo (IOUSP), Pça. Do Oceanográfico, 191, Butantã, São Paulo 05508 120, Brazil.. Electronic address: bianca.kim@usp.br.
authors.forename: Bianca Sung Mi
authors.initials: BSM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Instituto Oceanográfico, Universidade de São Paulo (IOUSP), Pça. Do Oceanográfico, 191, Butantã, São Paulo 05508 120, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alexandre Barbosa
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Salaroli
authors.affiliation: Instituto Oceanográfico, Universidade de São Paulo (IOUSP), Pça. Do Oceanográfico, 191, Butantã, São Paulo 05508 120, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo Alves de Lima
authors.initials: PAL
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Instituto Oceanográfico, Universidade de São Paulo (IOUSP), Pça. Do Oceanográfico, 191, Butantã, São Paulo 05508 120, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliê Rosemberg
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Sartoretto
authors.affiliation: Instituto Oceanográfico, Universidade de São Paulo (IOUSP), Pça. Do Oceanográfico, 191, Butantã, São Paulo 05508 120, Brazil.
authors.forename: Michel Michaelovich de
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Mahiques
authors.affiliation: Instituto Oceanográfico, Universidade de São Paulo (IOUSP), Pça. Do Oceanográfico, 191, Butantã, São Paulo 05508 120, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rubens Cesar Lopes
authors.initials: RCL
authors.lastname: Figueira
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D063366:Estuaries; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Enrichment factor; ICP-OES; Pollution assessment; Santos São Vicente Estuary