title: Using an integrated approach to assess the sediment quality of an estuary from the semi-arid coast of Brazil.
abstract: The Jundiaí-Potengi Estuary (JPE) on the semi-arid coast of Brazil is influenced by multiple sources of pollution. Sediment quality at 10 JPE sites was evaluated through an integrated approach. Rainy and dry seasons were considered. Collected sediments were analyzed for texture, metal, nitrogen, phosphorus concentrations, and toxicity to invertebrates. Geochemical and ecotoxicological data were integrated using qualitative approaches and multivariate techniques. We observed decreased sediment quality in both seasons, particularly in the mid-estuary. In the dry season, the contamination-toxicity relationship was clearer, as hydrological conditions favor contaminant retention within the estuary. Rainy season conditions were found to be worse, since stormwater drainage from agricultural and urban areas carries the contamination into the estuary. Because of the contamination sources and dissolved and particle-bound metal transport, contamination and toxicity did not correlate as clearly in the rainy season. The results suggest that unmeasured contaminants are contributing to JPE sediment degradation.
authors.affiliation: Ceará Federal University - UFC, Institute of Marine Sciences, Av. Abolição, 3207, Fortaleza, CE 60165-081, Brazil; Rio Grande do Norte Federal Institute for Science and Technology Education - IFRN, Av. Senador Salgado Filho, 1559, Natal, RN 59015-000, Brazil. Electronic address: ivanildo.surini@ifrn.edu.br.
authors.forename: Ivanildo Surini
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: São Paulo State University - UNESP, Praça Infante Dom Henrique, s/n., São Vicente, SP 11330-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Giuliana Seraphim
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Araujo
authors.affiliation: São Paulo State University - UNESP, Praça Infante Dom Henrique, s/n., São Vicente, SP 11330-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Carolina Feitosa
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.affiliation: São Paulo State University - UNESP, Praça Infante Dom Henrique, s/n., São Vicente, SP 11330-900, Brazil; Centre for Marine and Environmental Research - CIMA, Faculty of Sciences and Technology (FCT), University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro 8005-139, Portugal.
authors.forename: Tainá Garcia
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Fonseca
authors.affiliation: São Paulo State University - UNESP, Praça Infante Dom Henrique, s/n., São Vicente, SP 11330-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Julia Beatriz Duarte Alves
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Camargo
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte - UFRN, Campus Universitário Lagoa Nova, 1524, Natal, RN 59078-970, Brazil.
authors.forename: Guilherme Fulgêncio
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Medeiros
authors.affiliation: Ceará Federal University - UFC, Institute of Marine Sciences, Av. Abolição, 3207, Fortaleza, CE 60165-081, Brazil; São Paulo State University - UNESP, Praça Infante Dom Henrique, s/n., São Vicente, SP 11330-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Denis M S
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Abessa
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D054750:Ecotoxicology; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D063366:Estuaries; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis; D011891:Rain; D012621:Seasons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D010758:Phosphorus; D009584:Nitrogen
keywords: Contamination; Geochemistry; Sediments; Semi-arid coast; Toxicity