Long-Term (2002-2015) Changes in Mercury Contamination in NE Brazil Depicted by the Mangrove Oyster Crassostraea rhizophorae (Guilding, 1828).
Mercury concentrations in oysters from four estuaries in northeastern Brazil varied following source changes during the past 13 years. Concentrations were higher in urban estuaries relative to rural areas, but decreased in the 13-years interval following improvements in solid wastes disposal and sewage treatment. In rural estuaries, the one located in an environmental protection area showed no changes in Hg concentrations in the period. However, in the Jaguaribe estuary, remobilization from soils and sediments due to regional environmental changes, increased Hg concentrations in oysters to values similar to the most contaminated metropolitan sites.
Institute of Marine Sciences, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Av. Abolição 3207, Fortaleza, CE, 60165-081, Brazil.
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Rios
Institute of Marine Sciences, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Av. Abolição 3207, Fortaleza, CE, 60165-081, Brazil.
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Marins
Institute of Marine Sciences, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Av. Abolição 3207, Fortaleza, CE, 60165-081, Brazil.
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Oliveira
Institute of Marine Sciences, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Av. Abolição 3207, Fortaleza, CE, 60165-081, Brazil. ldrude@pq.cnpq.br.
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Lacerda
D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D063366:Estuaries; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D010125:Ostreidae / Q000737:chemistry*; D043982:Rhizophoraceae / Q000737:chemistry; D012758:Shellfish
D008628:Mercury
Estuaries; Metals; Monitoring; Oysters