Screening-level risk assessment applied to dredging of polluted sediments from Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Guanabara Bay is characterized by predominant eutrophication and anoxic sediments with a mixture of pollutants. The risk prognosis associated with the dumping of its dredged sediments into the open ocean was addressed by our algorithm. Our algorithm could prioritize areas, characterize major processes related to dredging, measure the potential risk of sediments, and predict the effects of sediment mixing. The estimated risk of dredged sediment was >10-fold than that of ocean sediments. Among metals, mercury represented 50-90% of the total risk. The transfer of dredged material into the ocean or internal dumping in the bay requires a 1:10 dilution to mitigate the risk and bring the risk levels close to that in the EPA criteria, below which there is less likelihood of adverse effects to the biota, and a 1:100 dilution to maintain the original characteristics of the ocean disposal control area. Our algorithm indicator can be used in the design of both aquatic and continental disposal of dredged materials and their management.
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Geociências (Geoquímica), Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ 24020-150, Brazil.. Electronic address: aefsilveira@gmail.com.
Ana Elisa F
AEF
Silveira
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Geociências (Geoquímica), Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ 24020-150, Brazil.. Electronic address: ju_0812@hotmail.com.
Juliana R
JR
Nascimento
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Geociências (Geoquímica), Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ 24020-150, Brazil.. Electronic address: esabadini@id.uff.br.
Elisamara
E
Sabadini-Santos
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Geociências (Geoquímica), Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ 24020-150, Brazil.. Electronic address: ebidone@yahoo.com.br.
Edison D
ED
Bidone
D000465:Algorithms; D061006:Bays; D058448:Biota; D001938:Brazil; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004787:Environmental Pollution; D005068:Eutrophication; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis*; D008628:Mercury / Q000009:adverse effects; D008670:Metals / Q000009:adverse effects; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000009:adverse effects*
D008670:Metals; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008628:Mercury
Algorithm integrator; Contaminant mixture; Dumping; Environmental risk; Management; Trace metal