Evaluation of trace metal levels in surface sediments of the Sergipe River Hydrographic Basin, Northeast Brazil

Abstract

The distributions of Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Fe and Al were investigated in surface sediments collected at 19 sites in the Sergipe River Hydrographic Basin of Northeast Brazil. A regional geochemical baseline (RGB) was defined using iron as a reference element. Enrichment factors (EF) and geoaccumulation indices (Igeo) were used to determine the extent of anthropogenic metal pollution. EF values showed that sediments from sites 1, 5 and 13 could be considered contaminated by Pb, Cr and Cu, respectively. Igeo values showed that only site 13 could be considered contaminated. For other sites, results indicated that naturally occurring metals predominated in the sediments. Possible toxicity related to these metals was examined using the comparing sediment chemical data with sediment quality guidelines (SQG) PEC-TEC values. Principal component analysis (PCA) clearly separated the sites into two groups and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) confirmed the interpretations made from the PCA results. © 2012 Sociedade Brasileira de Química.