Anthropogenic input of heavy metals from a dump site on a semi-arid region in the Northeast of Brazil

Authors

  • Jane Azevedo de Araújo Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte
  • Raquel Franco de Souza Professora associada IV da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5433/2447-1747.2012v21n3p5

Keywords:

Sedimentos de corrente, Índice de Geoacumulação, Fator de Enriquecimento, Açude, Parelhas.

Abstract

The aim of this work was to investigate the anthropogenic input of heavy metal to the environment in the area of a dump site in the city of Parelhas/RN and in a section of Seridó River. The concentration of Aluminum (Al), Cadmium (Cd), Cooper (Cu), Lead (Pb), Chromium (Cr), Iron (Fe), Nickel (Ni) and Zinc (Zn) in the samples of sediments collected was determined by the use of an Atomic Absorption Spectophotometer - Flame AAS. The Geoaccumulation Index (IGEO) ranges from unpolluted to Al, Ni and Pb, and unpolluted to moderately polluted to Cd, Zn, Cr, Cu and Fe. The nearest point to the dump site (PC3.1) was classified as unpolluted to moderately polluted to Cr and Fe. There is enrichment in Cd, but it is not significant. The Enrichment Factor (EF) provided additional information about a dam called Caldeirão, presenting moderate enrichment to Pb, Cr, Fe and Zn in their sediments. Both IGEO and EF presented decreasing values as long as the stream sediments were collected in places far from the city of Parelhas (PS3 à PS2 à PS1).

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Author Biographies

Jane Azevedo de Araújo, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte

Licenciada em Geografia pela Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Mestre pelo Programa Regional de Pós-graduação em Desenvolvimento e Meio Ambiente (PRODEMA/UFRN).

Raquel Franco de Souza, Professora associada IV da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte.

Graduada em Geologia pela Universidade Federal do Amazonas (UFAM), mestre em Engenharia de Minas pela Universidade de Akita - Japão, doutora em Engenharia de Recursos Naturais - Universidade de Tohoku - Japão.

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Published

2013-12-12

How to Cite

Araújo, J. A. de, & Souza, R. F. de. (2013). Anthropogenic input of heavy metals from a dump site on a semi-arid region in the Northeast of Brazil. Geografia (Londrina), 21(3), 5–22. https://doi.org/10.5433/2447-1747.2012v21n3p5

Issue

Vol. 21 No. 3 (2012)

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2013 GEOGRAFIA (Londrina)

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