Determination of Ra-226 and Pb-210 in sediment samples from Pantanal da Nhecolândia, Mato Grosso do Sul

• Grant number: 12/07557-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2012
• End date: December 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Sandra Regina Damatto
• Grantee: Levi Francisco dos Santos
• Host Institution: Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares (IPEN). Secretaria de Desenvolvimento Econômico (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Pantanal, in the southwest part of Brazil, is one of the world's largest freshwater wetland. This natural ecosystem has been affected due to urban contamination, irregular use of the land, tourism without control and excessive agricultural defensive utilization. In order to verify possible changes in this environment, a study was established in Pantanal da Nhecolândia, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil in 2010. Three sediment cores were collected in three small ponds, in Nhumirim farm. The objectives of this project are to determine the sedimentation rate using the 210Pb dating method and with other results, like the chemical composition of the sediments, evaluate the environmental impact caused by the land uses. For a better understand of the results obtained factorial analysis, cluster analysis and principal component analysis will be applied.(AU)