Environmental reconstruction of a region under anthropogenic influence: a review of the last 200 years at Guaíba Lake (RS)

• Grant number: 15/02290-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: May 01, 2015
• End date: February 28, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Oceanography - Chemical Oceanography
• Agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal Investigator: Rubens Cesar Lopes Figueira
• Grantee: Carolina Miyoshi
• Host Institution: Instituto Oceanográfico (IO). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The Anthropocene is marked by the increased population demand and industrial development, when impact of anthropic changes have resulted in environmental and climate modifications, especially at the last 200 years. Guaíba Lake, located at Brazilian state Rio Grande do Sul, has been suffered from great anthropogenic influence, mostly by the fact to supporting the main industrial sector of Porto Alegre, capital of the state. In order to better understand these changes in Guaíba Lake, the main objective of this present project is to do a historical record by characterizing concentrations of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn), arsenic and phosphorus in sediment cores of four different points in the study area; and determinating the chronology of sediment cores by 210Pb and 137Cs levels. To achieve this objective, it will be calculated: sedimentation rates by CIC (Constant Initial Concentration) model; the sediment date; metals concentration; and contamination indices (concentration factor, enrichment factor and pollution load index). The 210Pb and 137Cs activities will be calculated by high resolution gamma spectrometry, and the elements concentrations will be based on two methodologies: acid digestion of sediments with SW 846 US EPA 3050b method, and SW 846 US EPA 6010c method for analyses with Inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. With these parameters, it will be expected to obtain the historical record of anthropogenic sources at Guaíba Lake, and to compare these values with a background area, the Itapeva Lagoon, also at Rio Grande do Sul. (AU)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

MIYOSHI, Carolina. Environmental reconstruction of a region under anthropic influence: a review of the last 200 years at Guaíba Lake (RS). 2017. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto Oceanográfico (IO/DIDC) São Paulo.