Emerging contaminants (Rh, Pd, and Pt) in surface sediments from a Brazilian subtropical estuary influenced by anthropogenic activities

Author(s)

Benedetti Berbel, Glaucia Bueno ^[1] ; Hortellani, Marcos Antonio ^[2] ; de Souza Sarkis, Jorge Eduardo ^[2] ; Chiozzini, Vitor Gonsalez ^[1] ; Teixeira Favaro, Deborah Ines ^[3] ; Sutti, Bruno Otero ^[1] ; Sakazaki, Nixon Claudio ^[1] ; Braga, Elisabete de Santis ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Oceanog Inst, Lab Biogeochem Nutrients Macronutrients & Tracers, Praca Oceanog 191, Cidade Univ, BR-05508120 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Nucl & Energy Res Inst IPEN, Laser & Applicat Ctr CELAP IPEN CNEM, Ave Lineu Prestes 2242, Cidade Univ, BR-05508000 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Nucl & Energy Res Inst IPEN, Neutron Activat Anal Lab LAN, Ave Lineu Prestes 2242, Cidade Univ, BR-05508000 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Marine Pollution Bulletin; v. 163, FEB 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

The concentrations of Platinum (Pt), Rhodium (Rh) and Palladium (Pd) were evaluated from a highly impacted estuary in Brazil influenced by industrial pole, highway traffic and sewage outfall. The Santos-Sao Vicente region presents important economic activities derived from a largest harbor of Latin America and an industrial pole surrounded by intensive highway traffic. Values of Rh varied from 0.08 to 1.7 ng g(-1) with highest values at stations impacted by domestic waste. Pt ranged from 0.15 to 40.3 ng g(-1) with highest concentrations located close to the ferryboat traffic. Pd levels varied from 1.05 to 22.0 ng g(-1) with values >5 ng g(-1) in 50% of the stations. The spatial distribution of PGEs was not always directly associated with muddy sediments, because high PGE levels found even in sandy sediments. Pollution indexes, including anthropogenic factor (AF), geoaccumulation index (I-geo), Enrichment factor (EF), and Pollution Load Index (PLI) were used for evaluating contaminant potential. Based on EF, Igeo, and PLI, 50% of samples of the sediments from Santos-Sao Vicente Estuarine System (SSV) were classified with significant to strong PGE contamination. All stations on the Santos Channel (SC), Sao Vicente Channel (SVC) and Bertioga Channel (BC) had AF higher than 80% in at least one of PGE elements, as showed in station 2A, which presented AF <50% for Rh and Pd and 86% for Pt. Despite high anthropogenic enrichment, no correlations among PGE elements were observed in surface sediments. Only two stations presented Pd/Pt, Pt/Rh, and Pd/Rh typical ratios of auto catalyst (st. 14 and Piagaguera) both located in the vicinity of highways. This could be due to the PGE deposition process in road dust, soil, and water as well as the biogeochemical cycling of PGEs involving organic metallic and inorganic complexes formed in the estuarine and seawaters. (AU)