Record of Hg pollution around outset of colonization in Southern Brazil.
Environ Monit Assess
; 191(4): 256, 2019 Mar 28.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-30923917
ABSTRACT
This study presents results of a sediment core located in Coroa de Boi Bay, a not dredged cove within Patos Estuary, Southern Brazil. The distribution of metals (Hg, Cu, Pb) and U in the sediment profile records several contamination events since pre-colonial times to present days. A joint assessment of the distribution of these parameters and the consultation to historical documents allowed us to establish causal links between concentrations anomalies in the sediments and ancient anthropogenic contamination in the area. During the industrial period, sedimentation rates in the bay ranged from 3.4 to 5.5 mm year-1. Applying a sedimentation rate previously calculated for undisturbed sediments in the Patos Estuary, we trace the beginning of Hg contamination as having started in the colonial period in Southern Brazil, soon after a Hispanic-Lusitanian conflict situation in South America. The most probable source of Hg contamination during this period was carroting technology used in fur processing.
Key words
Full text:
1
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Water Pollutants, Chemical
/
Colonialism
/
Geologic Sediments
/
Environmental Pollution
/
Industry
/
Mercury
Limits:
Animals
Country/Region as subject:
America do sul
/
Brasil
Language:
En
Year:
2019
Type:
Article