Mercury in aquatic sediments and its spatial distribution in surface soils in the Cerrado biome: a case study in the Federal District, Brazil
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.6008/CBPC2179-6858.2021.006.0038Keywords:
Aquatic ecosystems, Land use and land cover, Mercury transportAbstract
The emission of mercury (Hg) by anthropogenic activities has become a process capable of modifying its natural biogeochemical cycle. Sediments are the main compartment for Hg methylation in aquatic ecosystems, while surface soils are the major reservoirs of Hg in terrestrial environments. The objective of this study was to characterize the average concentrations of total mercury (THg) in stream sediments of the Ãguas Emendadas Ecological Station (ESECAE), in conjunction with the spatial distribution of Hg in surface soils of the reserve, analyzed from secondary data. Remote sensing data were employed to assess the influence of the local landscape on average THg concentrations. The concentration of total mercury (THg) in sediment ranged from 16.12 to 96.80 ng.g-1, with a mean of 41.46 ± 28.01 ng.g-1. The evaluation of land use and land cover showed that anthropic areas are predominant in the surroundings of the ESECAE. The combination between the digital elevation model and eigenvectors indicated the orientation of HgT in surface soils towards the lower altitudes, favoring the accumulation in streams. The trend of decreasing distribution of THg from outside to the center of the ESECAE and the higher concentrations in streams marginal to roads indicate the influence of human activities developed in the surroundings of the study area. Therefore, the combination of spatial analyses was effective for determining the distribution of mercury in surface soils and defining sites more vulnerable to pollution.
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