Multivariate statistical analysis applied to assess the dispersion of contaminants in a mining tailings basin in the semiarid region of Bahia – Brazil

  • Nelize Lima Santos Instituto de Geociências. Programa de pós-graduação em Geologia. Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA), Rua Barão de Jeremoabo, s/n, CEP: 40170-290, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
  • Maria da Conceição Rabelo Gomes Departamento de Geologia. Instituto de Geociências. Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA), Rua Barão de Jeremoabo, s/n, CEP: 40170-020, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
  • José Ângelo Sebastião Araújo dos Anjos Departamento de Geologia. Instituto de Geociências. Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA), Rua Barão de Jeremoabo, s/n, CEP: 40170-020, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
  • Fernanda Gonçalves Cunha Consultora independente, Rua Paissandu, nº 370, CEP: 22210-080, Flamengo, RJ, Brazil.
Keywords: cluster analysis, contamination, main component analysis.

Abstract

This study employed multivariate analysis techniques to identify and evaluate the chemical variables responsible for the contamination of the urban area of Boquira, Bahia, due to the abandonment of the tailings basin of Pb-Zn mining, in order to assist in the environmental management of the area. Factor analysis was performed on main and grouping components. The factor analysis allowed grouping the variables into two main factors for street sediment samples, adding up to 72% of the total accumulated variance, and three factors for house dust samples, which explained 77% of the total variance. The variables have a strong correlation with the composition of the tailings basin. Cluster analysis classified the samples according to the concentration of metals in the area, where the influence of the tailings basin and the natural background of the region's rocks in the contamination distribution can be identified.


Published
17/09/2020
Section
Papers