Chemical elements potentially toxic at different flow rates in the Turvo Sujo river, MG, Brazil

Abstract

Some chemical elements in small amounts are essential to life; however, in high concentrations can commit the quality of the water courses and cause damages to human health. The objective of this work was to quantify the presence of potentially toxic elements, in a section of the Turvo Sujo river in the Viçosa city during different flow rates. In this river five collection points were chosen and monitored in four different seasons. For each point, the concentrations of copper, manganese, iron, zinc, chromium, cadmium and lead were obtained. The iron and manganese concentrations were larger in summer time, due to the largest superficial drainage in this period, while the most toxic elements, such as chromium, cadmium and lead were observed in higher concentrations in the spring period corresponding to the lowest rate flow.