Characterization of the superficial sediment of Jordão River in Center-South Region of the Parana state, Brazil

Abstract

The present paper aimed to quantify the metals ions (Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb e Zn) of sediments from the two centimeter surface layer of Jordão river in Guarapuava City, PR. Other parameters, such as pH, total phosphate (PT), total organic carbon (COT), total Nitrogen (NT) and granulometry were also evaluated. The results were suggestive that local anthropization, mainly originated from agricultural and domestic activities, occurred in that locality. A spatial variation among samples was detected. With concentrations expressed in mg Kg-1 we found: from 8,300 to 19,000 for Al; Cd: < LD; Cr, from 6.1 to 45.2; Cu, from 31.8 to 64.7; Fe, from 17,200 to 69,100; Mn, from 264 to 467; Ni, from 2.3 to 7.3; Pb, from 6.5 to 12.5; Zn, from 46.1 to 139.0. The level of contamination was also assessed by applying a contamination factor. Cu and Zn reached values above the considered moderate contamination. This concentration level may interfere with the equilibrium of the studied ecosystem.