Browsing by Author "Ambrozic, Nada"
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- Heavy metals in a latin american coastal lagoon - sediments, water and macrophytesPublication . Ambrozic, Nada; Moreira da Silva, M.; Sá, FabianCoastal lagoons are considered to be some of the most productive ecosystems on Earth, providing a wide range of ecosystem services and resources. Jacunem lagoon, ES, Brazil, was studied to evaluate the impact of anthropogenic activities on heavy metal concentrations in sediments, water and macrophytes (Eichhornia crassipes and Typha domingensis). In order to verify the presence of heavy metals in lagoon and define an ecohydrological strategy for improvement of ecological status, eight sampling points were defined among the ecosystem. Concentrations of Al, V, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn in water, sediments, and Eichhornia crassipes and Typha domingensis were quantified and results were compared with Brazilian legal references and Enrichment Factors and Translocation Factors were calculated. High concentrations of Zn and V were found in sediments. The spatial distribution of the highest concentrations of heavy metals in sediments, in general, was according the proximity to anthropogenic sources of pollution. Concentrations of all studied heavy metals in dissolved fraction of water, were below reference values, however, in suspended matter were found high concentrations of metals, mainly of Ni and Pb. Both E. crassipes and T. domingensis showed capacity to absorb and accumulate heavy metals from human activities around the Jacunem Lagoon. The distribution of metals among the organs of these macrophytes presented some distinct patterns, according species and depending of metals. Metals were mainly accumulated in roots of both species, however, higher concentrations of Cd, Zn were quantified in leaves and stems. To develop an ecohydrological approach to the sustainable management of this lagoon this study showed that is possible to use the abilities of E. crassipes and T. domingensis to remove the studied heavy metals from ecosystem. Both species showed high ability to remove V from aquatic environment and accumulate this metal in the roots. In the case of Zn (which can cause environmental damages), both macrophytes phytoremediated this metals and distributed it among roots, stems and leaves. EF of T. domingensis were promising for Cu, Zn and Cd revealing ability of this plant to phytoremediate these metals. However, this study should be continued in order to obtain more information about hydrodynamics of the lagoon, the biogeochemistry of the sediments and more water quality parameters