Skip to main content

IMIS

A new integrated search interface will become available in the next phase of marineinfo.org.
For the time being, please use IMIS to search available data

 

[ report an error in this record ]basket (0): add | show Print this page

Arsenic enrichment in sediments and beaches of Brazilian coastal waters: a review
Baeyens, W.; Mirlean, N.; Bundschuh, J.; de Winter, N.; Baisch, P.; da Silva Júnior, F.M.R.; Gao, Y. (2019). Arsenic enrichment in sediments and beaches of Brazilian coastal waters: a review. Sci. Total Environ. 681: 143-154. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.05.126
In: Science of the Total Environment. Elsevier: Amsterdam. ISSN 0048-9697; e-ISSN 1879-1026, more
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 

Keyword
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    Arsenic; Sources; Enrichment mechanism; Coastal environment; Latin America

Authors  Top 
  • Baeyens, W., more
  • Mirlean, N.
  • Bundschuh, J.
  • de Winter, N., more
  • Baisch, P.
  • da Silva Júnior, F.M.R.
  • Gao, Y., more

Abstract
    High concentrations of total arsenic (As), even above the Brazilian legislative threshold for marine sediments of 70 mg kg−1, were found in beach sands and near-shore surface sediments. Two mechanisms (anthropogenic activities and sedimentary processes in the coastal waters) are responsible for this contamination. The anthropogenic impact includes releases from metallurgical plants, phosphate fertilizer plants and gold and iron mining. In the coastal area sedimentary processes redistributed the As from the sediment into the porous structure of calcareous marine algae. These enriched calcareous algae are transported over time to the beach by wave action. As in the Brazilian coastal environment, increased As levels were also observed in other coastal environments of South America such as Rio Loa (Chile), Barbacoas Bay (Colombia) and the Southern Pampa region (Argentina). Finally, arsenic levels in fish from Brazilian coastal waters and North Sea, which is also an As-contaminated area, were compared. In both areas, short term health effects from fish consumption are not expected, but a lifetime cancer risk cannot be excluded.

All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy Top | Authors