GEOACCUMULATION INDEX OF MERCURY ON IGARAPÉ OF EDUCANDOS BASIN (MANAUS/AMAZONAS)

Abstract

The Amazon is a region known worldwide for its biodiversity, but also has high mercury levels in various compartments of the environment. In this work, Hg was determined in sediment of Educandos Basin, one of the most populated regions of Manaus (AM), in order to establish the surface distribution of the contaminant in coarse and fine fractions. Surface sediment samples were collected in nine locations in the basin; three sources of the main stream and the rest in areas contaminated by human activity. Mercury concentrations were determined in raw samples (total fraction) and dried <63?m (fine fraction) by Direct Mercury Analyzer (DMA-80). The results revealed a concentration of Hg in the springs of 0.24 mg kg^-1, higher than the alarm values ??of guidelines for assessing the quality of sediments (SGQ). The other sampled points revealed enrichment Hg, varying the geoaccumulation index of moderate to heavily polluted at an early point of the stream the low to moderately polluted in other points.