The atmospheric deposition of dissolved trace elements was investigated in two subtropical estuarine systems, located on the coast of Paraná, Southeast Brazil. The samples (n = 91) were collected in three periods, from May to September 2010, in four different areas. Trace elements concentrations (Al, Fe, Zn, Mn, Ba, Ca, Mo, V, As, Cu, Co, Ni, Cr and Pb) were determined for dissolved fraction using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). pH measurements revealed the occurrence of a slightly acidic precipitation in the investigated points. Among the trace elements, Zn was the most abundant, followed by Al, Fe, Mn, Cu, Ba and V. The analysis of the enrichment factors enabled the identification of the different sources of the analysed elements. The origin of the Al and Fe elements were entirely continental, whereas Zn was primarily associated with human activities. Thus, the atmospheric deposition may be a primary route of exposure to anthropogenic Zn for estuarine biota.

Fluoride concentration was determined in rainwater, ground water and soil in the zone of fertilizer industry in the city of Rio Grande. In contaminated rainwater fluorine concentration was registered up to the value of 4,4 mg.L-1. Fluorine concentration in the shallow ground water in general reflects its distribution in the atmosphere, but cannot be used as marker of atmosphere contamination in the urban area due to dissolving influence of residential effluents. The 0,01% HCl extracts from the set of surface soil samples demonstrates fluoride distribution in the zone of influence of industrial emissions, which coincides to the numerical simulation of fluorides dispersion in the air.