Contaminação por mercúrio em sedimento e em moluscos do Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brasil

Vieira, Luiz M.; Alho, Cleber J.R.; Ferreira, Geraldo A.L.

doi:10.1590/S0101-81751995000300022

Resumo

The total level of mercury detected in the sediment and in the tissues of molluscs from the Bento Gomes basin, although low, have shown that the mercury used in the gold mining activities in the Poconé wetlands has contaminated those aquatic habitats in Pantanal. From 69 sediment samples analyzed, 26 % (N = 18) have shown levels ranging from 0.01 to 0.25µg.g-1 of mercury (moist weight). Mercury levels analyzed in 54 samples of mollusc tissues (Ampullaria scalaris Orbigny, 1835; A. canaliculata Lamarck, 1819 and Marisa planogyra Pilsbry, 1933) have shown that 30% (N = 16) were contaminated with levels ranging from 0.02 to 1.16µg.g-1 moist weight. This study shows that the mercury used in digs for gold mining and released into the environment has reached the habitats of Pantanal spread from the sediment into the molluscs living in the region.

Molluscs; biomagnification; contaminants; mercury; sediment

Contaminação por mercúrio em sedimento e em moluscos do Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brasil

Mercury contamination in sediment and in molluscs of Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil

Luiz M. Vieira^I; Cleber J.R. Alho^II; Geraldo A.L. Ferreira^III

^ICentro de Pesquisa Agropecuária do Pantanal, Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária, Caixa Postal 109, 79320-970 Corumbá, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil

^IIFundo Mundial para a Natureza (WWF-Brasil). SHIS EQQL 6/8 Conjunto E 2º andar, 71620-430 Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brasil

^IIIDepartamento de Química, Universidade de Brasília, Caixa Postal 0463, 70910-970 Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brasil

ABSTRACT

The total level of mercury detected in the sediment and in the tissues of molluscs from the Bento Gomes basin, although low, have shown that the mercury used in the gold mining activities in the Poconé wetlands has contaminated those aquatic habitats in Pantanal. From 69 sediment samples analyzed, 26 % (N = 18) have shown levels ranging from 0.01 to 0.25µg.g^-1 of mercury (moist weight). Mercury levels analyzed in 54 samples of mollusc tissues (Ampullaria scalaris Orbigny, 1835; A. canaliculata Lamarck, 1819 and Marisa planogyra Pilsbry, 1933) have shown that 30% (N = 16) were contaminated with levels ranging from 0.02 to 1.16µg.g^-1 moist weight. This study shows that the mercury used in digs for gold mining and released into the environment has reached the habitats of Pantanal spread from the sediment into the molluscs living in the region.

Key words: Molluscs, biomagnification, contaminants, mercury, sediment

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AGRADECIMENTOS. Às diretorias do Centro de Pesquisa Agropecuária dos Cerrados (CPAC), da Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária, do Fundo Mundial para a Natureza (WWF-Brasil), do Centro Nacional de Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia (CENARGEN) e Universidade de Brasília (UnB), pelas facilidades técnico-científicas e apoio. A Prefeitura Municipal de Poconé (Mato Grosso), pelo apoio logístico.

Recebido em 16.VIII.1994; aceito em 20.XI.1995.

Andrade, J.C. de; M.I.M.S. Bueno & P.V. Soares. 1988. The fate of mercury released from prospecting areas ("garimpos") near Guarinos e Pilar de Goiás. An. Acad. Bras. Ci 60 (3): 292-303.
Bishop, J.N. & B.P. Neary. 1974. The form of mercury in freshwater fish. p.25-29. In: Nat. Res. Counc. Canada (ed.). Proc. Int. Transport of Persistent Chemicals in Aquatic Ecosystems Ottawa.
Boldrini, C.V.; H.B. de Pádua & D.N. Pereira. 1983. Contaminação por mercúrio nos rios Mogi-Guaçu e Pardo (SP). Revista DAE, São Paulo, 44 (135).
Braile, P.M. & J.E.W.A. Cavalcanti. 1979. Manual de tratamento de águas residuárias industriais São Paulo, CETESB, 764p.
Callister, S.M.; M.R. Winfrey & R. Michael. 1986. Microbial methylation of mercury in upper Wisconsin river sediments. Water, Air and Soil Pollution 29: 453-465.
Clifton, A.P. & C.M.G. Vivian. 1975. Retention of mercury from an industrial source in Swansia Bay sediments. Nature 253 (493): 621-622.
Epa. 1972. Water quality criteria Washington. Environmental Protection Agency. p. 172-178.
Fraga, I.; J.B. Dias & P.R.P. Araújo. 1989. Avaliação de impactos e controle ambiental de garimpagem de ouro em leitos de rios do Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, ABES, p. 252-466.
Hanners, L. 1968. Experimental investigation on the accumulation of mercury in water organisms. Rep. Inst. Freshwater Res. Drottinghohem 48: 120-176.
Henderson, C.A.; A. Inglis & W.L. Johnson. 1972. Mercury residuous in fish, 1969-1970 - National Pesticide Monitoring Program. Pesticide Monitoring Journal 6 (3): 144-150.
Jensen. S. & A. Jernelov. 1969. Biological methylation of mercury in aquatic organisms. Nature 223 (5207): 753-754.
Kudo, A. & D.C Mortimer. 1979. Pathways of mercury uptake by fish from bad sediments. Environmental Pollutions 19 (3): 239-245.
Lacerda, L.D. de. 1990. Dispersão de mercúrio em uma drenagem afetada por rejeitos de atividade garimpeira em Poconé, Mato Grosso Cuiabá, CETEM. 11p.
Lacerda, L.D. de; W.C. Pfeiffer & E.G. Silveira. 1987. Contaminação por mercúrio na Amazônia. Avaliação preliminar no rio Madeira, Rondônia. Congresso Brasileiro de Geoquímica 1 (2): 165-169.
Loring, D.H. 1975. Mercury in the sediments of the gulf of St. Lawrence. Can. Jour. Earth Sci. 12: 1219-1237.
Mallas, J. & N. Benedicto. 1986. Mercury and golding in the Brazilian Amazon. Ambio 15 (4): 248-249.
Malm, O.; W.C. Pfeiffer & C.M.N. de Souza. 1990. Mercury pollutions due to gold mining in the Madeira river basin. Amazon/Brazil. Ambio 19: 11-15.
Mikac, N.; M. Picer & P. Steegnar. 1985. Mercury distribution in a polluted marine area, ratio of total mercury methylmercury and selenium in sediments, mussels and fish. Water Research 19 (11): 1387-1392.
Pfeiffer, W.C; L.D. de Lacerda & O. Malm. 1989a. Mercury concentrations in inland waters of gold mining areas in Rondonia. Brasil. The Science of the Total Environment 87/88: 233-240.
______. 1989b. Mercury pollution in gold mining areas of Rio de Janeiro. Rio de Janeiro, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, 4p.
Phillips, D.J.H. 1977. The use of biological indicator to monitor trace metal pollution in marine and stuarine environments a review. Environmental Pollution 13: 281-317.
Ponce. G.A.E.; A.C Barbosa & R.O. Ornelas. 1990. Método modificado para a determinação de mercúrio por espectrofotometria de absorção atômica. Anais da Reunião Anual da Sociedade Brasileira de Química 23p.
Reimers. R.S.; P.A. Krenkel & A.J. England Jr. 1974. Transport and distribution of mercury in sediments. Proc. Int. Conf. Transp. Persistent Cham. Aquatic Ecosystem Otawa.
Richins, R.T. & A.C. Risser Jr. 1975. Total mercury in water, sediment and soleded aquatic organisms, Carson River, Nevada - 1972. Pesticide Monitoring Journal, Nevada, 9 (1): 44-54.
Sei, J.M. 1978. Serious mercury contamination ot sediments in a Norwegian semi-closed bay. Marine Pollution Bulletin 9 (7).
Silva, A.R.B. da; G.A. Guimarães & M.Q. da Costa. 1989. A contaminação mercurial nos garimpos de ouro da Amazônia. S.I., S.N. III Congresso Brasileiro de Defesa do Meio Ambiente, Rio de Janeiro.
Westoo, G. 1972. Methylmercury as percentage of total mercury in flesh and viscera of Salmon and sea trout of various ages. Science 181 (4099) 567-568.
Zadory. L. & P. Mueller. 1981. Potential use of freshwater molluscs for monitoring river pollution. Geojournal 5 (5): 433-445.

Datas de Publicação

Publicação nesta coleção
21 Jul 2009
Data do Fascículo
Set 1995

Histórico

Recebido
16 Ago 1994
Aceito
20 Nov 1995

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

[1] Andrade, J.C. de; M.I.M.S. Bueno & P.V. Soares. 1988. The fate of mercury released from prospecting areas ("garimpos") near Guarinos e Pilar de Goiás. An. Acad. Bras. Ci 60 (3): 292-303.

[2] Bishop, J.N. & B.P. Neary. 1974. The form of mercury in freshwater fish. p.25-29. In: Nat. Res. Counc. Canada (ed.). Proc. Int. Transport of Persistent Chemicals in Aquatic Ecosystems Ottawa.

[3] Boldrini, C.V.; H.B. de Pádua & D.N. Pereira. 1983. Contaminação por mercúrio nos rios Mogi-Guaçu e Pardo (SP). Revista DAE, São Paulo, 44 (135).

[4] Braile, P.M. & J.E.W.A. Cavalcanti. 1979. Manual de tratamento de águas residuárias industriais São Paulo, CETESB, 764p.

[5] Callister, S.M.; M.R. Winfrey & R. Michael. 1986. Microbial methylation of mercury in upper Wisconsin river sediments. Water, Air and Soil Pollution 29: 453-465.

[6] Clifton, A.P. & C.M.G. Vivian. 1975. Retention of mercury from an industrial source in Swansia Bay sediments. Nature 253 (493): 621-622.

[7] Epa. 1972. Water quality criteria Washington. Environmental Protection Agency. p. 172-178.

[8] Fraga, I.; J.B. Dias & P.R.P. Araújo. 1989. Avaliação de impactos e controle ambiental de garimpagem de ouro em leitos de rios do Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, ABES, p. 252-466.

[9] Hanners, L. 1968. Experimental investigation on the accumulation of mercury in water organisms. Rep. Inst. Freshwater Res. Drottinghohem 48: 120-176.

[10] Henderson, C.A.; A. Inglis & W.L. Johnson. 1972. Mercury residuous in fish, 1969-1970 - National Pesticide Monitoring Program. Pesticide Monitoring Journal 6 (3): 144-150.

[11] Jensen. S. & A. Jernelov. 1969. Biological methylation of mercury in aquatic organisms. Nature 223 (5207): 753-754.

[12] Kudo, A. & D.C Mortimer. 1979. Pathways of mercury uptake by fish from bad sediments. Environmental Pollutions 19 (3): 239-245.

[13] Lacerda, L.D. de. 1990. Dispersão de mercúrio em uma drenagem afetada por rejeitos de atividade garimpeira em Poconé, Mato Grosso Cuiabá, CETEM. 11p.

[14] Lacerda, L.D. de; W.C. Pfeiffer & E.G. Silveira. 1987. Contaminação por mercúrio na Amazônia. Avaliação preliminar no rio Madeira, Rondônia. Congresso Brasileiro de Geoquímica 1 (2): 165-169.

[15] Loring, D.H. 1975. Mercury in the sediments of the gulf of St. Lawrence. Can. Jour. Earth Sci. 12: 1219-1237.

[16] Mallas, J. & N. Benedicto. 1986. Mercury and golding in the Brazilian Amazon. Ambio 15 (4): 248-249.

[17] Malm, O.; W.C. Pfeiffer & C.M.N. de Souza. 1990. Mercury pollutions due to gold mining in the Madeira river basin. Amazon/Brazil. Ambio 19: 11-15.

[18] Mikac, N.; M. Picer & P. Steegnar. 1985. Mercury distribution in a polluted marine area, ratio of total mercury methylmercury and selenium in sediments, mussels and fish. Water Research 19 (11): 1387-1392.

[19] Pfeiffer, W.C; L.D. de Lacerda & O. Malm. 1989a. Mercury concentrations in inland waters of gold mining areas in Rondonia. Brasil. The Science of the Total Environment 87/88: 233-240.

[20] ______. 1989b. Mercury pollution in gold mining areas of Rio de Janeiro. Rio de Janeiro, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, 4p.

[21] Phillips, D.J.H. 1977. The use of biological indicator to monitor trace metal pollution in marine and stuarine environments a review. Environmental Pollution 13: 281-317.

[22] Ponce. G.A.E.; A.C Barbosa & R.O. Ornelas. 1990. Método modificado para a determinação de mercúrio por espectrofotometria de absorção atômica. Anais da Reunião Anual da Sociedade Brasileira de Química 23p.

[23] Reimers. R.S.; P.A. Krenkel & A.J. England Jr. 1974. Transport and distribution of mercury in sediments. Proc. Int. Conf. Transp. Persistent Cham. Aquatic Ecosystem Otawa.

[24] Richins, R.T. & A.C. Risser Jr. 1975. Total mercury in water, sediment and soleded aquatic organisms, Carson River, Nevada - 1972. Pesticide Monitoring Journal, Nevada, 9 (1): 44-54.

[25] Sei, J.M. 1978. Serious mercury contamination ot sediments in a Norwegian semi-closed bay. Marine Pollution Bulletin 9 (7).

[26] Silva, A.R.B. da; G.A. Guimarães & M.Q. da Costa. 1989. A contaminação mercurial nos garimpos de ouro da Amazônia. S.I., S.N. III Congresso Brasileiro de Defesa do Meio Ambiente, Rio de Janeiro.

[27] Westoo, G. 1972. Methylmercury as percentage of total mercury in flesh and viscera of Salmon and sea trout of various ages. Science 181 (4099) 567-568.

[28] Zadory. L. & P. Mueller. 1981. Potential use of freshwater molluscs for monitoring river pollution. Geojournal 5 (5): 433-445.