Bottom sediment samples were collected and analyzed for mercury in the Estuary of Santos-SP. The analytical results reveal anthropogenic contamination for some sectors of this estuarine area as a result of petrochemical and metallurgical residues derived from the Industrial District of Cubatão, from the activities of the State of São Paulo Siderurgy (COSIPA), from the Santos harbor and, finally, from effluents discharged by the submarine emissary into the Bay of Santos. The values for the factor of contamination (FC) found in the bottom sediments range from 1 to 3, mainly for the channels of Santos and São Vicente; however, in the Bay of Santos the FC values (below 1) indicate low contamination except in the discharge area of the submarine emissary.
mercury; bottom sediments; Estuary of Santos
