Potential availability of trace metals in sediments in southeastern and southern Brazilian shipyard areas using the DGT technique and chemical extraction methods

Astolfo Valero; Karelys Umbría-Salinas; Mônica Wallner-Kersanach; Carlos Ferreira de Andrade; Maria Josefa Santos Yabe; Leonardo Contreira-Pereira; Julio Cesar Wasserman; Katia Naomi Kuroshima; Hao Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.136216

Potential availability of trace metals in sediments in southeastern and southern Brazilian shipyard areas using the DGT technique and chemical extraction methods

Sci Total Environ. 2020 Mar 25:710:136216. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.136216. Epub 2019 Dec 26.

Authors

Astolfo Valero¹, Karelys Umbría-Salinas¹, Mônica Wallner-Kersanach², Carlos Ferreira de Andrade¹, Maria Josefa Santos Yabe³, Leonardo Contreira-Pereira⁴, Julio Cesar Wasserman⁵, Katia Naomi Kuroshima⁶, Hao Zhang⁷

Affiliations

¹ Laboratório de Hidroquímica, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal de Rio Grande, 96203-000, Brazil.
² Laboratório de Hidroquímica, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal de Rio Grande, 96203-000, Brazil. Electronic address: monicawallner@furg.br.
³ Departamento de Química, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, 86051-990, Brazil.
⁴ Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, 96010-610, Brazil.
⁵ Programa em Geoquímica, Universidade Federal Fluminense, 24030-346, Brazil.
⁶ Escola do Mar, Ciência e Tecnologia, Universidade do Vale do Itajaí, 88302-202, Brazil.
⁷ Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, LA1 4YQ, UK.

PMID: 31923659
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.136216

Abstract

Speciation and partitioning of trace metals, from solid to solution phases of sediments, control their bioavailability and thus their potential ecological risk to organisms. Therefore, in order to obtain a broad evaluation of their risk, it is necessary to couple methodologies that are able to assess metal mobility in sediment. In this study, the Diffusive Gradients in Thin Films (DGT) technique and the application of 0.1 M HCl acid extraction methods, together with solid-state voltammetric sensors, were used with the objective of assessing mobility and potential availability of Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, V and Zn in sediment porewaters and solid sediments in southeastern and southern Brazilian shipyard areas. The highest labile metal concentrations were found in shipyards with the longest histories of operations. Trace metal distributions in porewater and in the solid phase of sediments (labile metals) and significant correlations among metals enabled to distinguish the contribution of anti-fouling paint components. The diffusive flux of every metal measured at the surface of the sediment indicated that Cu_DGT had the highest flux (3.66E-03 mmol·m^-² d^-¹) in the shipyard with the longest operating time. Therefore, enrichment was observed for Cu, Pb and Zn in sediments, indicating a possible ecological risk level of 'Effects Range Median' to 'Apparent Effects Threshold' for oyster larvae (Mollusca) (Cu), bivalves (Pb) and the infaunal community (Zn). Probable Effect Concentrations (PEC) to sediment-dwelling biota can be expected as well, related to high concentrations of Cu and Zn in sediment. This study allowed a comprehensive evaluation of potential bioavailability and ecological risk of trace metals in aquatic systems where there is continuous and specific input of these elements. The use of the DGT technique with solid-state voltammetry in the sediment of distinct Brazilian estuarine systems demonstrated its potential to be applied in future environmental network programs.

Keywords: Availability; DGT; Microelectrodes; Porewater; Shipyards; Trace metals.