Geochemistry of intertidal sediment pore waters from the industrialized Santos-Cubatão Estuarine System, SE Brazil

Abstract

The geochemical composition of sediment pore water was investigated in comparison with the composition of sediment particles and surface water in an estuary within one of the most industrialized areas in Latin America (Santos-Cubatão estuarine system, SE Brazil). Pore and surface waters presented anomalously high levels of F-, NH4+, Fe, Mn and P due to two industrial point sources. In the summer, when SO4(2-)/Cl- ratios suggested an enhanced sulfate reduction, the higher dissolved levels observed in pore waters for some metals (e.g., Cu and Ni) were attributed to reductive dissolution of oxidized phases. Results evidenced that the risks of surface water concentration increase due to diffusion or advection from pore water are probably dependent on coupled influences of tidal pumping and groundwater inputs.