Heavy metals in sediments of the lower Paraíba do Sul River and Estuary, R.J., Brazil

Sediment from the Paraiba do Sul River, which drains highly industrialized areas of Brazil was sampled at 17 sites including in the estuary. Samples were analyzed for heavy metal content. The fluvial samples generally had higher heavy metal concentrations than the estuary, except for chromium, which was present in higher concentrations near the estuary. The concentration of weakly bound metals did not vary much along in the river basin or estuary. Spatial variation of manganese was the greatest of all the weakly bound metals. It was lowest in a mangrove area.