Pollutants potential mobilization in Santos bay/Brazil: subsidies for the environmental management of a highly anthropized estuary

Understanding the dynamics and spatial variation of subaquatic sediment contamination in Santos Estuarine System has been interest to scientific community environmental managers; hazardous contaminant compounds, either individually or synergistically, can affect health local community. In present study, water column salinity geochemical properties (calcium organic matter content, grain size) were correlated with heavy metal concentrations (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn Fe) order elucidate relationship between toxic elements mixing. To assess potential relationships, Spearman’s correlation test Principal Component Analysis (PCA) applied. The also evaluated by calculating Contamination Factor, Geoaccumulation index Enrichment Factor. Results revealed extremely heterogeneous particle sizes within sampling stations. Most not at critical levels. only exception was arsenic, which reached levels above threshold effect. statistical analysis allowed influence size on accumulation be demonstrated. values these binding matrices metals mostly significant. Bottom salinity, other hand, showed no apparent distribution metals. However, various pollution indices used contradictory, certain cases presenting results. Index presented Mn as highly polluting all stations classified environment moderately polluted Zn. same pattern found indexes.