BACKGROUND CONCENTRATIONS OF CHEMICAL ELEMENTS IN SEPETIBA BAY (SE BRAZIL)

This study intends to evaluate baseline concentrations of chemical elements for unpolluted sediments of Sepetiba Bay (SE Brazil). It analyzes the concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTE) and other chemical elements (by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry and Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission Spectrometry) from the upper part of the SP2 drillcore (or 2-SPT-1-RJ; with 50.30 m length), collected on the margins of Sepetiba Bay (at latitude 22 degrees 55'S and longitude 43 degrees 46'W). This core was described and sampled. Textural, mineralogical and geochemical analyses were performed in 17 sediment levels. The sediment layers of interest were selected, considering the period in which they were deposited, before high anthropic influence in the area, and on sediment grain-size. Only the muddy levels were selected, since fine sediments generally tend to have higher elemental concentrations. Foraminiferal occurrence was also analyzed in the selected layers. The results indicate that the studied sediments were deposited in a transitional marine context, after being exposed to multiple sedimentary cycles and weathering. The baseline concentrations, related to natural sediment sources were estimated for As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) and P and for other chemical elements. These results are useful in environmental impact assessment not only in the study area, but also for other coastal regions of Rio de Janeiro State.