QUALITY EVALUATION OF SEDIMENT OF PIRAPITINGA STREAM BASIN IN ITUIUTABA - MG : DROUGHT AND RAINY SEASON

Abstract

The pellets consist of mineral particles (sand, silt and clay) and organic matter which are carried or deposited on the bottom of water bodies. The quantity and quality of the sediments are of fundamental importance to maintain health and proper functioning of water bodies. Imbalances in charge of sediment deposited or transported by rivers cause serious problems such as sedimentation, decreased life of reservoirs, intensifying erosion of margins, etc. With regard to the qualitative aspects of the sediments, these may or may not be immediately perceived. As soils, sediments can be considered as geochemical traps, that is, according to its physicochemical properties can retain more or less pollutants which are continuously released by human activities in rural or urban environment or even through sources diffuse. The sediments of rivers can store large amounts of toxic substances that act as secondary sources of pollution when released into the water. Several human activities such as industrialization, urbanization and agriculture are responsible for the release of toxic elements in the water that may adversely affect both environmental quality and the health of the population. This article aims to evaluate the concentration of heavy metals (As, Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr, Ni and Zn) present in sediments collected in Pirapitinga Stream basin in the city of Ituiutaba (MG) was used for this the quality parameters set by CONAMA. It was observed that the points P3, P4, P5, P6 and P7, all influenced by urban and industrial effluents release. The values of Cr was the most significant, indicating a potential area for heavy metal contamination.