CONTAMINAÇÃO POR ESPÉCIES METÁLICAS EM SOLOS ASSOCIADOS ÀS RODOVIAS: BOTUCATU-SP

Due to the flow of vehicles at Domingos Sartori and Marechal Rondon highways (Botucatu-SP) and the possibility of springs contamination near the roads, a study was carried out to monitor metallic species in the region’s soil. The objectives of this study were to determine the concentrations of Cd, Pb, Cu, Co, Cr, Ni, Zn and Sb in soil samples, verifying their relationship with organic matter, and to identify contamination sources. The determination of the metal species was performed using an atomic emission spectrometer with inductively coupled plasma. The results were evaluated using Tukey test. According to the results, the concentrations were in the range from 1.2 to 11.0 times higher in P 2 than in P 1 . At the nearest sampling points and at the most distant points of the highways, the concentrations of Cu, Zn and Cr were greater than in the intermediate distances and was found a direct relation with the organic matter index. The Cd reached values above the limits established by Cetesb in at least one sub-item of P 1 and P 2 , which requires attention in regarding to its effects over biota and environment. Cu, Co and Zn outperform PV in at least one sampling sub-point on both highways. Therefore, monitoring and actions to mitigate the effects of vehicular traffic are important to avoid contamination in the Cascata Brook region.