Preference ratios for mercury and other chemical elements in the Madeira River, Brazil

摘要: Samples of water, suspended solids, and bottom sediments from the Madeira River, Rondonia state, Brazil, were physically chemically analyzed to investigate actual Hg mobilization in aquatic environment compare it with that other heavy metals elements area. Two dimensionless preference ratios defined, expressing (1) ratio liquid phase divided by (Pl.phase) (2) particulate matter (Ps.solids). These are useful for comparing transport three different phases (liquid, matter, sediments). They also applicable any element area studied, because they generated an almost constant value when maximum calculated was minimum (Pl.phase=2931; Ps.solids=84) their sensitivity dominance sorption processes Fe oxides hydroxides. Mercury could be transported preferentially only if its concentration reached values at least 104-fold higher than those expected or quantified