DETERMINAÇÃO DE METAIS POLUENTES EM DIFERENTES NÍVEIS TRÓFICOS DE PEIXES COLETADOS NAS BACIAS DOS RIOS ARAGUAIA E TOCANTINS NO ESTADO DE GOIÁS

Abstract

This study was conducted in the Araguaia and Tocantins basins in the State of Goiás, during the drought period, and aimed to evaluate the content of polluting metals: aluminum, cadmium, lead, copper, chromium, iron, manganese and zinc in different trophic levels of fishes, and to compare the concentrations of these metals between the different trophic levels, sampling sites and between the two basins. Tests for determining the concentration of metals were performed by atomic absorption spectrometry, flame mode (AAS-flame). The similarity of the median concentrations of metal pollutants between trophic groups, between sampling sites and between basins was investigated by nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test. The metals that most contributed to the pollution of basins studied were aluminum and manganese, possibly due to soil typical of the region (Oxisol) and the type of handling close to watercourses. The highest concentrations of metals were found in the Araguaia basin. There was significant difference in the levels of aluminum, iron and zinc between the basins. The trophic level most affected by metal pollution was the insectivore. Significant difference in the concentrations of pollutant metals (except lead) between trophic levels was observed. The data analysis indicates that the source of metal contamination of fish is the sediment of the aquatic environment. Results show a possible contamination of fish Araguaia and Tocantins basins with metal pollutants. Human activities observed in these basins appear to contribute to these results.