Table 1. Comparison between mean elements values in sediments with the local reference values (LRV) and sediment quality guidelines (SQGs).
| Element | This study | LRV | Sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min–max | Mean ± SD | TEL | PEL | TEC | PEC | ||
| Cr | 18–71.1 | 47.4 ± 15.2 | 3.6 | 52.3 | 160 | 43 | 110 |
| Zn | 18.2–78.1 | 38.7 ± 14.5 | 1.6 | 124 | 271 | 120 | 460 |
| Mn | 148.7–1,002.7 | 540.8 ± 220 | 231 | – | – | 460 | 1,100 |
| As | <LQ–28.8 | 7.8 ± 7.7 | 3.3 | 7.24 | 41.6 | 9.8 | 33 |
| Cu | 3–15.0 | 9.4 ± 4.0 | 1.3 | 18.7 | 108 | 32 | 150 |
| Pb | 5.6–192.9 | 100.2 ± 47.5 | 4.7 | 30.2 | 112 | 36 | 130 |
| Cd | 0.6–7.1 | 3.6 ± 1.4 | 0.01 | 7.24 | 41.6 | 0.99 | 5 |
| Se | <LQ–13.6 | 5.9 ± 4.3 | 1.0 | – | – | – | – |
Note:
Threshold effect level (TEL), Probable effect level (PEL), Threshold effect concentrations (TEC) and Probable effect concentrations (PEC). All values are reported as mg kg−1. Local reference values were calculated from pre-impact assessment in the Rio Doce estuary by De Oliveira Gomes et al. (2017). LOQ for Se and As = 0.01 mg kg−1.