Geochemical and environmental characterization using multivariate tools in the Una River Basin - PE

Abstract

Knowing the dynamics of the chemical components in the soil system is essential in order to prevent the evolution of possible contaminants. The Una River Basin, located in the southern part of the state of Pernambuco, is negatively influenced by the use and occupation of the soil, which poses a risk to its ecological sustainability. There was a need to study the geochemical behavior of the watershed's soils as a geoenvironmental strategy to estimate their vulnerability and prospects for use and occupation. Twenty samples extracted from the Geochemical Atlas of Pernambuco were analyzed within the basin, which served as the basis for the research. The chemical elements: Al, Ca, K, Mg, P, S, As, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, Ba, Ce, Co, Cs, Ga, Hf, Mn, Mo, Nb, Sc, Se, Sn, Sr, Th, U, V, W, Y and Zr, were highlighted and then used to study descriptive statistics, multivariate statistics and the construction of heavy metal isopleth maps using the kriging technique. Possible anthropogenic contributions were demonstrated. The formation of specific groupings between the soil components was observed, which served as the basis for establishing the hafnium/aluminum ratio, which expresses the validity of the chemometric techniques used.