Invisible trail: the presence of toxic metals in the Japaratuba River, in Sergipe

Abstract

The Japaratuba River, located in the state of Sergipe, is a multi-use watercourse, used for public supply, irrigation, livestock farming, and fishing. Its quality can be affected by human activities, including agricultural practices and industrial discharges. This study aimed to analyze the presence of copper, aluminum, lead, and iron in water samples, which were collected at six points along the Japaratuba River Basin in 2024 and subjected to analysis by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The results indicated that aluminum and iron showed high concentrations at several points, suggesting the influence of natural mobilization processes and agricultural activities, while copper and lead generally remained within permitted limits, with few specific exceptions. These findings reinforce the importance of continuous water quality monitoring, integrating additional parameters such as carbon and nutrients, and indicate the need to increase the number of collection points and maintain annual analyses for more robust monitoring of environmental impacts.