NATURAL AND ANTHROPOGENIC EMISSIONS OF METALS AND NUTRIENTS TO THE LOWER CONTAS RIVER BASIN, BAHIA STATE, BRAZIL

NATURAL AND ANTHROPOGENIC EMISSIONS OF METALS AND NUTRIENTS TO THE LOWER CONTAS RIVER BASIN, BAHIA STATE, BRAZIL. Emission factors of anthropogenic activities and natural processes were used to estimate nutrients and metals loads to the Contas River lower basin, Southern Bahia, Brazil. Among natural sources, emission from soil leaching is larger for N, Cu and Pb. Atmospheric deposition is the major natural source of P, Zn, Cd and Hg. Among anthropogenic sources, agriculture is the major source of N, Cu and P. Urban sources are the major contributors to the other elements. Present anthropogenic land uses are already responsible for 78 and 99% of total N and P loads and about 50% of total Cu and Hg.