Copper, lead and cadmium loads and behavior in urban stormwater runoff in Curitiba, Brazil

• Main Authors: Prestes Ellen C., Anjos Vanessa E. dos, Sodré Fernando F., Grassi Marco T.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Química 2006-01-01
• Series: Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society
• Subjects: heavy metal; urban stormwater runoff; pollution load; nonpoint source
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0103-50532006000100008

We investigate the presence and behavior of Cu, Pb, and Cd in runoff waters from a residential area located in the city of Curitiba, Brazil. Samples were collected in twenty-one stormwater events in an intermediate traffic way located in the Bacacheri watershed. Metal concentrations were similar to range values compiled worldwide and followed the order: Pb>Cu>>Cd. Unit loads were estimated to the watershed, which cover an area of 30 km², revealing values of 1520, 950, 25 kg for Pb, Cu, and Cd, respectively. Among the three metals, lead showed the greatest affinity for the suspended solids (82%) followed by Cd (66%) and Cu (48%). Meanwhile, an association of the metals with the organic matter in the dissolved phase, following the order Cu>Pb>Cd. Metal loads and behavior in urban runoff also depends on factors such as the first flush and the dry period preceding a storm event.