DISTRIBUCIÓN Y ESPECIACIÓN DE METALES PESADOS EN EL MATERIAL EN SUSPENSIÓN DE LAS AGUAS SUPERFICIALES DE LA PLUMA DEL RÍO MANZANARES, EDO. SUCRE, VENEZUELA

This paper reports on the speciation of Fe, Mn, Ni, and Pb in the matter suspended in the superficial waters of
the low basin and the surface trapped plume of the Manzanares river, in Cumaná, state of Sucre, Venezuela, by studying
sediment and water samples taken at 22 stations deployed throughout this area of influence between July 1996 and June 1997.
The suspended matter increased during the rainy season (July to November), reaching a maximum value in September, at 1075
mg/L. The heavy metal flow, in close association with the solid bodies in suspension, also increased during the rainy season,
their total concentrations ranging from 0.54 to 558.80 ìmol/L, from 0.02 to 11.67 ìmol/L, from below detection to 1.62
ìmol/L, and from below detection to 0.17 ìmol/L for Fe, Mn, Ni, and Pb, respectively. Overall, the metals adsorbed to the
surface of both organic and inorganic particles and sediments revealed a nonconservative behavior, evidencing wide removal
at low salinities, namely, desorbing on account of the exchange with the most abundant ions in the sea wedge, Na+ and K+.
Human activity in the area kept a sustained and continuous contribution of materials to the river plume. Elevated concentrations
of Mn and Pb are adsorbed to the suspended matter in the form of carbonates and/or reactive manganese oxide hydroxide,
which allows for a less constrained incorporation to the trophic chain or freedom to return to the water mass, and is suggestive
of their origin in the anthropic activities carried out in and around the watershed. The Fe and Ni, on the other hand, are
primarily associated to clay minerals mainly in the form of aluminosilicates.