Abstract

BELARMINO, Pedro Henrique P.; SILVA, Sarah Mariana da; RUFENER, Marie-Christine  and  ARAUJO, Maria Christina B. de. Solid waste in mangrove in the Potengi River (Natal, RN, Brazil): relation to the location and uses. RGCI [online]. 2014, vol.14, n.3, pp.447-457. ISSN 1646-8872.  https://doi.org/10.5894/rgci451.

Mangroves are one of the most important ecosystems on Earth; however, its potential is affected by intense human activities and urban sprawl. The increase of the populations in localities near the coast has been pressing this and other natural biological systems. One of the main impacts on mangroves is solid waste disposal from anthropogenic origin. Studies on the impact of solid waste in coastal regions are quite widespread and well known, but are generally made with a focus on the beaches or in the marine environment, while research on mangroves are quite scarce. The estuary of Potengi river (Natal-RN) has a great environmental and socio-economic importance; in its mangroves, about 1,200 families survive by collecting crustacean and shellfish. According to local studies, the estuary is affected by intense changes that occurred during the last century, mainly due to disorderly growth of Natal city. The objective of this work was to carry out an assessment of solid waste pollution in two mangrove areas associated with the estuary of the Potengi River, establishing its relationship with the location and levels of use and exploitation of these areas. A diagnosis of the areas was carried out through monthly observation, to determine their main characteristics and types of use. For a detailed survey of the main uses were made contacts and informal interviews with local residents, fishermen, tourists, traders and government agencies. For evaluation of solid waste were demarcated three transects of 50m2 each in each area. Samples were taken monthly for 06 months (three of the rainy season: May, June and July, and three of the dry season: September, October and November); the abundance and location in the environment (sediment or suspended), were analyzed. The classification according to the constitution (plastic, metal, glass, paper, wood, fabric and organic) and when possible, their most likely source (local users, domestic, mixed and fishing) also were determined. The areas showed environmental characteristics and use completely different. In the Area 1 the access is difficult because it is done through a dirt road that enters a very narrow trail bordered by thick vegetation and with erosion process. The mangrove presents good condition, with vegetation preserved and used only by locals. In the Area 2 there is only a narrow strip of mangrove totally limited in their faces west and south by urban structures. Besides the paved lanes that allow the arrival to the area, providing parking and stalls for selling crafts and food, the place has an access that was opened with the removal of mangroves, and built on a high rock allowing the arrival of hundreds of tourists to Reis Magos Fort. In the six months of sampling, was recorded a total of 1,381 items of solid waste, 77 for Area 1 and 1304 for Area 2. Area 2 had approximately 17 times more items than Area 1, however, in both areas, the most frequent category of litter was plastic. Also, in both areas, litter on the sediment was majority. In the area 1 the predominant source was mixed contributing 49% of the total items, while in area 2, 57% of the residues identified, probably originated in the local users. The large amount of residues found in the area 2, demonstrates that the area needs planning and infrastructure to receive tourists, with the installation of bins for collect solid wastes in sufficient quantities and environmental education with tradespeople, users and tour guides.

Keywords : Environmental pollution; rivers; plastics; environmental monitoring.

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