Abstract
Discharge of heavy metals from the Acari‐São João de Merití River System into Guanabara Bay and the physico‐chemical mechanisms involved in the transport of these pollutants to the sea are evaluated. Determination of Hg, Cd, Pb, Zn, Mn, Fe, Cr, Cu and Ni concentrations by atomic absorption spectrophotometry were carried out for water, suspended particulate matter and bottom sediment samples. Transport of heavy metals occurs primarily via the particulate phase where mobile forms of metals prevail. Contamination of bottom sediments are indicated for Hg, Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu and Cr.