Chemical composition of rainwater and anthropogenic influences in the Piracicaba River Basin, Southeast Brazil

The influences of different kinds of anthropogenic activities on rainwater chemistry in a tropical area were studied during one uninterrupted year at Piracicaba River Basin (Southeast Brazil). A total of 272 rainwater samples collected continuously from August 1997 to July 1998 at four different sites were analyzed for F−, CH3COO−, HCOO−, MSA, Cl−, NO2−, Br−, NO3−, SO42−, C2O42−, PO43−, Na+, NH4+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, DOC (dissolved organic carbon), DIC (dissolved inorganic carbon), pH and conductivity. The most abundant ion was H+ and rain acidity was significant at all sampling sites (average pH of 4.4–4.5). The sources of this free acidity differ among sites and appear to be correlated to the different land-uses. The composition of rainwater appeared to be controlled mostly by three sources: soil dust, sugar cane burning and industrial emissions.