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This paper aims at quantifying natural and artificial radionuclides, trace and major elements in sediments collected along the Tietê River basin. The results obtained for Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni and Zn, indicated that the region of "High Tietê" is highly polluted, followed by the region of "Middle Tietê" and the region of "Low Tietê" does not present evidence of contamination. The natural radionuclide concentrations were of the same order of magnitude of world average values and can be defined as basal levels of the region. Cesium-137 activity concentration ranged from 0.22 ± 0.08 Bq kg−1 to 0.96 ± 0.12 Bq kg−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]