Three sediment profiles were collected in the Guanabara Bay aiming at the development of a geochronogical study of contamination by chromium, copper and lead. The sedimentation rate and the chronology were obtained through the activities of (210)Pb in the sediment profiles. In the western region, three sediment rates were observed: 0.14 (+-) 0.02 cm year(-1) before 1926; 0.65 (+-) 0.03 cm.year(-1) between 1926 and 1960; 1.00 (+-) 0.02 cm.year(-1) since then. In the eastern area of the bay, a sedimentation rate of 1.43 (+-) 0.18 cm.year (-1) was detected since 1948. In the northwestern area, three sedimentation rates were verified: 0.23 (+-) 0.01 cm.year (-1) pre-1950; 0.64 (+-) 0.02 between 1950 and 1987; 1.10 (+-) 0.17 cm.year (-1), since 1987. The concentration of metals were determined by means of the ICPMS technique after digestion with aqua regia. The metal concentration in the western area of the bay varied between 117 and 172 (u)g g(-1) for Cr; 46.2 and 118 (u)g g(-1) for Cu; 56.1 and 110 (u)g g(-1) for Pb. In the eastern area, this concentration varied between: 101 and 181 (u)g g(-1) for Cr; 54.3 and 78.9 for Cu; 45.5 and 88.6 for Pb. In northwestern the variations were: 96.6 and 790 (u)g g(-1) for Cr; 18.6 and 109 (u)g g(-1) for Cu; 44.9 and 109 (u)g g(-1) for Pb. The geoaccumulation index signalizes that the sediments of northwestern area presents major problems of contamination, being moderately/strong contaminated by Cr, moderately contaminated by Cu and uncontaminated/moderately contaminated by Pb.