Assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in three environmental components from a tropical estuary in Northeast Brazil.

The evaluation of occurrence, risk quotient (RQ), bioaccumulation factor (BAF), and sources of PAH was conducted in Sergipe-Poxim estuarine system. PAH distribution that ranged from 7.1 to 30.9 ng L-1 (surface water, SW), 5.4 to 19.5 ng g-1 (sediment, S), and 4.3 to 18.1 ng g-1 (oyster, O), characterized the environment with low contamination; 2-3 (SW), 5-6 (S), and 4 (O) PAH rings accounted for 54.5%, 68.7%, and 87.7%, respectively, along with naphthalene (SW), dibenzo(a,h)anthracene (S), and pyrene (O) as the prevailing compounds. PCA suggested the predominance of particular groups related to SW (LMW-PAH), S (HMW-PAH), and O (pyrene and fluoranthene). Furthermore, one sample of O presented a high PAH bioavailability as shown through the BAF, with emphasis on pyrene (BAF = 26.8). The RQ showed a low to moderate range in SW and S; hence, in-depth information about the possible toxic effect in organisms of this region is required.

Concentration, distribution and source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in Poxim River sediments, Brazil.

The individual concentrations, total amount and sources of 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in sediments collected along of the Poxim River, Aracaju, Brazil, were for the first time determined. The ΣPAH ranged between 2.2±1.5ngg-1 and 28.4±6.9ngg-1, with a mean value of 14.4±9.3ngg-1. The Pearson correlation test and Principal component analysis (PCA) were used to assess the correlation between the PAH, organic matter and grain size; and to differentiate the sampling stations. Diagnostic ratios presented predominance of pyrogenic sources. Therefore, the PAH quantified showed the influence of anthropogenic activities near of the Poxim River.

Evaluation of anthropogenic contamination using sterol markers in a tropical estuarine system of northeast Brazil.

The São Francisco River estuarine system, located in the Northeast coast of Brazil, has great economic, tourist and social importance. Its waters are used for activities such as agriculture, aquaculture, navigation and fishery, which supplies the surrounding communities. In this study, sterols markers were determined in twenty-eight sediment samples from São Francisco River estuary by gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Sterol analysis was useful to distinguish between anthropogenic and biogenic organic matter (OM) sources in the studied area. Six sterols were quantified, suggesting different sources. Concentrations of fecal sterol (coprostanol) were lower than 500ngg(-1), suggesting no indicative of severe sewage contamination.However, two stations showed concentrations around 100ngg(-1) and the values for the coprostanol/(coprostanol+cholestanol) and coprostanol/cholesterol ratios indicates sewage contamination. The results in this study may be considered as baseline concentrations to be used as future reference for monitoring programs to prevent anthropogenic impacts.

Seasonal distribution of aliphatic hydrocarbons in the Vaza Barris Estuarine System, Sergipe, Brazil.

The seasonal assessment of anthropogenic activities in the Vaza Barris estuarine river system, located in the Sergipe state, northeastern Brazil, was performed using the aliphatic hydrocarbon distribution. The aliphatic hydrocarbon and isoprenoid (Pristane and Phytane) concentrations ranged between 0.19 µg g(-1) and 8.5 µg g(-1) of dry weight. Data were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis test, with significance level set at p<0.05, and no seasonality distribution change was observed. The Carbon Preference Index (CPI), associated with n-alkanes/n-C16, Low Molecular Weight/High Molecular Weight ratio (LMW/HMW) and Terrigenous to Aquatic Ratio (TAR) suggested biogenic input of aliphatic hydrocarbons for most samples, with significant contribution of higher plants.