Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are considered persistent organic pollutants and can cause serious damage in some organisms, including mutagenic and carcinogenic properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the PAH concentrations in an urban basin and use diagnostic ratios to possible distinguish sources of contamination. The surface water analysis showed predominance of compounds containing 3 to 4 aromatic rings while in suspended particulate matter and sediment there was a predominance of compounds containing 4, 5 and 6 rings. Although present in low concentrations in the sediment, assessment of toxicity equivalent factor (TEF) showed values higher than 3 ng g -1 pellet to 50% of the samples with values of up to 125.35 ng g -1. The use of diagnostic ratios allowed verifying that the main source of PAHs in these aquatic environments, are pyrogenic sources. Still, the use of such relations should be done with caution, trying to assess possible interference of degradation factors Keywords: Diagnostic ratios; Risk assessment; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Environmental contamination. RESUMOHidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos (HPAs) são poluentes orgânicos considerados persistentes e que podem causar sérios danos em alguns organismos, incluindo propriedades mutagênicas e carcinogênicas. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar as concentrações de HPAs em uma bacia urbanizada e utilizar relações diagnósticas para tentar distinguir fontes de contaminação. A análise de água superficial mostrou um predomínio de compostos de 3 a 4 anéis aromáticos, enquanto que para material particulado suspenso e sedimentos houve uma predominância de compostos com 4, 5 e 6 anéis aromáticos. Apesar de baixas concentrações no sedimento, avaliação de equivalentes de toxicidade mostraram valores superiores a 3 ng g -1 de sedimento para 50% das amostras, com valores de até 125.35 ng g PAHs diagnostic ratios for the distinction of petrogenic and pirogenic sources: applicability in the Upper Iguassu Watershed -Parana, Brazil

The growing urbanization in urban centers have continuously contributed to the deterioration of water quality in rivers. The use of caffeine as a chemical tracer for anthropic activities is an approach to the environmental monitoring of urban waterbodies, as its use is limited to humans and less susceptible to sampling error comparing to other traditional parameters for anthropic pollution. To analyze the possibility of using caffeine as a water quality parameter, the anthropic influence over three watersheds (Atuba, Belem and Palmital) from the Greater Curitiba was observed over five sampling campaigns. The caffeine was analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem diode array detection, after the solid phase extraction. Traditional parameters of water quality monitoring, such as ammoniacal nitrogen, thermotolerant coliforms, biochemical oxygen demand and orthophosphate, were measured for comparison. The results indicate anthropic influence over the basins, probably due to the lack of infrastructure, thus leading to the assumption of untreated domestic wastewater being discharged. The most degraded river was the Belem river (caffeine concentration of 23.08 µg.L-1). Caffeine presented itself as an appropriate approach for environmental monitoring, presenting a good correlation with the traditional parameters, such as for thermotolerant coliforms (R = 0.7375).

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are considered to be a source of environmental contamination by micropollutants, especially from pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PCPs). The pathway of those compounds during sewage treatment has been investigated, but data from real-scale WWTPs is still missing (for example, the values of the solid-liquid coefficient (K) during treatment). This paper uses the K values for some pharmaceuticals and PCPs (fenofibrate, gemfibrozil, propranolol, metoprolol, salicylic acid, acetylsalicylic acid, ibuprofen, diclofenac, naproxen, fenoprofen, caffeine, triclosan, methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, and benzylparaben) to describe the micropollutants' behavior in the treatment process. In order to attain this data, an aerobic wastewater treatment plant located in Brazil was studied. Six samplings were carried out and a mass balance was performed, associating the concentrations of the micropollutants in the liquid phase with the solid phase (sludge and suspended solids). Of all the compounds analyzed, caffeine was the most biodegradable pollutant, as almost 98% of its mass was biodegraded. In contrast, triclosan had the highest load in sludge (median of 163.0 mg day) and adsorbed in SS (median of 0.593 mg day) at the output. Summing up, each micropollutant had a specific way to be removed during wastewater treatment.

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Parabens and triclosan compounds are widely used in pharmaceutical products, personal care, food and various products of daily use. After use, the final destinations of these contaminants are domestic effluents and the environment if not collected or treated. The objective of this study was to evaluate the presence of parabens and triclosan in environments in a subtropical region, more specifically in the metropolitan region of Curitiba (southern Brazil) and possible effects of these compounds in aquatic environments through risk assessment through the use of risk quotient (RQ). Samples were collected in 20 points for 4 campaigns. For the extraction of the compounds we used the extraction technique of solid phase extraction (SPE). The determination of the compounds was using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). It was observed high concentrations of parabens, especially MeP (up to 2875 ng L -1). Despite high concentrations of parabens, their presence has a low risk to aquatic organisms. Triclosan has been observed at higher concentrations (415 ng L -1 ), suggesting once again that these environments are impacted by human action. The RQ assessed that triclosan has a high risk for certain groups of organisms.Keywords: Emerging pollutants; Risk assessment; Triclosan; Parabens; Domestic sewage. RESUMOParabenos e triclosan são usados amplamente na composição de produtos farmacêuticos, cuidado pessoal, alimentos e diversos produtos de uso cotidiano. Após seu uso, o destino final destes contaminantes são os efluentes domésticos e o meio ambiente, caso não seja coletado ou tratado. A presença destes poluentes emergentes podem apresentar efeitos adversos ao meio ambiente. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar a ocorrência de parabenos e triclosan em ambientes de uma região subtropical, mais especificamente na Região Metropolitana de Curitiba (sul do Brasil) e avaliar possíveis efeitos desses compostos em ambientes aquáticos, através da avaliação de risco através do quociente de risco (QR). Foram coletadas amostras em 20 pontos em rios da Região Metropolitana de Curitiba, durante quatro campanhas. Para a extração dos compostos, foi utilizada a técnica de extração em fase sólida (SPE), com determinação por cromatografia gasosa acoplada à espectrometria de massas (GC-MS). Foram observadas elevadas concentrações de parabenos, especialmente MeP (máximo de 2875 ng L -1 ). Apesar das concentrações elevadas de parabenos a presença dos mesmos apresentou baixo risco para os organismos aquáticos. Quanto ao triclosan, observaram-se também elevadas concentrações (415 ng L -1 ), sugerindo mais uma vez que esses ambientes encontram-se impactados pela ação humana. O valor de QR permitiu avaliar que o triclosan apresentou um elevado risco para certos grupos de organismos.