Distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface sediments and waters from Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Abstract

Hidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos (HPAs) foram identificados e quantificados em amostras de água e sedimento em 12 pontos da Baía de Guanabara. As amostras foram analisadas por CG-EM para verificar o grau de contaminação através do monitoramento do ecossistema afetado após o derramamento de óleo que ocorreu em 18 de janeiro de 2000. As concentrações totais de HPAs encontradas nas amostras de sedimento apresentaram valores na faixa de 77 a 7751 μg kg -1 em peso seco e de não detectado a 1592 ng L -1 em amostras de água. A maioria das amostras de sedimento foi classificada como altamente contaminada (HPA > 500 μg kg -1 ) enquanto a concentração nas amostras de água não apresentou valores suficientemente alto para causar alguma toxidez aos organismos aquáticos. A concentração de HPAs na Baía de Guanabara, quando comparada com outras regiões costeiras, está relativamente alta. Foi utilizada a razão entre HPAs de baixa massa molar/alta massa molar (BMM/AMM), fenantreno/antraceno e benzo[a]antraceno/criseno como indicadores da origem dos HPAs, os quais demonstraram que a grande parte da contaminação da Baía de Guanabara é derivada da queima de combustíveis.Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were identified and quantified in sediment and water samples from 12 sites in the north-northeast region of the Guanabara Bay. The samples were analyzed by GC-MS to assess the degree of contamination by monitoring the affected ecosystem after an oil spill that occurred in January 18, 2000. Total PAH concentrations ranged from 77 to 7,751 μg kg -1 dry weight in surficial sediment samples and from not detected to 1592 ng L -1 in water samples. The majority of sediment samples were classified as highly contaminated (total PAH > 500 μg kg -1 ) while for water samples the concentration of PAHs was not sufficiently high to induce acute toxicity to aquatic organisms. In comparison with other coastal areas, PAH concentrations in Guanabara Bay are relatively high. The ratios of low molecular weight/high molecular weight (LMW/HMW) PAHs, phenanthrene/anthracene and benzo [a]anthracene/ chrysene, are sensitive indicators of the origin of PAH pollution, which have shown to be mostly from fuel combustion in the Guanabara Bay.

Sedimentary record of PAHs in the Barigui River and its relation to the socioeconomic development of Curitiba, Brazil

“…LWHs are the major constituents of petroleum, while HMWs are associated with pyrogenic sources. Ratios of LMW/HMW higher than 1 suggest petroleum sources, whereas ratios of LMW/HMW lower than 1 indicate pyrogenic sources (Silva et al, 2007). In the same was as the other ratios (FLA/PYR, ANT/(PHE + ANT), BaA/CHR), the ratio of LMW/HMW in this study showed an increase since 1940 (Fig.…”

Method Validation for SPE Applied to Determination of PAH in Petroliferous Industry Effluent Water

“…Other studies of wastewaters have used Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME) 9 or Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) [10][11][12]. Direct mode SPME is not feasible, due to attack on comercially used fibres by compounds present in produced water.…”

Distribution and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface sediments from two Brazilian estuarine systems

“…[3][4][5][6][7][8] The PAH sources are mainly anthropogenic and originate from several sources: (i) petroleum inputs; (ii) hydrocarbons released as the result of incomplete combustions of fuels; (iii) PAHs originating from forest, sugarcane and grass fires (transported to the marine environment via eolian (atmospheric) and fluvial (riverine) processes); (iv) biosynthesis of hydrocarbons by marine or terrigeneous organisms; (v) early diagenetic transformation from natural products and hydrocarbons; and (vi) hydrocarbons diffusing from the mantle, petroleum source rocks or reservoirs. [9][10][11] Atmospheric particulate matter emitted by sugarcane burning contains considerable concentrations of PAHs and can be accumulated in sediments. 12 Despite their low aqueous solubility and hydrophobic nature, PAHs tend to associate with particulate material, which will finally be deposited in soil and in the underlying sediments of lacustrine, estuarine and marine environments.…”