Distribution and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface sediments of a Tropical Bay influenced by anthropogenic activities (Todos os Santos Bay, BA, Brazil)

Marcos de Almeida; Danielle Vasconcelos do Nascimento; Paulo de Oliveira Mafalda Jr; Vinicius Faria Patire; Ana Cecília Rizzatti de Albergaria-Barbosa

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.10.040

Distribution and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface sediments of a Tropical Bay influenced by anthropogenic activities (Todos os Santos Bay, BA, Brazil)

Mar Pollut Bull. 2018 Dec:137:399-407. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.10.040. Epub 2018 Oct 23.

Authors

Marcos de Almeida¹, Danielle Vasconcelos do Nascimento², Paulo de Oliveira Mafalda Jr³, Vinicius Faria Patire⁴, Ana Cecília Rizzatti de Albergaria-Barbosa⁵

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Petroleum Studies, Geoscience Institute, Federal University of Bahia, Rua Barão de Jeremoabo, s/n, 40170-020 Salvador, BA, Brazil; Laboratory of Marine Geochemistry, Geoscience Institute, Federal University of Bahia, Rua Barão de Jeremoabo, s/n, 40170-020 Salvador, BA, Brazil. Electronic address: marcosalmeida.mda@hotmail.com.
² Laboratory of Petroleum Studies, Geoscience Institute, Federal University of Bahia, Rua Barão de Jeremoabo, s/n, 40170-020 Salvador, BA, Brazil.
³ Laboratory of Plankton, Institute of Biology, Federal University of Bahia, Rua Barão de Jeremoabo, s/n, 40170-020 Salvador, BA, Brazil. Electronic address: paulomafaldajr@ufba.br.
⁴ Ekman, Environmental and Oceanographic Services, Avenida das Américas, Bloco 2, 700, 21931-004 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
⁵ Laboratory of Petroleum Studies, Geoscience Institute, Federal University of Bahia, Rua Barão de Jeremoabo, s/n, 40170-020 Salvador, BA, Brazil; Laboratory of Marine Geochemistry, Geoscience Institute, Federal University of Bahia, Rua Barão de Jeremoabo, s/n, 40170-020 Salvador, BA, Brazil. Electronic address: cecilia.albergaria@ufba.br.

PMID: 30503449
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.10.040

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the distribution and origin of 16 Priority PAHs in surficial sediment samples of Todos os Santos Bay (TSB, Brazil). Total PAHs concentrations ranged from below the method detection limit (<DL) to 533 ng g^-1 (dry weight). The toxic equivalent concentrations (TEQ^carc) of PAHs in the studied area ranged from 0 to 104 ng g^-1 and were lower when compared to other contaminated bays in the world. Diagnostic ratios indicated that pyrogenic processes, such as pyrolysis of fossil fuel, biomass, and coal, were the main PAHs sources for sediments. Proximity of the sources, the hydrodynamics and geochemistry of the sediments were the factor influencing the distribution of PAHs along the studied area.

Keywords: Coastal environments; Contamination; Ecological risk assessment; Human activity.

MeSH terms

Bays
Brazil
Coal
Environmental Monitoring
Fossil Fuels
Geologic Sediments / analysis*
Geologic Sediments / chemistry
Multivariate Analysis
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / analysis*
Water Pollutants, Chemical / analysis*

Substances

Coal
Fossil Fuels
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
Water Pollutants, Chemical