title: Hydrocarbon contamination in Cartagena Bay, Colombia.
abstract: This study deals with the levels of aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbon quantification in sediments and organisms in Cartagena Bay (Colombia), 1996-1997. Sediments (14 stations) and bivalves (2 stations) were monitored at different times of the year. Areas with high values were in the north with concentrations above 100 microg/g with a maximum of 1415 microg/g. Areas with low values were located toward the south, near the outlet of the Canal del Dique and Barú Island, with values below 10 microg/g. In other areas concentrations were between 50 and 100 microg/g. A decrease in sediment concentrations of hydrocarbons has occurred since 1983, but levels in some sectors are still similar to those in polluted areas. Organisms have relatively low values (8-30 microg/g for bivalves, and 10-40 microg/g for fish).
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Cartagena, Zaragocilla, Colombia.
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Parga-Lozano
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Marrugo-González
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fernández-Maestre
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003105:Colombia; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005399:Fishes / Q000378:metabolism; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D008974:Mollusca / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D006838:Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical