[Oil pollution status expressed as the fraction of dissolved and dispersed petroleum hydrocarbons].
Four coastal ecosystems with contrasting characteristics were sampled in Costa Rica (2000-2002). Oil pollution status, expressed as the fraction of dissolved/dispersed petroleum hydrocarbons related to chrysene equivalents, was determined by the molecular fluorescence analytical technique. A total of 130 water samples were taken, from the Caribbean (Moín Bay), and from the Pacific (Bahía Culebra, Gulf of Nicoya and Dulce Gulf). On one occasion, seven samples along the Puntarenas estuary were also analysed. In Moín the mean and standard deviation were 0.10 microg x L(-1) +/- 0.18 micro x L(-1), ranging from non detectable (nd) to 0.65 microg x L(-1). For the Pacific ecosystems the total range was from nd to 0.37 microg x L(-1). In Bahia Culebra no fluorescence signals were obtained. In the Gulf of Nicoya the mean and standard deviation were 0.04 microg x L(-1) +/- 0.09 microg x L(-1), from nd to 0.33 microg x L(-1). Values in Dulce Gulf were 0.05 microg x L(-1) +/- 0.11 microg x L(-1), from nd to 0.37 microg x L(-1). Along the Puntarenas estuary the range was 0.17 to 5.91 microg x L(-1), with a mean of 1.21 microg x L(-1) and a standard deviation of +/- 2.10 microg x L(-1). The four coastal ecosystems had concentrations below the 10 microg x L(-1) limit for polluted oceanic areas. The Puntarenas estuary reflects the influence of antropogenic activities from and around the City of Puntarenas. These levels are considered low for inshore waters.
Acuña-González
Jenaro
J
Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, CIMAR, Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060 San José, Costa Rica. jacuna@cariari.ucr.ac.cr
Vargas-Zamora
José A
JA
Gómez-Ramírez
Eddy
E
García-Céspedes
Jairo
J
D017691:Caribbean Region; D004190:Disasters; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005648:Fuel Oils / Q000032:analysis*; D006841:Hydrocarbons, Aromatic / Q000032:analysis*; D010140:Pacific Ocean; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D005648:Fuel Oils; D006841:Hydrocarbons, Aromatic