title: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons assessment in sediment of national parks in southeast Brazil.
abstract: The aim of this work was to assess the levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the environment and their sources found in protected regions of southeastern Brazil. Samples of sediments were collected at four National Parks: Itatiaia National Park (PNIT), Serra da Bocaina National Park (PNSB), Serra dos Orgãos National Park (PNSO) and Jurubatiba National Park (PNJUB). The National Parks studied comprise rainforests, altitudinal fields and 'restinga' environments located in the Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo states. The sampling was conducted between 2002 and 2004 from June to September. In general, the environmental levels of PAHs found were similar to those in other remote areas around the globe. PNIT exhibited the highest median values of total PAHs in sediment (97 ng g(-1)), followed by PNJUB (89 ng g(-1)), PNSO (57 ng g(-1)) and PNSB (27 ng g(-1)). The highest levels of total PAHs (576 and 24430 ng g(-1)) could be associated to a point source contamination where are characterized for human activities. At PNSB and PNIT the PAH profiles were richer in 2 and 3 ring compounds, whereas at PNSO and PNJUB, the profiles exhibited 3 and 4 ring compounds. The phenanthrene predominance in most samples could indicate the influence of biogenic synthesis. The samples with a petrogenic pattern found in this study might be associated with the vicinity of major urban areas, highway traffic and/or industrial activities close to PNSO and PNIT. At PNIT and PNJUB, forest fires and slash and burn agricultural practices may drive the results towards a pyrolytic pattern.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Radioisótopos Eduardo Penna Franca, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Bloco G-Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Janeiro-Ilha do Fundão, 21949-900 Rio de Janeiro-RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rodrigo Ornellas
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Meire
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Azeredo
authors.forename: Márcia de Souza
authors.initials: Mde S
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: João Paulo Machado
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Olaf
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Malm
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004777:Environment; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons