Depositional history of sedimentary linear alkylbenzenes (LABs) in a large South American industrial coastal area (Santos Estuary, Southeastern Brazil).
This paper reports the reconstruction of the contamination history of a large South American industrial coastal area (Santos Estuary, Brazil) using linear alkylbenzenes (LABs). Three sediment cores were dated by (137)Cs. Concentrations in surficial layers were comparable to the midrange concentrations reported for coastal sediments worldwide. LAB concentrations increased towards the surface, indicating increased waste discharges into the estuary in recent decades. The highest concentration values occurred in the early 1970s, a time of intense industrial activity and marked population growth. The decreased LAB concentration, in the late 1970s was assumed to be the result of the world oil crisis. Treatment of industrial effluents, which began in 1984, was represented by decreased LAB levels. Microbial degradation of LABs may be more intense in the industrial area sediments. The results show that industrial and domestic waste discharges are a historical problem in the area.
Martins
César C
CC
Centro de Estudos do Mar da Universidade Federal do Paraná, Pontal do Sul, Pontal do Paraná, PR, Brazil. ccmart@ufpr.br
Bícego
Márcia C
MC
Mahiques
Michel M
MM
Figueira
Rubens C L
RC
Tessler
Moyses G
MG
Montone
Rosalinda C
RC
D001555:Benzene Derivatives / Q000032:analysis*; D001938:Brazil; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D001555:Benzene Derivatives; D007220:Industrial Waste; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical