title: Hydrocarbon composition and distribution in a coastal region under influence of oil production in northeast Brazil.
abstract: Waters and sediments from the Potiguar Basin (NE Brazilian coast) were investigated for the presence and nature of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and aliphatic hydrocarbons. The region receives treated produced waters through a submarine outfall system serving the industrial district. The total dispersed/dissolved concentrations in the water column ranged from 10-50 ng L(-1) for ∑16PAH and 5-10 μg L(-1) for total aliphatic hydrocarbons. In the sediments, hydrocarbon concentrations were low (0.5-10 ng g(-1)for ∑16PAH and 0.01-5.0 μg g(-1) for total aliphatic hydrocarbons) and were consistent with the low organic carbon content of the local sandy sediments. These data indicate little and/or absence of anthropogenic influence on hydrocarbon distribution in water and sediment. Therefore, the measured values may be taken as background values for the region and can be used as future reference following new developments of the petroleum industry in the Potiguar Basin.
authors: LABMAM/Departamento de Química, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, 22453-900 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors: Angela de L R
authors: Ade L
authors: Wagener
authors: Renato S
authors: RS
authors: Carreira
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Hamacher
authors: Arthur de L
authors: Ade L
authors: Scofield
authors: Cassia O
authors: CO
authors: Farias
authors: Lívia G M S
authors: LG
authors: Cordeiro
authors: Letícia G
authors: LG
authors: Luz
authors: Aída P
authors: AP
authors: Baêta
authors: Francine A
authors: FA
authors: Kalas
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D006839:Hydrocarbons, Acyclic / Q000032:analysis*; D007221:Industry; D010578:Petroleum; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D012623:Seawater / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D006839:Hydrocarbons, Acyclic; D010578:Petroleum; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical