Evaluation of fecal sterols and geochemical markers hydrocarbons in sediments from Admiralty Bay, Antartica. / "Avaliação de introdução de esteróis fecais e hidrocarbonetos marcadores geoquímicos em sedimentos da Baía do Almirantado, Península Antártica"

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2002

RESUMO

Sewage and oil contribution are the main sources of pollution from the scientific stations to the antarctic marine environment. Sterols and hydrocarbons such as n-alkanes, polyciclic aromatics (PAHs) and linear alkylbenzenes (LABs) were investigated on surface sediments from Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctica, collected during austral summer of 1997/1998 and 1999/2000 It has been previously used as a tracer from human waste and oil inputs along the coastal areas around the world. The analytical techniques used were gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID) or attached with a mass spectrometer (GC-MS). Analyses of sterols showed that sewage moves until 700 meters since sewer outfall, but only the discharge point can be considered polluted. Data from LABs agreed with sterols results indicating that human wastes arrive until 1 Km from brazilian station and sterols found in remote areas were from natural contributions. N-alkanes and PAHs showed the same levels than previous studies from pristine areas in antarctic continent. Biogenic and little antropogenic sources are the origins from n-alkanes. PAHs found in distant points are associated with small oil contribution while samples collected in sewer outfall and until 50 meters far presented PAHs from combustion process and sewage. This study concluded that only the sewage discharge point is very polluted however there is a substantial sewage input decrease with the increase of distance from outfall.

ASSUNTO(S)

sediments sedimentos baía do almirantado admiralty bay antarctica esteróis sterols esgoto hydrocarbons antártica hidrocarbonetos sewage

ACESSO AO ARTIGO

Documentos Relacionados