Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a Natural Heritage Estuary influenced by anthropogenic activities in the South Atlantic: Integrating multiple source apportionment approaches

Bruno Martins Gurgatz; Marina Reback Garcia; Ana Caroline Cabral; Amanda Câmara de Souza; Renata Hanae Nagai; Rubens C L Figueira; Michel Michaelovitch de Mahiques; César C Martins

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114678

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a Natural Heritage Estuary influenced by anthropogenic activities in the South Atlantic: Integrating multiple source apportionment approaches

Mar Pollut Bull. 2023 Mar:188:114678. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114678. Epub 2023 Feb 8.

Authors

Bruno Martins Gurgatz¹, Marina Reback Garcia², Ana Caroline Cabral², Amanda Câmara de Souza³, Renata Hanae Nagai⁴, Rubens C L Figueira³, Michel Michaelovitch de Mahiques³, César C Martins⁵

Affiliations

¹ Programa de Pós-Graduação em Sistemas Costeiros e Oceânicos (PGSISCO), Centro de Estudos do Mar, Campus Pontal do Paraná, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Caixa Postal 61, 83255-976 Pontal do Paraná, PR, Brazil. Electronic address: brunogurgatz@gmail.com.
² Programa de Pós-Graduação em Sistemas Costeiros e Oceânicos (PGSISCO), Centro de Estudos do Mar, Campus Pontal do Paraná, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Caixa Postal 61, 83255-976 Pontal do Paraná, PR, Brazil.
³ Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia, Instituto Oceanográfico, Universidade de São Paulo, Praça do Oceanográfico, 191, 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
⁴ Programa de Pós-Graduação em Sistemas Costeiros e Oceânicos (PGSISCO), Centro de Estudos do Mar, Campus Pontal do Paraná, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Caixa Postal 61, 83255-976 Pontal do Paraná, PR, Brazil; Centro de Estudos do Mar, Campus Pontal do Paraná, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Caixa Postal 61, 8325-976 Pontal do Paraná, PR, Brazil.
⁵ Programa de Pós-Graduação em Sistemas Costeiros e Oceânicos (PGSISCO), Centro de Estudos do Mar, Campus Pontal do Paraná, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Caixa Postal 61, 83255-976 Pontal do Paraná, PR, Brazil; Centro de Estudos do Mar, Campus Pontal do Paraná, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Caixa Postal 61, 8325-976 Pontal do Paraná, PR, Brazil. Electronic address: ccmart@ufpr.br.

PMID: 36764149
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114678

Abstract

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were analysed in the sediments of one of the most well-preserved estuaries in South Brazil, the Paranaguá Estuarine System (PES), using several source apportionment tools. The ∑PAH ranged from < DL to 125.6 ng g^-1 dw (dry weight) (average 29.9 ± 26.1 ng g^-1 dw), and the lowest levels detected were similar to those found in other protected areas of the world. In general, the PAH concentrations indicated excellent environmental quality for the entire estuary. Principal component analysis indicated that fine sediments and total organic carbon were the main factors controlling PAH concentrations in the PES. Multiple PAH sources were identified in the study area; biomass burning and fossil fuel combustion predominated but considerable amounts of petrogenic residues were also observed. We identified evidence of a contribution from an adjacent watershed resulting from the construction of interconnections between large rivers and from years of intense deforestation in the local Atlantic Forest.

Keywords: Anthropogenic impacts; Chemical stressors; Principal component analysis; Protected areas; Sediment.

MeSH terms

Anthropogenic Effects
China
Environmental Monitoring / methods
Estuaries
Geologic Sediments / chemistry
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons* / analysis
Rivers / chemistry
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis

Substances

Water Pollutants, Chemical
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons