TRACE ORGANIC CONTAMINANTS AND LIPID BIOMARKERS IN CONCEPCION AND SAN-VICENTE BAYS

Ten sediment samples were collected from Concepcion and San Vicente Ba ys and the top 25 cm homogenized and analyzed for aliphatic and aromat ic hydrocarbons, sterols, fatty acids and fatty alcohols. The results indicate enrichment of predominantly short-chain aliphatic hydrocarbon s in San Vicente Bay and longer-chained hydrocarbons in Concepcion Bay . The lipid biomarkers did not indicate significant enrichment of terr estrial organic matter or sewage-derived materials. The principal ster ol quantified was cholesterol, usually found in animals. This is consi stent with secondary production potentially utilizing the primary orga nic matter. This may explain the absence of primary organic matter lip id biomarkers.