Aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments of Santos and Cananeia, SP, Brazil

Sediment samples from Santos and Cananeia, Sao Paulo Brazil were analysed b y GC-FID and GC-MS for aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons in order to gath er information on the degree of contamination by oil and other biogenic con tributions. Concentrations of total n-alkanes in Santos varied from 1.05 to 4.29 mug g(-1) and aromatic hydrocarbons from 0.08 to 42.39 mug g(-1). In Cananeia total n-alkanes varied from 4.37 to 157.90 mug g(-1). However, aro matic hydrocarbons were not detected. In cananeia n-alkanes of terrestrial plants with high molecular weight predominate (n-C-25, n-C-27, n-C-29, n-C- 31 and n-C-33). In Santos. a more uniform distribution of the n-alkanes and aromatic hydrocarbons was found at all the sediment stations. The hydrocar bon data from stations close to the Saboo Wharf, at Alemoa and in the COSIP A Channel revealed alarming levels of acenaphthylene, fluorene. phenanthren e, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene and chrysene. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.