Distribution and origin of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface sediments from an urban river basin at the Metropolitan Region of Curitiba,Brazil

• Published in: Journal of environmental sciences (China) Vol. 23; no. 6; pp. 904 - 911
• Main Authors: Leite, Natalicio Ferreira, Peralta-Zamora, Patricio, Grassi, Marco Tadeu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.01.2011
• Subjects: biomass; Brazil; Combustion; Contamination; Environmental Monitoring - methods; environmental protection; fossil fuels; Geologic Sediments - analysis; Humans; Iguaçu River Basin; isomeric ratio; oils; PAHs; Polyallylamine hydrochloride; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - analysis; River basins; river sediment; Rivers; Rivers - chemistry; sediment contamination; Sediments; thermodynamics; trace level analysis; urban areas; Urban Population; wastewater; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Water Supply - analysis; watersheds; 城市化地区; 多环芳烃; 巴西; 河流流域; 表层沉积物; 起源; 都市圈; Brazil; Brazil, Parana, Curitiba; Brazil, Iguacu R. basin; PAHs; isomeric ratio; trace level analysis; river sediment; Iguaçu River Basin
• ISSN: 1001-0742; 1878-7320
• DOI: 10.1016/S1001-0742(10)60496-2

The concentrations of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined in surface sediment samples from nine sites located at the Iguaçu River Basin in the Metropolitan Region of Curitiba, Brazil to evaluate their distribution and sources. The total concentration of the PAHs was greater for sediments from highly urbanized areas, while the sediments from the Iraí Environmental Protection Area (Iraí EPA) showed significantly low concentrations. The sediments from the Iguaçu and Barigui rivers were classified as highly contaminated, while those from the Cercado and Curralinho rivers were classified as moderately contaminated. The predominance of PAHs containing two to four aromatic rings in most of the samples suggested the direct input of raw sewage into the water resources evaluated. Benzo[g,h,i]perylene, dibenzo[a,h]anthracene and indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene were predominant in sediments from the areas under the greatest urban and industrial development. The correlation between thermodynamic stability and the kinetics of evolution presented by the isomeric pairs indicated that combustion is the predominant source of PAHs in the sediments because the combustion of fossil fuels affected most of the points evaluated, followed by combustion of biomass and eventually combustion of oil product inputs. In general, the results showed that areas under strong urban influence, as well as the Iraí EPA, receive contributions of PAHs from similar sources.