Sewage contamination in a tropical coastal area (São Sebastião Channel, SP, Brazil).
P Muniz, D A M da Silva, M C Bícego, S Bromberg, A M S Pires-Vanin
Author Information
P Muniz: Oceanografía y Ecología Marina, Instituto de Ecología y Ciencias Ambientales (IECA), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, 11400 Montevideo, Uruguay. Electronic address: pmmaciel@fcien.edu.uy.
D A M da Silva: Environmental and Fisheries Science Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2725 Montlake Boulevard East, Seattle, WA 98112, USA.
M C Bícego: Instituto Oceanográfico da Universidade de São Paulo (IOUSP), Praça do Oceanográfico 191, Cidade Universitária, 05508-120 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
S Bromberg: Instituto Oceanográfico da Universidade de São Paulo (IOUSP), Praça do Oceanográfico 191, Cidade Universitária, 05508-120 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
A M S Pires-Vanin: Instituto Oceanográfico da Universidade de São Paulo (IOUSP), Praça do Oceanográfico 191, Cidade Universitária, 05508-120 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Urban effluent discharges in Brazilian coastal areas are a chronic problem and often lead to changes in the quality of the marine environment. São-Sebastião-Channel (SSC) is an important aquatic ecosystem to be monitored for urban sewage contamination due to the intense urban activities in that region, as well as the relative high biodiversity of marine organisms. In the area are present three submarine sewage outfalls, a commercial harbour and also the biggest oil terminal in Brazil. Total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), total sulphur (TS), steroids and linear alkylbenzenes (LABs) were measured in sediment samples collected in three strategic locations of the SSC in order to monitor urban sewage contamination. Total LAB and total sterols levels ranged from below DL-51.3 ng g(-1) and below DL-10.40 μg g(-1), respectively. Samples collected near sewage outfall in the central part of the SSC had higher concentrations of urban sewage-associated contaminants.
