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Shrimp farming has been associated with eutrophication due to the generation of effluents enriched with organic matter and nutrients. Phosphorus (P) distribution was investigated in the Coreaú River Estuary (NE Brazil) using surface sediments and sediment cores. In surface sediments, total P concentrations ranged from 349.2 to 633.5 μg g-1 (mean = 465.2) and were about three times lower than those of other Brazilian estuaries impacted by larger shrimp cultures. The predominance of P forms in surface sediments followed the sequence: iron-bound P (Fe-P, 30%) > organic-P (Org-P, 23%) > exchangeable-P (Exch-P, 20%) > authigenic apatite (Ca-P, 15%) > detrital apatite (De-P, 12%). No significant correlation was observed between Exch-P and Fe-P (r = 0.389; p < 0.05). Highest Exch-P and Org-P concentrations and a strong correlation between these forms were found (r = 0.706, p < 0.05), suggesting the same sources of P and organic matter. Total P accumulation along the cores was 10,211 and 15,632 μg g-1 at the estuary mouth (T1) and the upper estuary (T2), respectively. T1 exhibited the predominant sequence: De-P (36%) > Ca-P (25%) > Fe-P (22%) > Exch-P (9%) > Org-P (7%); whereas T2 showed: Fe-P (31%) > De-P (23%) > Org-P (21%) > Ca-P (17%) > Exch-P (9%). Phosphorus depositional history points to P accumulation episodes at the end of the 1980 and mid-1990, coinciding with increasing urbanization and the beginning or maximum activity of the shrimp farms. Despite the low total P concentrations, the proportions of the labile forms Exch-P, Fe-P and Org-P in surface sediments indicated a trend to a high potential for eutrophication.

Mercury (Hg) is a toxic globally spread pollutant that has been found at increasing concentrations in the South Atlantic Ocean. The present work provides the first insight into the total mercury (HgT, unfiltered waters) content in the water of the Brazilian Exclusive Economic Zone (BEEZ), within a 24°S to 20°S. Water samples were collected from surface to 3400 m depth along transects, and analyzed with atomic fluorescence. The mean HgT concentration for the Tropical Water mass (TW) was 6.3 ± 1.4 pM (n = 16), for the South Atlantic Central Water (SACW), 5.9 ± 0.7 pM (n = 8), for the Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW), 5.0 ± 0.6 pM (n = 2), for the Upper Circumpolar Deep Water (UCDW), 6.5 pM (n = 1), and for the North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW), 5.7 ± 0.9 pM (n = 12). HgT concentrations were highest throughout the BEEZ in comparison with other parts of the Atlantic Ocean, farther from the coast.

Amazonian aquatic systems are usually associated with pristine waters, however, irregular urban occupation of the hydrographic basins and sewerage deficiencies may lead to point and diffuse contamination. Sewage contamination in intertidal surface sediments from the Guajará Estuary, Brazilian Amazon coast, was evaluated using a set of steroids as biomarkers. Sediments collected along the urbanized margin were also analyzed for chlorophyll a, total organic carbon and grain sizes. Coprostanol, the main fecal sterol, was found at concentrations varying from 0.06 to 7.93 µg g-1 dry sediment, following the sequence Tucunduba > Ver-o-Peso > Porto da Palha > Tamandaré > Icoaraci > Miramar. Mixed sources of organic matter and coastal process probably concurred to produce weak correlations among the parameters. Plant derived sterols, including n-C30 alcohol and β-amyrinyl alkanoates, were clearly abundant, but they did not preclude the use of other steroid signals to the assessment of sewage contamination. High values of the steroid indexes involving 5α and 5β stanols and stanones highlighted sewage contamination at the sites with the lowest absolute coprostanol concentrations. The predominance of 5β stanols indicated a chronically sewage contamination of the area. Resumo Os sistemas aquáticos amazônicos são geralmente associados a águas intactas, no entanto, a ocupação urbana de forma irregular das bacias hidrográficas e a deficiência no saneamento básico podem levar a contaminação pontual e difusa. A contaminação por esgoto em sedimentos superficiais de entremarés do Estuário Guajará, costa amazônica brasileira, foi investigada usando um conjunto de esteróides como biomarcadores. Os sedimentos coletados ao longo da margem urbanizada também foram submetidos a análises de clorofila-a, carbono orgânico total e granulometria. Coprostanol, o principal esterol de origem fecal, foi encontrado em concentrações entre 0,06 a 7,93 µg g-1 de sedimento seco, na sequência Tucunduba > Ver-o-Peso > Porto da Palha > Tamandaré > Icoaraci > Miramar. As baixas correlações entre os parâmetros investigados provavelmente foram resultantes de fontes mistas de matéria orgânica e processos costeiros. Os esteróis derivados de plantas, incluindo álcoois n-C30 e β-amirinil alcanoatos, mostraram-se abundantes nas amostras, porém não impediram o uso dos outros esteróides na avaliação da contaminação por esgoto. Índices específicos envolvendo estanóis e estanonas 5α and 5β evidenciaram a contaminação por esgoto nas amostras com as menores concentrações absolutas de coprostanol. A predominância de estanóis 5β indicou contaminação crônica por esgoto na área.

The sources and depositional history of OCPs (organochlorine pesticides), PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) over the last 100years were determined in two sediment cores collected in the Amazon region. It was possible to distinguish two depositional periods along the cores. The first period occurred before extensive anthropogenic effects were registered in the sediments. During this time interval, the concentrations of all OCPs and PCBs were below the detection limits (DL), and the PAH concentrations were low and essentially constant (58.19-124.28ngg-1). The second period starts in the mid-1960s and reflects the increased human influence in the area. The concentrations of OCPs, PCBs, and PAHs increased towards the top of the cores, varying between

The majority of the analytical methods for steroids in marine sediments are laborious and time consuming and involve the use of large volumes of organic (frequently chlorinated) solvents. A method has been developed utilising ethanol extraction with a rapid alumina-ethanol elution clean up, providing an environmentally friendly and inexpensive alternative. Recoveries of steroids (coprostanol, epicoprostanol, cholesterol, cholestanol, 5alpha-coprostanone and 5beta-coprostanone) ranged from 70 to 93% and compared favourably with more traditional analyses. Analytical performance was tested through analysis of reference material and concentrations recorded for coprostanol, cholesterol and cholestanol were close to the mean certified values and were within acceptable values. Relative standard deviations from triplicate analyses were small (6-12%). These initial tests also indicate that the simplified clean up (without fractionation) is not subject to interference in the quantification of the selected faecal steroids. A maioria dos métodos para análise de esteróides em sedimentos marinhos é laboriosa, consome grandes volumes de solventes orgânicos (muitas vezes clorados) e produz grandes quantidades de material de descarte. Neste trabalho desenvolveu-se um método de extração com etanol e um "clean up" rápido, que oferece uma alternativa de menor custo e minimiza o uso de solventes clorados. As porcentagens de recuperação de esteróides (coprostanol, epicoprostanol, cholesterol, cholestanol, 5alfa-coprostanona and 5beta-coprostanona) ficaram na faixa de 70 a 93%, comparáveis às análises mais tradicionais. A eficiência do método foi avaliada através de material de referência e os resultados obtidos para coprostanol, colesterol e colestanol encontram-se próximos aos valores médios certificados e perfeitamente dentro dos valores aceitáveis. Os desvios-padrão relativos para triplicatas foram baixos (6-12%). Os testes indicaram que o "clean-up" simplificado (sem fracionamento) não produz interferência na quantificação dos esteróides fecais.