Levels, source appointment, and ecological risk of petroleum hydrocarbons in tropical coastal ecosystems (northeast Brazil): Baseline for future monitoring programmes of an oil spill area

We reviewed 20 years of levels, sources, and environmental risks related to the main petroleum hydrocarbons in the northeast region of Brazil. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review to serve as a comprehensive baseline for future monitoring programmes related to the oil spill disas...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental pollution (1987) 2022-03, Vol.296, p.118709-118709, Article 118709
Main Authors: Fernandes, Gabrielle M., Martins, Davi A., dos Santos, Rafael P., de Santiago, Ithala S., Nascimento, Lorena S., Oliveira, André H.B., Yamamoto, Flávia Y., Cavalcante, Rivelino M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
AHs
Brazil
Ecosystem
Environmental Monitoring
Geologic Sediments
Humans
Hydrocarbons - analysis
Oil spill area
PAHs
Petroleum - analysis
Petroleum biomarkers
Petroleum Pollution - analysis
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - analysis
Tropical mangrove
Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:We reviewed 20 years of levels, sources, and environmental risks related to the main petroleum hydrocarbons in the northeast region of Brazil. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review to serve as a comprehensive baseline for future monitoring programmes related to the oil spill disaster in 2019/2020. Most contamination levels of both PAHs and AHs were classified as low, except those in specific areas influenced by human activities, such as ports, highly urbanised mangroves, or rivers of medium-sized cities with inadequate liquid and solid waste treatment. Most hydrocarbons were linked to natural sources and burning processes, except in regions of extraction activities and petrochemical facilities as well as highly urbanised areas, where degraded petroleum and oil hydrocarbons predominated. Only 2.5% of the samples exceeded threshold effect levels for ∑16-PAHs and no samples exceeded probable effect levels. When regional threshold levels were used, however, the probable effect for the ∑16-PAHs measured was high, ranging from 5.8 to 6.1%. The few studies reporting biological responses showed that hydrocarbons from anthropogenic sources can induce adverse effects on marine organisms even at low to moderate levels. As the region has recently received a considerable quantity of crude oil, studies should be prioritised for a more precise assessment of the impact of this oil spill. [Display omitted] •There are few studies in the region and most are focused on the status of PAHs levels.•Combustion have had greater impact than oil related activities in Northeast Brazil.•Based on regional threshold levels, ∼6% of PAH levels have probable effects on biota.•More studies involving other classes of petroleum hydrocarbons should be prioritised.
ISSN:0269-7491
1873-6424
DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118709