Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in a large South American industrial coastal area (Santos Estuary, Southeastern Brazil): sources and depositional history

Located in southeastern Brazil, the Santos Estuary has the most important industrial and urban population area of South America. Since the 1950's, increased urbanization and industrialization near the estuary margins has caused the degradation of mangroves and has increased the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents. The main objectives of this work were to determine the concentrations and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediment cores in order to investigate the input of these substances in the last 50 years. The PAHs analyses indicated multiple sources of these compounds (oil and pyrolitic origin), basically anthropogenic contributions from biomass, coal and fossil fuels combustion. The distribution of PAHs in the cores was associated with the formation and development of Cubat?o industrial complex and the Santos harbour, waste disposal, world oil crisis and the pollution control program, which results in the decrease of organic pollutants input in this area.     

Thermal Decomposition of Ilmenite in a Non-Transferred Arc Thermal Plasma Flow Reactor

The thermal decomposition of ilmenite concentrates in a non-transferred arc thermal plasma flow reactor was investigated. The plasma torch was operated using argon-helium and argon-nitrogen mixtures as plasma gases. The effect of power, feed rate, and particle size was studied. Products were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM and ICP techniques. Free energy minimization plots were used to predict the thermodynamic behavior of the system under different operating conditions. The results of this investigation showed a significant segregation process where titanium-rich products are collected in the reactor, while iron-rich products are collected in the quenching box and filter. The average size of the product is in the submicron range. Titanium nitride was formed and condensed in the reactor zone when using argon-nitrogen mixture as plasma gas.     

A high-resolution Holocene record on the Southern Brazilian shelf: Paleoenvironmental implications

A high-resolution, multi-proxy record has been used to determine the environmental changes during the Holocene on the southern Brazilian shelf. Present oceanographic conditions reveal wind and freshwater input as the determinants of short-term productivity changes in the study area. Magnetic susceptibility and grain-size variations, together with proxies of productivity (organic carbon, carbon accumulation rate, Ba, Sr, and Ca content, Ba/Al, Ba/Ti, and Al/Ti ratios) were analyzed and compared with proxies of redox condition (V/Ti ratio), terrigenous input (Fe/Ca and Ti/Ca ratios), as well as other Element/Ti ratios, to evaluate the paleoceanographic and paleoclimatic changes over the period.The core covers a time interval of about 7650 years, with sedimentation rates varying from 0.025 to 0.250 cm a⁻¹, which represent time intervals of between 8 and 80 a per sample. There is a clear change in the sedimentation rate at about 2800 B.P.All grain-size and elemental results indicate the occurrence of conspicuous changes between 5200 and 5000 cal. B.P., as well as between 3000 and 2800 cal. B.P. A comparison of the results with the palynological information available from the adjacent continental areas suggests that the sedimentary changes in this last interval may be correlated with the onset of modern climatic conditions in South America, and especially, with the onset of the Plata Plume Water, a water mass that carries cold, less saline waters towards the north. However, minor changes are observed at ca. 1500 B.P. and are correlated with an increase in the atmospheric humidity. Furthermore, a time-series analysis undertaken using several proxies indicated the occurrence of Sub-Milankovitch cycles, which may be compared with those reported worldwide.     

Grain-size end-members and environmentally sensitive grain-size components: A comparative study in the mud shelf depocenters off southern Brazil

The current study aims to do a comparative analysis of the results obtained with two End-Member(EM)grain-size modeling techniques(AnalySize and BasEMMA)and the Environmental Sensitive Grain-Size(ESGS)modeling for sediment samples collected in the mudbelts of the southern Brazilian shelf.The methods were compared using grain-size data from the south Brazilian shelf,and the results are discussed here.It is the first time that the concept of ESGS,in its present form,is utilized outside China.The results show that despite its relative ease of use,the ESGS is not fully comparable to the EM analyses,and only two grain-size ESGS classes were recognized as analogous to EMs.The comparison of the AnalySize and BasEMMA procedures also revealed significant differences between the techniques.A comparative analysis between the two EM techniques revealed advantages in the BasEMMA,especially in the better correlation of the end-members with the original grain size distribution.The analysis of the geographical distribution of the EM abundances allowed point sources of sandy populations to be recognized as well as the contribution of the Rio de la Plata as a source of silty sediments to be inferred.     

Arsenic and trace metal contents in sediment profiles from the Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctica

Admiralty Bay (Antarctica) hosts three scientific stations (Ferraz, Arctowski and Macchu Picchu), which require the use of fossil fuel as an energy source. Fossil fuels are also considered the main source of pollution in the area, representing important inputs of major pollutants (organic compounds) and trace metals and metalloids of environmental interest. Accordingly, this work presents the results of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn in sediment profiles from Admiralty Bay. The sediment results from Ferraz station were slightly higher than the other sampling sites. The highest contents were observed for Cu and Zn (from 44 to 89 mg kg⁻¹). Otherwise, by using enrichment factors and geochronology analysis, the most relevant enrichment was observed for As in the samples collected close to the Ferraz station, indicating that increasing As content may be associated with the activities associated with this site.     

150 years of anthropogenic metal input in a Biosphere Reserve: the case study of the Cananéia–Iguape coastal system, Southeastern Brazil

The Cananéia–Iguape system consists of a complex of estuarine and lagoonal channels located in the coastal region of southeastern Brazil known as Lagamar, a Biosphere Reserve recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1991. The area suffered dramatic environmental changes along the last ca. 150 years initiated by the 1852 opening of an artificial channel, the Valo Grande, connecting the Ribeira de Iguape River to the estuarine system. Due to Au, Ag, Zn, and Pb mining activities that took place in the upstream regions of the Ribeira de Iguape River since the seventeenth century, the system has acted as a final destination of contaminated sediments. Analysis of cores located along the estuarine system revealed a history of contamination, with an increase of anthropogenic metal input between the decades of 1930 and 1990. The anthropogenic influence can be traced in locations as far as 20 km from the mouth of the artificial channel.     

Atmospheric ozone and flow field variations over Lisbon

The results of the observations of both total and layered ozone content of the atmosphere, the latter from C wavelength Umkehr observations, made in Lisbon (38° 46N; 09° 09W) during the period 1967 to 1971 by the Serviço Meteorológico Nacional, are analysed on a statistical basis in relation to the flow and temperature fields of the atmosphere, namely in relation to the position of the tropospheric jet axis and thê 100 mb air temperature.The preliminary results of the analysis show that the yearly mean variation of the total O₃ follow the very well-known trend as observed for other geographical coordinates, with a winter to spring maximum. In addition, the same parameter is positively correlated to the 100 mb temperature field for the seasons of the year, and it was found, both on a large time-scale and for synoptic distributions, that the total amount of O₃ is significantly higher a few hundreds of kilometres to the left of the jets looking downstream than to the right, so that mean cross-flow gradients of O₃ are field features to be taken into account.The time-height distributions of ozone from the Umkehr technique has revealed, in the long-term mean used, a descent of the level of the maximum of around 20 mb depth from the summer-winter period to spring, but this descent may be much more pronounced on occasions, as revealed by the preliminary analysis of a few days' period of important ozone changes in relation to the potential temperature and jet axis position. this showed, in addition, the existence of varying gradients along the stream, whereby differences in circulation along the jet complex may be implied.Work done for the Project LF2 of the IAC     

Paleolimnologically inferred eutrophication of a shallow, tropical, urban reservoir in southeast Brazil

We studied the eutrophication history of a tropical shallow reservoir in the S?o Paulo metropolitan region, southeast Brazil. We analyzed grain size, geochemistry, diatom assemblages, and land-use records in a sediment core from the reservoir to infer its trophic state history during the last ~110?years (1894?C2005). Eighty diatom species were observed in the core and shifts in the relative abundances of planktonic and benthic taxa indicate major limnological changes associated with complex interactions between hydrologic factors and eutrophication. Discostella stelligera was associated with deforestation and water physical changes whereas Aulacoseira granulata, a species abundant throughout the core, was mostly associated with high flux conditions and erosion events, regardless of trophic state. Eutrophication was triggered by construction of the city zoo (1958) and installation of the S?o Paulo State Department of Agriculture (1975) within the Gar?as watershed, and increasing loads of untreated sewage from these institutions. The data suggest that deterioration in water quality began after ~1975 and markedly accelerated after ~1990. The reservoir has been hypereutrophic since 1999. Steady increases in geochemical proxies for trophic state, along with a decrease in C/N ratios, indicated higher nutrient concentrations and the prevalence of autochthonous production towards the core top. Appearance of Achnanthidium catenatum ~1993 highlighted the onset of a marked eutrophication phase. The subsequent dominance of Planothidium rostratum and Cyclotella meneghiniana suggested a sharp shift to a hypereutrophic state since 1999. Land-use history proved valuable for validating the chronology and interpreting anthropogenic impacts. Multi-proxy analysis of the sediment record provided an effective tool for tracking ecological shifts in the reservoir ecosystem. This study provides the first reconstruction of lake eutrophication history in Brazil and highlights the importance of hydrological/physical changes as drivers of diatom assemblage shifts in reservoirs, which may confound trophic state inferences based on shifts in the planktonic/benthic diatom ratio.     

Cloud water interception in the high altitude tree heath forest (Erica arborea L.) of Paul da Serra Massif (Madeira,Portugal)

Cloud water interception (CWI) occurs when cloud droplets are blown against the forest canopy, where they are retained on the vegetation surface, forming larger water droplets that drip into the forest floor. CWI was measured from 1 October 1997 to 30 September 1999, on a first‐line tree heath (Erica arborea), at Bica da Cana, Madeira Island. Rainfall was corrected for wind‐loss effect and compared with throughfall and other climatological normals. The CWI depletion rate along a forest stand transect was also analysed during three distinct fog events in 2008. Cloud water was 28 mm day^?1, corresponding to 68% of total throughfall and 190% of the gross precipitation. Cloud water correlates directly with monthly normals of fog days and wind speed and correlates inversely with the monthly air temperature normal. CWI has an exponential correlation with monthly relative humidity normal. Cloud water capture depletion along the stand shows a logarithmic decrease. Although a forest stand does not directly relate to a first‐line tree heath, this study shows that CWI is a frequent phenomenon in the Paul da Serra massif. Restoration and protection of high altitude ecosystems in Madeira should be a priority, not only for biodiversity, ecological and economical purposes but also for its role in regional water resources. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.