Dissolved/dispersed Petroleum Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the São Sebastião Channel, São Paulo, Brazil

A monitoring programme at São Sebastião Channel, São Paulo, Brazil, was conducted in terms of dissolved/dispersed petroleum aromatic hydrocarbons (DDPAH) in water analysed by flourescence spectroscopy. The study was done in order to establish a baseline data for this area and verify the petroleum hydrocarbon influence from the oil terminal (DTCS) and other human activities over the channel. The DDPAH concentrations on subsurface waters were low and only one station presented a chronic local contribution. An oil spill occurred in May 1994 and it was followed-up to verify its influence in this area. The obtained data were important to verify the influence of the oil spill along the Channel. The oil spilled reached the majority of the sampling stations, and the highest mean concentration found was close to the accident point (49.6 μg l−1). Due to the intense wind driven currents of the Channel area, however, the elevation of the hydrocarbons levels in the surface waters was only temporary.