ASSESSMENT OF HYDROCARBON LEVELS IN MARINE SEDIMENTS COLLECTED FROM THE GULF OF NICOYA REGION LOCATED BETWEEN PUNTA MORALES AND COSTA DE PAJAROS AND THEIR POSSIBLE ORIGIN (BIOGENIC/ANTHROPOGENIC)

 

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Autores: Rodríguez-Chaves, Daniela, Saravia-Arguedas, Ana, Pacheco-Urpí, Oscar, Piedra-Marín, Gilberto
Formato: artículo original
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de Publicación:2015
Descripción:This paper presents an evaluation of the hydrocarbon levels in marine sediments of the inner region of the Gulf of Nicoya in order to determine their possible impact on aquaculture activities planned in the area between Punta Morales and Costa de Pájaros. Petroleum hydrocarbons could interfere with aquaculture activities since most marine organisms are unable to degrade these substances. Consequently, for a better assessment of the site for development of aquaculture activities it was important to gather information related to the presence of hydrocarbons in the sediments of the area. To accomplish this, sampling activities were undertaken in each of the three seasons of the year 2009: the dry season, the dry-rainy transition period and the rainy season. Aliphatic hydrocarbons were analyzed by using gas chromatography (GC-FID) and aromatic species by fluorescence spectrometry. Hydrocarbon levels were found to be above 100 µg/g, which suggest high hydrocarbon pollution throughout the study site. The highest hydrocarbon concentrations were detected in the sampling sites near LAICA´s port, which is directly associated with the load/download activities carried out at the LAICA port.
País:Portal de Revistas UNA
Institución:Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica
Repositorio:Portal de Revistas UNA
Lenguaje:Español
OAI Identifier:oai:ojs.www.una.ac.cr:article/6612
Acceso en línea:https://www.revistas.una.ac.cr/index.php/geografica/article/view/6612
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Hidrocarburos
sedimentos
contaminación
zona marino-costera
Golfo de Nicoya
Hydrocarbons
sediments
pollution
marine-coastal zone
Gulf of Nicoya
Costa Rica