The hydrological complex of Babitonga Bay, Brazil, forms a vast environmental system; hosting the last great expanse of mangrove forests in the southern hemisphere. Mangroves are among the most productive ecosystems on earth. Effects of an oil spill on the Babitonga Bay ecosystem was studied using lead and carbon isotopes. Samples of the spilled oil, as well as sediment and water samples, were obtained nine months after the accident, at the time of the salvage operation. Isotopic composition of the oil was utilized to trace the extent of the environmental pollution. In addition, isotopes of lead and carbon allowed for the identification of areas where oil was present. Contaminated sediments exhibited an isotopic composition (206Pb/207Pb and 208Pb/206Pb) close to that of the oil spilled. δ13C data confirmed these results. The results of this investigation suggest that lead isotope ratios can be very useful in the field of environmental forensics.
Lead, nitrogen and carbon stable isotopes in the sediments of Babitonga bay, Brazil:An oil spill case
SPANDRE, ROBERTO;
2013-01-01
Abstract
The hydrological complex of Babitonga Bay, Brazil, forms a vast environmental system; hosting the last great expanse of mangrove forests in the southern hemisphere. Mangroves are among the most productive ecosystems on earth. Effects of an oil spill on the Babitonga Bay ecosystem was studied using lead and carbon isotopes. Samples of the spilled oil, as well as sediment and water samples, were obtained nine months after the accident, at the time of the salvage operation. Isotopic composition of the oil was utilized to trace the extent of the environmental pollution. In addition, isotopes of lead and carbon allowed for the identification of areas where oil was present. Contaminated sediments exhibited an isotopic composition (206Pb/207Pb and 208Pb/206Pb) close to that of the oil spilled. δ13C data confirmed these results. The results of this investigation suggest that lead isotope ratios can be very useful in the field of environmental forensics.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
