Anthropogenic hydrocarbons in sediments of the northeastern Havana seaboard

Abstract

The presence of petrogenic hydrocarbons was evaluated in surface sediments from the northeastern Havana littoral (Cuba). Different geochemical biomarkers were used to differentiate between biogenic and anthropogenic hydrocarbons. Sediment samples were Soxhlet extracted and analyzed by gas chromatography with flame ionization and mass spectrometer detectors. Total concentrations of aliphatic hydrocarbons ranged from 5.5 ± 0.3 to 225.7 ± 12.6 µg g–1. The presence of an unresolved complex mixture, and the detection of hopanes and of the isoprenoid compounds pristane and phytane revealed the occurrence of petroleum-derived hydrocarbons in the sediment samples.

Keywords

• northeastern Havana littoral
• marine sediments
• biogenetic/anthropogenic inputs