First assessment of hydrocarbon pollution in a mangrove estuary

Non-aromatic hydrocarbons partitioned between the dissolved and particulate phases were studied from the river ‘Grande Rivière à Goyaves’ and from the lagoon of ‘Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin’ surrounded by a mangrove ecosystem, to assess petroleum contamination. Determinations of different hydrocarbons were carried out by gas chromatography. The results show large differences between the two periods investigated. The concentration of hydrocarbons ranged from 0.36 μg l−1 to 339.84 μg l−1. The mangrove governs the distribution pattern of hydrocarbons for the riverʹs stations. Several maxima for n-C27, n-C29, n-C31 and a low proportion of isoprenoids were observed. The n-alkane profile, the ratio of unresolved to resolved compounds, carbon preference index, and the riverʹs output indicate a low petroleum contamination of the lagoon.