Use of trialkylamines as an indicator of urban sewage in sludges, coastal waters and sediments

摘要: Coastal areas receive a variety of land-based organic inputs, both natural and synthetic. The identification specific markers in different marine compartments may be used to trace the pathways transport, regions concentration short-term effects such inputs into ocean. Particular attention is being devoted assessment urban wastes at coastal because environmental implications discharging large quantities sewage waters or sludges sea. Here we report widespread occurrence trialkylamines (TAMs) areas, originating from discharges. concentrations these compounds—which have formula R1R2NCH3, where R1 = CH3 CnH2n+1 R2= for n 14–18—in Western Mediterranean North Sea sediments (Fig. 1) ranged 0.1 35 μgg−1 depending on distance pollutant budget sources. We identified TAMs as impurities quaternary ammonium salts fabric softeners household laundry detergents, which reason they are found waters, primarily associated with particulate phase. They correlate sedimentary record other domestic surfactant markers, long-chain alkylbenzenes (LABs). propose, therefore, that serve conservative indicators contamination areas.