RESUMO Áreas de mangue estão sujeitas a pressões antrópicas, ecossistema deposicional, e seus sedimentos contêm registros da história ambiental. Recentemente, foi criada uma Área de Preservação Ambiental na região de manguezais de São Gonçalo (Área de Preservação Ambiental de Itaoca). Esse local recebeu lixo doméstico ao longo de 28 anos. O perfil sedimentar determinou a geocronologia e quantificou os poluentes orgânicos persistentes, como hidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos, bifenilas policloradas e pesticidas organoclorados. Os hidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos apresentaram origem pirogênica com concentrações moderadas, exceto para o dibenzo [a,h] antraceno, um composto carcinogênico que excedeu o nível de efeito limítrofe. O registro sedimentar correspondente ao período anterior ao lixão sugeriu que os hidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos estavam ligados à queima de madeira por olarias. O perileno foi um bom marcador para a redução da biomassa vegetal, sugerindo associação com a supressão de manguezais durante a ocupação. No período que antecede ao lixão, antes de 1976, a contaminação do sedimento por pesticidas organoclorados, como [2,2-bis (p-clorofenil) −1,1dicloroetileno] (metabólito primário do [1,1,1-tricloro-2,2-bis (p-clorofenil) etano]), foi vinculada a campanhas de saúde pública no combate ao mosquito da malária, ultrapassando os valores de nível de efeito limítrofe. No período de atividade do lixão, o aumento dos valores de [2,2-bis (p-clorofenil) −1,1dicloroetileno] coincidiu com o banimento do [1,1,1-tricloro-2,2-bis (p-clorofenil) etano], sugerindo seu descarte irregular. As bifenilas policloradas estavam abaixo das concentrações de nível de efeito limítrofe, mas semelhantes aos encontrados em lixões industriais em outros países. Os poluentes orgânicos persistentes mostraram-se eficientes marcadores antrópicos de ocupação urbana e contaminação acarretada pelo lixão. Por estar localizado em área de proteção ambiental, é necessária a retomada imediata do processo de remediação para interromper o processo de contaminação da Área de Preservação Ambiental em questão.

ABSTRACT Mangrove areas are subject to human pressure, depositional ecosystem, and their sediments contain records of environmental history. The Itaoca Environmental Protection Area was recently created in the mangrove region of São Gonçalo. This site received domestic waste over 28 years. The sedimentary profile determined geochronology and quantified persistent organic pollutants, such as polyaromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, and organochlorine pesticides. Polyaromatic hydrocarbons had a pyrogenic origin with moderate concentrations, except for dibenzo [a,h] anthracene, a carcinogenic compound that exceeded the limit effect level. The sedimentary record corresponding to the period prior to the dump suggested that polyaromatic hydrocarbons were linked to the burning of wood by potteries. Perylene was a good marker for the reduction of plant biomass, suggesting an association with the suppression of mangroves during the occupation. In the period prior to the dump, before 1976, the contamination of the sediment by organochlorine pesticides, such as [2,2-bis (p-clorofenil) −1,1dicloroetileno] (primary metabolite of [1,1,1-tricloro-2,2-bis (p-clorofenil) etano]), was linked to public health campaigns to combat the malaria mosquito, exceeding the limit effect level values. During the period of activity of the dump, the increase in [2,2-bis (p-clorofenil) −1,1dicloroetileno] values coincided with the banning of [1,1,1-tricloro-2,2-bis (p-clorofenil) etano], suggesting its irregular disposal. polychlorinated biphenyls were below limit effect level concentrations, but similar to those found in industrial dumps in other countries. Persistent organic pollutants proved to be efficient anthropic markers of urban occupation and contamination caused by the landfill. As it is located in an environmental protection area, an immediate resumption of the remediation process is necessary to interrupt the contamination process of the Environmental Protection Area in question.

Abstract This research study sought to evaluate aimed at evaluating the possible advantages of using Fuzzy Logic as opposed to Boolean Logic to assess environmental contamination and source appraisal for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Results obtained through traditional assessment tools for two different tropical coastal areas through using traditional clustering and principal components analysis were compared with those derived from the Fuzzy Logic, using the by Fuzzy C-means algorithm. The feedings achieved through Fuzzy Logic showed a greater qualitative detail than those derived from traditional tools. The abrupt and unnatural changes obtained from the usual classification methods were avoided by having membership values varying continuously in space, providing a more accurate picture of environmental contamination in complex and multiple sources environments. Furthermore, by not depending on statistic suppositions distribution of data like other methods, becomes more suitable for environmental data. Although Fuzzy Logic does not produce quantitative interpretations, its application generates adequate the data needed to avoid environmental management bias in the inference of contamination sources.

ABSTRACT Firewood is still a major source of household energy in most parts of the world, including Brazil. This study establishes baseline fuelwood consumption for domestic cooking by rural families in Bahia, Brazil, as part of a socioenvironmental project centered on stove substitution. The project, titled “Fogão do Mar” (Seaside Stove), engaged families in adopting more efficient stoves to replace the traditional open-air, rudimentary models. The study involved household visits and interviews with 103 low-income rural families to estimate firewood consumption for domestic cooking. The results showed that all households have liquid petroleum gas (LPG) stove, but most of the families prefer to use a firewood stove for cooking. The annual per capita consumption of firewood was estimated to be 1,297±952 kg, which is higher than estimate by governmental data (560 kg), as well as other rural regions. Therefore, the consumption of firewood is regionalized. Economic factors are decisive in the choice of fuel for cooking.