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Near‐surface sediments (0–45 mm depth interval) from the Iceland Basin (59°N, 21°W, 3070‐m water depth) and Biscay Abyssal Plain (48°N, 17°W, 4105‐m water depth) were sectioned at millimeter‐scale resolution to assess alterations in key lipid biomarkers during early diagenesis. Inventories (µg cm−2 in the topmost 45 mm) of biomarkers from presumed terrestrial sources (>C20 linear n‐alkanes, n‐alkanoic acids, n‐alkanols) and from phytoplankton sources (phytosterols, long‐chain alkenones and alkenoates) were 1.5–4 times more abundant in the Iceland Basin core than in the Biscay Abyssal Plain core, indicating greater sedimentary inputs and/or preservation at the Iceland Basin site. Biomarker concentrations varied significantly over millimeter‐scale depth intervals. Pronounced subsurface concentration maxima were present at both sites. At the Biscay Abyssal Plain site, steep concentration gradients in the uppermost few mm of the sediment column indicate extensive diagenetic losses at or near the sediment/water interface. Strong covariance was seen in the concentrations of various compounds within each class (e.g., long‐chain n‐alkanes, n‐alkanols, n‐alkanoic acids and long‐chain alkenones and alkyl alkenoates), indicating that individual compounds within each class are associated with the same organic matrix and have similar degradation and mixing rates. Thus biomarker indices for assessment of land‐derived inputs (CPI, C29/C31, ACL) and sea surface temperature (IPT) remain largely unaltered by early diagenetic processes in oxic, abyssal sediments in spite of extensive bioturbation and degradative losses within the uppermost few centimeters of the sediment column.

Abstract. We studied variations in terrigenous input and sea surface temperature over the last 208 ka using a multiproxy approach, involving direct comparison of terrigenous and marine molecular biomarker, foraminiferal abundance, and other sedimentological data for the same horizons in a single northeast Atlantic core (core T88-9P; 48o23 ' N, 25o05 ' W, 3193 m water depth, 790 cm core length) with a well-resolved •5180 stratigraphy. The abundances of three landderived, long-chain compound classes, the n-alkanes (C27, C29, and C 3 l), the n-alkanoic acids (C24, C26, and C28), and the n-alkanols (C24, C26, and C28) show glacial/interglacial related changes in the past 208 ka which generally parallel the weight percent noncarbonate. The abundances of these three compound classes are higher in glacial than in interglacial sediments. Such changes are consistent with the expected higher dust inputs during glaciations as well as enhanced advection of particulate matter in current systems. Ice-rafted debris (Heinrich events) may also contribute to the terrigenous biomarker record. The sea surface temperature (SST) signals derived from the alkenone unsaturation index (uK'37) give an average SST during interglacial periods of 13øC, which is about 3-4øC higher than the average glacial SST estimate. The uK'37 -derived SST values dropped markedly in some Heinrich layers, while sometimes leading the onset of the layer; the percent Neogloboquadrina pachyderma(s), which is another frequently used qualitative temperature proxy, generally shows maxima coinciding with the layers. Our results show that most Heinrich layers were produced during times of intensely cold waters in the eastern North Atlantic. They demonstrate that sufficient alkenones are present in the sediments for alkenone stratigraphy to be used as a tool for the assessment of short-term variations in sea surface temperatures even in these oligotrophic North Atlantic waters.

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The Itajaí-Açu estuarine system, located in southern Brazil, has great economic importance due to the presence of two ports (Itajaí and Navegantes). This system is affected by industrial and dredging activities, which can cause the remobilization of pollutants accumulated over time in the sediment. In this context, hydrocarbons were assessed in twelve surface sediment samples. n-Alkane and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) concentrations were determined by gas chromatography and their sources assessed. Total concentrations ranged between 0.50 ± 0.04 and 69.70 ± 3.90 µg g -1 dry weight (d.w.) for n-alkanes and from 63.9 ± 12.1 to 1459.0 ± 43.5 ng g -1 d.w. for PAH. Most of the sediment samples presented carbon preference index (CPI) values close to unity, indicating that the area is submitted to petroleum-related sources, mainly close to Itajaí harbor, where an intense unresolved complex mixture (UCM) was observed. The presence at all stations of aβ-hopane biomarkers also indicated petrogenic input. Based on selected PAH ratios, the sedimentary PAH composition reflects a mixture of both petrogenic and pyrolytic sources. A comparison of the PAH concentrations found in this study with those listed in the sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) indicated that adverse biological effects on the biota are rarely expected.Keywords: aliphatic hydrocarbon, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, biomarker, hopane, contamination IntroductionContamination levels in coastal environments are increasing mainly due to the presence of anthropogenic activities, as waste industrial discharges, industrial activities, navigation traffic, etc.1 Therefore, sediment contamination in such areas may occur. In several countries, port activities are rapidly developing, requiring greater attention, especially in relation to the dredging of contaminated sediments and environmental management. 2,3The Itajaí-Açu estuarine system is located on the north-central coast of Santa Catarina state, in Brazil. This is an area of economic interest not only because of tourism, but also due to the presence of the Port of Itajaí, which is considered the third largest container handling port in Brazil, the major international trading point of the state, and the largest national fishing pole landing site. Associated with this latter activity, several fish processing industries are installed along the margins of this estuary, mainly in the city of Itajaí. These industries dispose their waste products, usually without any treatment, directly into the estuary. [4][5][6][7] In addition, the harbor area is constantly dredged, in order to maintain the navigation channel at an elevation of 11 meters. In May 2011, dredging began to deepen the main river channel, aiming to increase the depth from 11 to 14 meters, allowing the entrance of larger ships. Sediment dredging can cause remobilization of the pollutants accumulated in this compartment over time. 6 O r g a n i c c o m p o u n d s s u c h a s a l i p h a t i c hydrocarbons (AHs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (P...