Syftet med arbetet var att samla in mätdata för att kontrollera luftkvalitén ombord på två svenska fartyg, för att sedan jämföra resultaten med Arbetsmiljöverkets hygieniska gränsvärden och den svenska normalbefolkningens exponering för olika ämnen. Resultatet från studien var också tänkt att vara till hjälp för att utforma nya råd och rekommendationer för att minimera exponeringen och även till att bidra med material för fler framtida studier. Under cirka en vecka ombord på fartygen samlades data in med hjälp av passiva provtagare för att registrera halter av bensen, kvävedioxid och polycykliska aromatiska kolväten. Resultaten visade att luftkvalitén ombord på de två fartygen generellt sett är god. Samtliga uppmätta halter låg långt under Arbetsmiljöverkets gränsvärden och det skiljde sig inte mycket varken mellan fartyg eller jämfört med den svenska normalbefolkningens exponering. Därför är inte svensk sjömän ombord på svenskflaggade fartyg i större fara för toxiska luftföroreningar ombord jämfört med när de är hemma. / The main purpose of this study was to measure and evaluate the air quality onboard two Swedish ships, and compare the results with the exposure limits laid out by the Swedish Work Environment Authority (Arbetsmiljöverket) and the Swedish population’s exposure to various substances. The results of this study were also meant to be helpful to form new advice and recommendations to minimize exposure and also to provide material for future studies. During approximately one week onboard the two ships data were collected using passive samplers to register levels of benzene, nitrogen dioxide and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The results indicated that the air quality onboard the two ships were generally good. All measured concentrations were well below safety applications and it did not differ very much neither between ships nor compared with the Swedish population’s exposure. In conclusion, Swedish sailors onboard Swedish ships are not in greater danger of toxic air pollutants onboard compared to when they are at home.

The maturity level of Internet Protocol (IP) and the emergence of standard Ethernet interfaces of Hydrocarbon Process Automation Application (HPAA) present a real opportunity to combine independent industrial applications onto an integrated IP based network platform. Quality of Service (QoS) for IP over Ethernet has the strength to regulate traffic mix and support timely delivery. The combinations of these technologies lend themselves to provide a platform to support HPAA applications across Local Area Network (LAN) and Wide Area Network (WAN) networks. HPAA systems are composed of sensors, actuators, and logic solvers networked together to form independent control system network platforms. They support hydrocarbon plants operating under critical conditions that — if not controlled — could become dangerous to people, assets and the environment. This demands high speed networking which is triggered by the need to capture data with higher frequency rate at a finer granularity. Nevertheless, existing HPAA network infrastructure is based on unique autonomous systems, which has resulted in multiple, parallel and separate networks with limited interconnectivity supporting different functions. This created increased complexity in integrating various applications and resulted higher costs in the technology life cycle total ownership. To date, the concept of consolidating HPAA into a converged IP network over standard Ethernet has not yet been explored. This research aims to explore and develop the HPAA Process Control Systems (PCS) in a Converged Internet Protocol (CIP) using experimental and simulated networks case studies. Results from experimental and simulation work showed encouraging outcomes and provided a good argument for supporting the co-existence of HPAA and non-HPAA applications taking into consideration timeliness and reliability requirements. This was achieved by invoking priority based scheduling with the highest priority being awarded to PCS among other supported services such as voice, multimedia streams and other applications. HPAA can benefit from utilizing CIP over Ethernet by reducing the number of interdependent HPAA PCS networks to a single uniform and standard network. In addition, this integrated infrastructure offers a platform for additional support services such as multimedia streaming, voice, and data. This network‐based model manifests itself to be integrated with remote control system platform capabilities at the end user's desktop independent of space and time resulting in the concept of plant virtualization.

Les champignons endophytes sont des organismes qui vivent à l’intérieur de plantes sans causer de symptômes de maladie apparents. Ils sont trouvés dans virtuellement toutes plante, et la nature des interactions peut aller de mutualiste à pathogène dépendant des conditions. La diversité et la structure des communautés des champignons endophytes dans les plantes poussant en milieu extrêmement pollué, ainsi que leur rôle potentiel pour améliorer la phytorémédiation, demeurent peu compris. Dans cette étude, nous nous sommes intéressés aux communautés de champignons endophytes de racines de deux espèces de plantes (Eleocharis erythropoda et Populus sp.). Ces espèces poussaient de manière spontanée dans trois bassins de sédimentation d’un ancienne usine pétro-chimique ayant des niveaux de contaminations différents, en utilisant à la fois une approche d’isolation d’organisme ainsi que des analyses de pyroséquençage de l’ITS d’ADN ribosomal. Nos résultats indiquent que les niveaux de contamination ont un effet significatif sur la composition taxonomique des champignons endophytes des racines de E. erythropoda. Une majorité des données de séquences appartiennent à la classe des Dothideomycetes dans les échantillons de forte concentration en hydrocarbures pétroliers, dont une majorité appartient au genre Alternaria. La comparaison des données d’isolation et de pyroséquençage suggère que l’isolation de souches ne permet pas l’obtention des souches les plus représentées dans les données de pyroséquençage. Ces résultats pourront potentiellement aider à l’élaboration de stratégies pour améliorer la phytorémédiation en utilisant les champignons endophytes. / Endophytic fungi are organisms that live inside plant tissues without any apparent disease symptoms. They are found in virtually all plant species and their interactions can vary widely from mutualism to parasitism depending chiefly on environmental conditions and stresses. The diversity and community structure of fungal endophytes in extremely polluted sites and their role in phytoremediation remain largely unexplored. In this study we investigated the community structure of endophytic fungi in roots of two plant species (Eleocharis eryhtropoda and Populus sp.) growing spontaneously in three petroleum-contaminated sedimentation basins of a former petro-chemical plant with different contamination levels. We used both a culture-dependent method of strain isolation as well as a culture-independent method of pyrosequencing of ITS ribosomal DNA. Our results indicate that levels of contamination shape the taxonomic composition of endophytic fungi in E. erythropoda roots. A majority of the reads belonged to the Dothydeomycetes class in smaples from high petroleum-hydrocarbon levels, with the Alternaria genus accounting for the majority of these reads. In addition comparison between culture-dependent and -independent methods showed that strain isolation does not promote the most abundant species found in pyrosequencing. This could help to develop strategies for improving phytoremediation using fungal endophytes.

Afin de réduire la quantité d’hydrocarbures déversés dans le milieu marin, les navires de la flotte marchande et, depuis peu, les navires militaires sont tenus de contrôler leurs rejets huileux. Par exemple, seules les eaux de cales dont la concentration en huile (indice hydrocarbure) est inférieure à 15 ppmv peuvent être déversées en mer (Marpol 73/78). Au-delà de cette teneur, et si le stockage à bord n’est pas envisageable, un traitement avant rejet devient alors inévitable. Cependant, les traitements actuels des eaux de cales se sont avérés jusqu’ici insuffisants. La photocatalyse hétérogène, méthode largement utilisée dans le cas du traitement d’effluents gazeux et liquides, a ainsi été proposée dans ce travail. L’abattement de l’indice hydrocarbure a été suivi par analyse GC-MS. Dès lors, après avoir mis en évidence la faisabilité et les limites du procédé batch, un réacteur photocatalytique à aération diffusée (DAPR) a été développé afin de remédier au manque d’oxygène dissous de l’effluent réel. Comparativement au traitement dans le réacteur batch, une meilleure efficacité de la dégradation a été observée dans le DAPR. Cependant, l’analyse parallèle (ATD-GC-MS) de l’évolution de la composition de la phase gazeuse a montré qu’une quantité non négligeable de composés organiques volatils (COV) y étaient alors émis. Enfin, les nalcanes ont été identifiés comme étant les composés les plus réfractaires au traitement photocatalytique et le pentadécane a alors été choisi comme polluant modèle des eaux de cales pour une analyse cinétique. / In order to reduce the marine oil pollution, ships have to control their hydrocarbon dumping at sea. For example, only bilge water that has a hydrocarbon oil index less than 15 ppmv can be discharged at sea (Marpol 73/78). Otherwise, effluents have to be stored on board or treated. In this study, heterogeneous photocatalysis was proposed as an alternative method to the current treatments that are still not efficient enough. Oil removal was monitored by GC-MS analysis. Then, by demonstrating the feasibility and limitations of the batch process, we developed a diffused aeration photocatalytic reactor (DAPR). In this case, better results were obtained than in the batch reactor because the problem of the lack of dissolved oxygen in the real effluent was solved by supplying air continuously. However, volatile organic compounds were then found by monitoring (ATD-GC-MS) the evolution of the gaseous phase composition. Finally, we showed that linear alkanes were the most resistant compounds to the photocatalytic treatment and thereby, pentadecane was chosen as a model pollutant of bilge water for a kinetic study.

Les hydrocarbures aromatiques polycycliques (HAP) sont des polluants organiques persistants (POP) émis par les activités humaines suite à la combustion incomplète de la matière organique (industrie, chauffage, trafic routier...). En raison de leur faible taux de dégradation, de leur toxicité, de leur capacité à être transportés sur de longues distances et de leur bioaccumulation dans la matière organique, les HAP font l'objet d'une surveillance atmosphérique (directive cadre européenne 96/62/CE du 27 septembre 1996). Les bryophytes, plus communément appelées mousses, sont utilisées depuis une trentaine d'années pour la biosurveillance de la qualité de l'air. Leurs caractéristiques biologiques font de ces plantes terrestres d'excellents bioaccumulateurs des dépôts de polluants atmosphériques. Cependant, elles ont été peu utilisées pour la biosurveillance des HAP et pour des échelles spatiales et temporelles très limitées. Dans ce contexte, la thèse a pour objectif de valider l'utilisation de bryophytes comme outils pour la biosurveillance des retombées atmosphériques de HAP à différentes échelles spatio-temporelles. La première phase de ce travail a consisté en un développement analytique afin de valider l'analyse des HAP par chromatographie liquide associée à une détection par fluorescence (CLHP-FLD), l'extraction liquide-liquide des HAP contenus dans les dépôts totaux et l'extraction par liquide pressurisé (PLE) des HAP contenus dans les mousses. Cette dernière a été optimisée, grâce à la réalisation d'un plan d'expériences, et a été complétée par des tests de purification par extraction sur phase solide (SPE). Des études de terrain ont ensuite été réalisées afin d'évaluer les tendances temporelles à l'échelle saisonnière, annuelle et historique, ainsi que les tendances spatiales à l'échelle locale et régionale, des teneurs en HAP dans les mousses. Une étude menée sur des mousses d'herbier prélevées dans le Parc Naturel de Bertiz (Navarre, Espagne) entre 1879 et 2007 a permis d'identifier les sources historiques d'émission des HAP. Les bryophytes apparaissent comme de bons « témoins » de la contamination atmosphérique du passé. Une étude annuelle (2010-2011) de biosurveillance active menée à Bertiz a permis ensuite d'observer des tendances saisonnières des teneurs en HAP dans les mousses Hylocomium splendens (Hedw.) Schimp., liées aux variations des émissions atmosphériques et des conditions météorologiques, en particulier des précipitations. De plus, l'étude annuelle a révélé un fractionnement lors de l'accumulation par les mousses des HAP contenus dans les dépôts totaux, qui résulte d'une affinité des HAP pour les dépôts liée à leur solubilité et d'une affinité des HAP pour le végétal liée à leur propriété lipophile (KOW). Ainsi, le suivi des flux atmosphériques de HAP dans les dépôts totaux ne permet pas de prévoir a priori les teneurs de HAP dans les écosystèmes. Enfin, une analyse multivariée de la distribution spatiale des teneurs en HAP dans l'espèce Hypnum cupressiforme Hedw. prélevée en Espagne (Navarre), France (Île-de-France) et Suisse (Plateau Suisse et région de Bâle) a permis de caractériser les sources de contamination atmosphériques des régions étudiées et l'influence de paramètres environnementaux tels que l'altitude et la pluviométrie. / Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are persistent organic pollutants (POPs) emitted by human activities during incomplete combustion of organic matter (industry, domestic heating, road traffic…). Due to their low degradation rates, toxicity, long-range transport and bioaccumulation in organic matter, PAHs are monitored in the atmosphere (Council Directive 96/62/EC of 27 September 1996). Bryophytes, more commonly called mosses, have been used during the past three decades for biomonitoring air quality. Because of their biological characteristics, these terrestrial plants are excellent bioaccumulators of airborne pollutants. However, few studies concern PAH biomonitoring and they are usually restricted to studies limited in time and space. In this context, the thesis aims to validate bryophytes as tools for biomonitoring atmospheric deposition of PAHs on various space-time scales. The first step of this work consisted in developing the analytical procedures in order to validate PAH analysis by liquid chromatography associated with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD), liquid-liquid extraction of PAHs from bulk deposition and pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) of PAHs from mosses. The latter was optimized with a factorial design and was completed by purification tests with solid phase extraction (SPE). Field studies were then carried out to evaluate temporal trends of PAH levels in mosses at seasonal, annual and historical scales, as well as spatial trends, at local and regional scales. A study undertaken on herbarium mosses sampled in Bertiz Natural Park (Navarra, Spain) between 1879 and 2007 leaded to the identification of PAH historical emission sources. Bryophytes appear as excellent “witnesses” of the past atmospheric contamination. An annual biomonitoring study (2010-2011) at Bertiz showed seasonal trends of PAH content in mosses Hylocomium splendens (Hedw.) Schimp., which are related to variations of PAH emissions and weather conditions, particularly precipitations. Moreover, the annual study revealed a fractionation of PAHs while they are transferred from total deposition to the mosses, as the affinity of PAHs for deposition samples was related with their solubility and their affinity for the plant was related to their lipophilic property (KOW). Thus, monitoring PAH fluxes in total deposition does not give an a priori estimation of PAH contents in the ecosystems. Finally, multivariate analysis of the spatial distribution of PAHs in the species Hypnum cupressiforme Hedw. sampled in Spain (Navarra), France (Île-de-France) and Switzerland (Swiss Plateau and Basel area) leaded to the characterization of the atmospheric contamination sources in the different areas and the influence of environmental parameters such as elevation and pluviometry.

Les procaryotes sulfato-réducteurs (PSRs)jouent un rôle majeur dans les cycles biogéochimiques de la matière et interviennentnotamment dans la dégradation de la matière organique récalcitrante (e.g. hydrocarbures) mais également dans les processus d’oxydo-réduction de métaux et/ou métalloïdes.L’objet de ce travail a consisté à approfondir certain de ces aspects de la physiologie des PSRs. La dégradation d’hydrocarbures a été étudiée en mésophilie, avec la caractérisation d’une souche bactérienne issue d’un site pollué. Cette souche décrite comme une nouvelle espèce,Desulfatiferulaberrensis BE2801, est capable de dégrader les n-alcènes. La dégradation d’hydrocarbures a également été étudiée à très haute température chez une archée,Archaeoglobus fulgidus. Cette souche oxyde les n-alcanes, l’oxydation étant vraisemblablement catalysée par la protéine PflD.L’ensemble des travaux réalisés montre que PflDserait une alkylsuccinate synthase qui permettrait l’activation de l’hydrocarbure par addition au fumarate. Outre ses capacités hydrocarbonoclastes à haute température, A. fulgidusest également capable de corroder le fer, de manière indirecte par la production de sulfures, et directement, en oxydant le fer de manière originale avec la formation de « micro-cheminées ». Outre l’oxydation de matière organique et de métaux, les PSRs sont également capables de réduire un grand nombre d’éléments, notamment les métaux et métalloïdes. C’est le cas de Desulfotomaculum hydrothermale, connue pour réduire à haute température l’arsenic, métalloïde hautement toxique. L’analyse de la séquence du génome de cette souche a confirmé ses capacités de détoxication. / Sulfate-reducing prokaryotes (SRPs) play a significant role in the biogeochemical cycles of matter, in particular in the degradation of recalcitrant organic compounds (e.g. hydrocarbons) but also in oxido-reduction of metals and/or metalloids. The aim of this work was to deepen some of these aspects of SRPs physiology. Hydrocarbon degradation was studied with a mesophilic bacterial strain isolated from a polluted site.This strain, described as a new species, Desulfatiferula berrensis BE2801, is able to degrade n-alkenes. Degradation of hydrocarbons has also been studied at high temperatures with an archaeon, Archaeoglobus fulgidus. This archaeon oxidize n-alkanes with most likely involvement of the PflD protein. All our experiments showed that PflD would be an alkylsuccinate synthase allowing hydrocarbon activation by addition to fumarate. Moreover, A. fulgidus was shown to corrode iron at high temperature, through the production of sulfide and also by directly oxidizing iron with formation of unusual "micro-chimneys". In addition to organic matter oxidation, SRPs are known to reduce a large number of elements, including metals and metalloids. This is the case for Desulfotomaculum hydrothermale reported to reduce arsenic at high temperature. Analyses of the genome sequence of this bacterium confirmed its ability to detoxify this mineral.

Le devenir des hydrocarbures (HC) dans les environnements hypersalins constitue une problématique environnementale majeure. Ce travail pour objectifs (1) d’évaluer l’impact d’une pollution pétrolière sur les communautés microbiennes d’un milieu hypersalin, (2) de déterminer comment les archées hydrocarbonoclastes accèdent aux HC et, (3) de déterminer si la biodégradation est possible en conditions anaérobies dans ces environnements hypersalés. Nous avons démontré qu’une biodégradation modérée du pétrole est possible en milieu hypersalin environ 10 % de la fraction aliphatique du pétrole sont biodégradé. Une disparition progressive des composés aromatiques les plus légers est également observée, liée aux processus abiotiques. La dynamique des communautés procaryotiques montre un changement dans la structure de la communauté bactérienne autochtone des saumures. Une résistance à la contamination pétrolière a en revanche été observée pour les communautés archéennes des saumures. Dans une deuxième partie du travail, nous avons pu montrer, à l’aide d’une souche d’archée hyperhalophile modèle (Haloferax volcanii MSCN14), que les archées hydrocarbonoclastes de ces environnements mettent en oeuvre plusieurs mécanismes leur permettant d’augmenter la biodisponibilité des HC. Dans une dernière partie des travaux, nous avons testé les capacités d’une souche modèle (Hfx. volcanii MSNC 16) à dégrader les HC en anaérobiose. Si Hfx. volcanii MSNC16 est bien capable d’utiliser le fumarate comme accepteur terminal d’électrons, elle n’est en revanche pas capable de dégrader l’alcane testé (heptadécane) en absence d’oxygène. / The fate of hydrocarbons (HC) in hypersaline environments is an important environmental issue. This work aimed to (1) assess the impact of oil pollution on microbial communities of a hypersaline environment, (2) determine how hydrocarbonoclastic archaea can access to HC and (3) whether biodegradation is possible in these hypersaline environments in the absence of oxygen. We have shown that moderate oil biodegradation is possible under hypersaline conditions. In these conditions close to natural ones, about 10% of the aliphatic hydrocarbons were biodegrade. A gradual disappearance of the lighter aromatic compounds was also observed, but these losses were mainly due to abiotic processes. The monitoring of prokaryotic communities based on molecular fingerprints showed a change in the structure of the indigenous bacterial community. On the contrary, resistance to oil contamination was observed among the indigenous archaeal communities of brines. In the second part of this work, laboratory cultures of a hyperhalophilic archaeal strain (Haloferax volcanii MSCN14), allowed to demonstrate that, in hypersaline environments, hydrocarbonoclastic archaea use several strategies to increase the bioavailability of HC. Indeed, strain MSCN14 was capable of producing one or several biosurfactants during growth on different HC, and was adhering to the surface of the HC. In the last part of this work, we tested the capacities of a model archaeal strain (Hfx. volcanii MSNC 16) to degrade HC anaerobically. If Hfx. volcanii MSNC16 was able to use fumarate as a terminal electron acceptor, it was, however, not capable of degrading heptadecane in the absence of oxygen.

[pt] As reservas são os principais ativos responsáveis pela valoração das companhias petrolíferas frente ao mercado mundial. No entanto, para definir qualquer volume de hidrocarboneto como reserva, se faz necessária a construção de um plano de desenvolvimento para explorar e comercializar todo óleo e gás disponíveis. Com isso, o conhecimento prévio do volume de hidrocarbonetos se torna estratégico para antecipar o desenvolvimento e facilitar a obtenção de investimentos. O objetivo dessa dissertação é propor uma metodologia de previsão de reservas através de melhorias nos métodos propostos por Knoring et al. (1999) e Barcelos (2006). A primeira melhoria se refere à otimização do ajuste dos modelos propostos às séries históricas de volume recuperável através de um método iterativo para fornecer soluções iniciais ao método de estimativa dos mínimos quadrados não lineares. A segunda melhoria ocorre no processo de escolha do melhor modelo, evitando que todo o processo necessite ser revisto após a inserção de novos dados às series históricas a cada ano. Para analisar a eficácia do trabalho proposto, o método é aplicado à 7 séries históricas de volume recuperável e comparadas com a atual metodologia de previsão de reservas utilizada pela companhia patrocinadora do estudo. / [en] Reserves are the main assets responsible for valuation of oil companies in the world market. However, to set any volume of hydrocarbon as reserves, it is necessary to develop a business plan to exploit and commercialize all oil and gas available. Therefore, the prior knowledge of the volume of hydrocarbons becomes strategic to anticipate the development and facilitate the acquisition of investments. The goal of this dissertation is to propose a methodology for reserves forecasting through improvements in the methods proposed by Knoring et al. (1999) and Barcelos (2006). The first improvement is related to optimize the fit of the proposed models for recoverable volume time series via an iterative method to provide initial solutions to the nonlinear least squares estimation method. The second improvement occurs in the process of choosing the best model avoiding the whole process needs to be revised after inserting new data to historical series each year. To analyze the effectiveness of the proposed work, the method is applied to seven recoverable volume time series and compared with the current methodology of reserves forecasting used by the company sponsoring the study.

[pt] O tratamento de ambientes contaminados e a elaboração de programas de monitoramento requerem estimativas dos níveis de concentrações das substâncias,bem como um conhecimento de seu destino, taxa de transporte e tempos de residência. Na ausência de dados obtidos através de monitoramento, modelos ambientais constituem freqüentemente o único modo capaz de prever as concentrações aproximadas dos contaminantes nos compartimentos (meios) que formam o ambiente. A aplicação do modelo ambiental de multimeios Quantitative Water Air Sediment Interaction (QWASI) a um determinado ambiente exige conhecer parâmetros relacionados à área em estudo e aos contaminantes. Para o caso da Baía de Guanabara, muitos desses parâmetros não estão disponíveis. Desse modo, eles serão aproximados com técnicas do problema inverso a partir das concentrações de contaminantes medidas no sedimento e no mexilhão perna-perna. Entre os parâmetros estimados estão as emissões de 10 hidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos (HPAs) nas águas da Baía de Guanabara. Este trabalho também apresenta simulações da evolução da concentração de alguns hidrocarbonetos em função do tempo considerando uma emissão inicial de um HPA em um ponto arbitrário da Baía de Guanabara. / [en] The treatment of polluted environments and the elaboration of monitoring programs request estimates of the levels of concentrations of the substances, as well as a knowledge of its destiny, rates of transport and times of residence. In the absence of data obtained through monitoring, environmental models often provide the only way to predict the approximate concentrations of the pollutants in the compartments (media) that form the environmental. The application of the multimedia environmental model Quantitative Water Air Sediment Interaction (QWASI) to a certain environment demands the knowledge of parameters related to the area in study and to the pollutants. For the case of the Guanabara Bay, many of those parameters are not available. Therefore, they will be approximated with inverse problem techniques starting from the measured concentrations of pollutants in the sediment and in the mussel perna-perna. Among the estimated parameters are the emissions of 10 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the waters of the Guanabara Bay. This work also presents simulations of the evolution of the concentration of some hydrocarbons infunction of the time considering an initial emission of a PAH in an arbitrary point of the Guanabara Bay.

Os grânulos plásticos são encontrados no ambiente marinho e, em função de suas características podem concentrar e transportar poluentes orgânicos. A Enseada de Santos representa um polo de grande importância econômica para o estado de São Paulo, devido à existência do Porto de Santos e do complexo industrial de Cubatão nos seus arredores. Essa região foi escolhida para o desenvolvimento deste estudo por possuir uma grande quantidade de grânulos na superfície arenosa de suas praias. O presente estudo teve como objetivos: (1) avaliar uma proposta metodológica para a coleta de grânulos plásticos, baseada no uso de transectos perpendiculares à linha da água compostos por escavações (amostragens) equidistantes; e (2) analisar a concentração, composição e fontes de contaminação de hidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos (HPAs) nos grânulos coletados em praias arenosas, considerando diferentes escalas espaciais e a influência do tipo de resina que os grânulos são produzidos, bem como o tempo de exposição destes no ambiente. O resultado da avaliação da proposta metodológica determinou o diâmetro do trado que fornece a melhor combinação entre tempo e volume de sedimento coletado, além da confirmação da profundidade de maior ocorrência dos grânulos na coluna sedimentar, bem como a constatação de que transectos tornam-se inviáveis para este procedimento. É sugerido, então, o desenvolvimento de estudos futuros a fim de encontrar o melhor desenho amostral, uma vez que não foi eficaz a realização de transectos, para a amostragem de grânulos plásticos em profundidade. De acordo com os resultados das análises, a concentração e composição de HPAs nos grânulos plásticos variaram de forma expressiva entre os pontos amostrais em uma mesma praia, de forma que, para a obtenção da real variabilidade de poluentes em uma praia, são necessárias coletas em diversos pontos amostrais, a fim de evitar uma equivocada extrapolação dos resultados. As análises dos grânulos coletados em diferentes profundidades no sedimento arenoso indicam resultados semelhantes, com uma alta variabilidade na composição e concentração de HPAs. Entre as resinas, houve diferença na concentração de HPAs (polietileno > polipropileno) e no tempo de exposição, com maiores concentrações nos grânulos mais escuros, ou seja, mais tempo expostos no ambiente. A contaminação na área de coleta é oriunda da mistura de compostos provenientes de fontes petrogênicas e pirolíticas e as análises da potencial toxicidade dos HPAs em grânulos, em geral, indicam um risco iminente aos organismos. São necessários, no entanto, estudos complementares também para a investigação da possibilidade de bioacumulação dos poluentes em organismos. / Plastic pellets are easily found in marine environment and due to its characteristics they may concentrate and bring organic pollutants. Santos bay represents a major economic center for the state of São Paulo because of Santos Port and the Cubatão industrial complex in its surroundings. This place was chosen for the development of the study for the great number of pellets found in the sandy surface of its beaches. This study aimed at (1) evaluating a sampling methodology for plastic pellets based on the use of transects perpendicular to the seawater line and made by diggings equally distant from one another (samplings). It also aimed at (2) analyzing the concentration, composition and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) contamination on the pellets sampled on sandy beaches, considering different spatial scales and resin kinds which the plastic pellets were made from as well as their exposure time in the environment. As a result of the evaluation of sampling methodology the sampler diameter was defined which provides the best combination between the time and the volume of sampled sediment. Apart from that the depth of the major occurrence of plastic pellets in the sedimentary column was confirmed and it was established that transects are impracticable for this kind of procedure. The development of future studies in order to figure out the best sample design is suggested once the use of transects was not efficient for plastic pellets sampling in depth. According to analyses results the PAHs concentration and composition on the plastic pellets vary largely among sampling sites on the same beach. In order to obtain real pollutant variability on one beach, samples taken from different sampling sites are necessary to avoid a wrong over sizing of results. The plastic pellets analyses taken from different depths in sandy sediment showed similar results to those from the surface with a high variability in PAH concentration and composition. Among the resins there was a difference on PAH concentration (polyethylene > polypropylene) and exposure time, showing larger concentrations on darker pellets, that is longer exposed in the environment. The contamination in the studied area comes from the mixture of compounds from petrogenic and pyrolitic sources and the PAHs potential toxicity in plastic pellets analyses generally reflect an imminent risk to organisms. Complementary studies are also necessary to investigate the possibility of pollutant bioaccumulation in organisms.