Flebotomíneos (Diptera: Psychodidae) em um sistema agroflorestal da Região Metropolitana de Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil

Sandflies stand out as important vectors of leishmaniasis. The females need to ingest blood meals, enabling them to transmit protozoa of the genus Leishmania, which may give rise to visceral leishmaniasis (VL) or American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL), in addition to transmitting other parasites. Leishmaniasis are important infirmities, distributed worldwide, whose infection results from the interaction of reservoir animals, the vector insect, parasitic protozoa and the healthy host. In the state of Rio Grande do Norte (RN), Brazil, these insects are important transmitters of VL, which usually presents in the most serious form. It occurs mainly in metropolitan areas, with the dog as its main reservoir and Lutzomyia longipalpis as the vector. ATL is most present in the highland areas of the state. In addition to hematophagia, engaged in by the females, both sexes need to ingest carbohydrates, which are essential to the sand flies energy requirements and may interfere in the development of Leishmania. The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence and abundance of sand flies in different environments on the farm belonging to the Empresa de Pesquisas Agropecuárias do RN (Institute of Agricultural Research of RN), in the municipality of Parnamirim, in order to relate this occurrence with climatological and biological references and eating habits. Three consecutive monthly collections were carried out with CDC traps in a fragment of the Atlantic Forest, in a residence, on a goat breeding farm and on cashew, dwarf and giant coconut, mango, banana, eucalyptus, acacia and bean plantations. A total of 1241 sandflies from eight species (Lutzomyia evandroi, Lutzomyia longipalpis, Lutzomyia shannoni, Lutzomyia sordellii Lutzomyia walkeri, Lutzomyia wellcomei, Lutzomyia whitmani, and Lutzomyia intermedia) were collected, most in the forest environment. L. longipalpis, the main VL transmitter, was confirmed as a species adapted to anthropic environments, whereas others such as L. wellcomei, the vector of ATL, occurred predominantly in forests. Carbohydrate characterization of the sand flies and plants of the region demonstrated that a number of exotic plants such as hay and eucalyptus may play some role in the adaptation of these species to modified environments. Breeding in laboratory showed a mean biological cycle of 53.5 days from egg to adulthood for L. shannoni and the possibility of diapause behavior in L. wellcomei. This study serves as a source of information that may contribute to the epidemiological vigilance of tegumentary and visceral leishmaniasis in the state, given that it analyzes the bioecology of transmitting species, as well as their potential to adapt to new environments

Rubiaceae em um remanescente de floresta atlântica no Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil

Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuária do Rio Grande do Norte

Biologia reprodutiva da Tainha, Mugil curema valenciennes, 1836 (osteichthyes: mugilidade) nas águas costeiras do Rio Grande do Norte

The marine fish white mullet, Mugil curema Valenciennes, 1836 (Osteichthyes: Mugilidae) exhibits a wide geographical distribution, being common in the Brazilian coast and is an important component of the artisanal fisheries. The objective of this study was to investigate the reproductive biology of M. curema in the coastal waters of Rio Grande do Norte. Fish samples were captured on a monthly basis during August, 2008 to July, 2009. The fish specimens were numbered, weighed, measured, dissected and their gonads were removed, weighed, their sex and gonadal development were identified. The length-weight relationship was determined for males and females. The sex ratio, the size at first gonadal maturation and gonadosomatic index (GSI) were calculated and ovarian development was investigated using macroscopic and histological techniques. The fecundity, spawning type and the reproductive period of the species were determined. A total of 366 specimens (186 males and 180 females) were captured. The sex ratio was 1:1 and the females were heavier than males. The estimated values of the angular coefficient for both sexes suggest that the species has isometric growth. The size at which 50% of the population began the process of maturation was 25.9 cm of total length for grouped sex. The macroscopic characteristics of the ovaries showed four stages of development: immature, maturing, mature and spent. However, the microscopic characteristics of the ovaries showed five stages of development: immature, early maturing, late maturing, mature and spent. The development of oocytes indicated five phases: Chromatin-nucleolus (phase I), initial perinucleolar (phase II), final perinuclear (phase II), formation of vitelline vesicle or yolk (phase III), vitellogenic (phase IV) and complete vitellogenesis (phase V). The species has a prolonged spawning period, with two peaks coinciding with the rainy season.

Ecologia do fitoplâncton em áreas de cultivo de Tilápia do Nilo, Oreochromis niloticus, em tanques-rede no açude Ministro João Alves, Parelhas, Rio Grande do Norte

The dams are limnic ecosystems of great importance for its multiple uses, among them, water supply for the public and to culture of artisanal fish are most relevant. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the physical-chemical characteristics and the phytoplankton community in two chosen sites (Point 1 littoral zone of point source; Point 2 pelagic zone of non-point source) of the Minister João Alves dam, which is also known as Boqueirão de Parelhas/RN. This represents the spatial distribution of the phytoplankton species in order to understand any possible alterations of the water quality and the phytoplankton composition in relation to the water quality originating from the impact of the tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, culture. The study period also encompasses temporal variations exhibited in two seasons of an annual cycle, one during the dry season (Oct, Nov and Dec of 2008 and Jan of 2009), and the other rainy season (Mar, Apr, May and June of 2008) to extend the observation. The physicalchemical parameters, such as pH, temperature, electrical conductivity, concentration of dissolved oxygen were measured in situ and the values of the inorganic nutrients (nitrate, ammonium and orto-phosfato) and chlorophyll in the laboratory. The quali-quantitative analyses of the phytoplankton had been carried through sedimentation technique and the enumeration of the random of 400 cells, colonies and filaments counted using Sedgwick-Rafter counting chamber. The results of pH varied widely from the acidic to alkaline range with the minimum of 5.8 (± 0.8) and the maximum of 9.2 (± 0.7-0.8), at point 1 and 2. The dissolved oxygen content was higher in the rainy period than that in the dry period. The maximum electrical conductivity was of 1409 μScm-1 in point 1 and 431 minim of μScm-1, in point 2. There was a considerable alteration in the levels of inorganic nutrients such as nitrate-nitrogen, ammoniacal nitrogen and orthophosphate during the two cycles of study period. Phytoplankton assemblages presented a picture of alternate dominance among species Cyanobacteria, Bacillariophyceae and Chlorophyceae. The trophic state index diagnosed to the category of mesotrophic, which is based on the values of chlorophyll, total phosphorus and Secchi-disc measurements. The wind driven turbulence of the water column and the fresh inflow of water (flushing and dilution) during rainy season acted as constraint and did-not allow an exaggerated growth of the species of cyanobacteria. On the basis of the present we conclude that the culture of tilapias in cage-culture fails to produce pollution load that could compromise the quality of the water of the dam, probably be due to small dimension of the culture in relation to the size, volume of the water and the reservoir capacity support its own environment

O gênero geastrum pers. (phallomycetidae, basidiomycota) em algumas áreas de Mata Atlântica e Caatinga no Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil

A taxonomic survey of representatives of the genus Geastrum took place during the rainy season from 2006 to 2009 in four districts in the state of Rio Grande do Norte: Parque Estadual Dunas do Natal (Atlantic Forest), Mata do Jiqui EMPARN (Atlantic Forest) and Estação Ecológica do Seridó (Caatinga). Fourteen species were recorded: G. entomophilum, G. fimbriatum, G. hirsutum, G. javanicum, G. lageniforme, G. lloydianum, G. minimum, G. morganii, G. ovalisporum, G. pectinatum, G. saccatum, G. schweinitzii, G. setiferum and G. triplex. Of these species, eleven occurred in the Atlantic Forest and six in the Caatinga. A new species has been recorded to science, G. entomophilum, other as a first record for Brazil, G. morganii, six new records for the Northeast, and ten new records for Rio Grande do Norte. The material was tumbled in the Herbarium UFRN. Additionally, a survey of the species of the genus deposited in the Herbarium UFRN was accomplished, resulting in 244 herbarium specimens belonging to thirty-three species. Of these ones, twenty-three were collected in Brazil and ten are from Czech Republic, Europe, as donation from the VZ Herbarium

Ocorrência da infecção por Toxoplasma gondii e avaliação da imunização em caprinos do sertão do cabugi, Rio Grande do Norte

Toxoplasmosis is one zoonosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii protozoan. Goats, amongst the production animals, are one of the species most susceptible to this parasite, being one them main involved agents in ovine and goat abortions, determining great economic losses and implications for public health, since the presence it parasite in the products of goat origin, consist in one of the main sources of infection for the man. In this study 244 blood samples in 8 farms situated in 4 cities from the Sertão do Cabugi region, Rio Grande do Norte State, northeast of Brazil and, tested by ELISA assay. The results had shown a prevalence of 47.13% for anti- T. gondii antibodies and a significant association between positivity and variable evaluated as age, locality and property. The IgG avidity assay evaluated in 115 positive samples was carried to discriminate acute and chronic infection. Twelve samples (10.4%) had presented antibodies of low avidity while 103 (89.6%) presented high avidity antibodies; indicating that most of the animals was precocious exposure to the parasite. Significant difference was verified only for the variable sex. We also evaluate the capacity of recombinant adenoviruses codifying SAG1, SAG2, SAG3 and CMV in inducing activation of specific immune response in goat. These 109 animals received 109 pfu of the AdSAG1, AdSAG2, AdSAG3, AdCMV or PBS in vaccine protocol with 3 immunizations. Serum samples of the each animal, before and after mmunization, had been submitted to the ELISA. The results demonstrate that the immunizations had induced the production of IgG antibodies specific against T. gondii proteins

Ocidentalização, territórios e populações indígenas no sertão da Capitania do Rio Grande

The objective of this work is to understand some of the modifications caused for the phenomenon of the westernization in the hinterland of the Capitania do Rio Grande e in the life of the indians populations that inhabited there during the Colonial Period. We break of the quarrel of Serge Gruzinski concerning the westernization, understood while immersed phenomenon in the context of the expansion of the commercial capitalism and that, for the imposition of the culture occidental person to the alteridades of the New World, emprende the conquest of its territories, bodies and souls. The space clipping has covered the hinterland of the Capitania do Rio Grande, specifically the colonial territory of the Freguesia da Gloriosa Senhora Santa Ana do Seridó. The chosen chronological limit for the research corresponds to the Colonial Period and part of the Imperial one. However, the emphasis falls again on the period that it initiates in 1670, year of the oldest concession of would sesmaria known until the moment in the hinterland of the Rio Grande, extending itself until the decade of 1840. Sources of written by hand nature, cartographic printed and compose the used document roll: official correspondence and legislation, petitions of would sesmaria, inventories post-mortem, justifications of debt, registers of parish, maps, action civil court jurisdiction, notes of notary's office, land landmarks. We take the method, analyzed for Carlo Ginzburg, to cross these sources between itself and to detect its implied particularitities and ideas in the space between lineses, but, attributing it status to they of a colonial speech, fruit of the bureaucracy of where it was originated and of the social place of who produced it. We look for to demonstrate, throughout the work, that the phenomenon of the westernization desestruturou the aboriginal societies and its habitat, constructing, over its rubbles, a colonial territory that found in the cartography of the Freguesia de Santa Ana an efficient instrument of control of the space and the population. On the other hand, if the imposition of the culture occidental person exterminou great part of the native population that inhabited the hinterland of the Rio Grande, the remainders of these indians and the mestizos of descending them had survived in diverse ways in the freguesia: in the condition of captives of war or in regimen of servile work, as living or assistants in the farms, populations and village; rambling without route in the fields and the population spots; as mediating agents between the world occidental person and the native, exerting military or civil positions and still appealing to Justice in search of its rights of inheritance. Experiences of slavery, servitude, errância and mediation, but, also of resistance, adaptation, mestization in the Freguesia de Santa Ana

A influência da cultura organizacional na adoção de práticas de qualidade Seis Sigma: um estudo exploratório no segmento de farmácia de manipulação do Estado do Rio Grand do Norte

In recent debates about the issues of quality, the theme organizational culture and Six Sigma has appeared ever more frequently. In this context several authors suggest that the adoption of Six Sigma practices is influenced by culture. This work focuses on the relationship of organizational culture and quality to the practices of Six Sigma quality. Thus a descriptive-exploratory and correlational study of forty pharmacies of manipulation from Rio Grande do Norte was undertaken. Data collection identified features of companies and the level of use of the practices of Six Sigma quality that have been identified in the literature. For the Organizational Culture evaluation was used the Competitive Value Model (Cameron & Quinn, 1996), tested on north-American organizations and considered a high value academic and professional instrument. This model has been involved with the taximetrics created by Cameron who classifies quality culture in four levels. The results suggest that the Group and Developmental cultures are associated with higher levels of use of the practices of Six Sigma quality than the Rational and Hierarchical Cultures. Regarding the levels of the culture s quality, the highest levels were most frequently cited in Errors Prevention and Perpetual Improvement and Creativity, being the last one more positively related to the Six Sigma indicators

Horticultura no baixo curso do Rio Doce, zona norte do Natal/RN: avaliação da qualidade da água por meio de ensaios ecotoxicológicos

The research is developed in areas of horticulture in the city of Natal, in the neighborhoods of Lagoa Azul, Pajuçara and Redinha, along the Doce River, border area with Extremoz city, Rio Grande do Norte State. The region of the fluvial plain of Doce River is located in an Environmental Protection Zone (ZPA-9). This is one of the ZPA which is not under the regulatory marks and there are several environmental problems caused by use and land occupation, featuring an evident disregard of environmental laws and whose protection is hindered by the lack of specific legal mechanisms. This study aims to provide an overview of the use of pesticides in the lower course of the Doce River, in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, and to assess environmental degradation in the area through chronic toxicity tests using the microcrustaceous Ceriodaphnia dubia Richard 1894 (Cladocera, Crustacea) as test organism. Visits were made to the area in 2009 and 2010. To obtain information a diagnosis of the local situation was accomplished based on personal observation and non-participatory photographic record, with the aim of assessing the environmental characteristics, population diversity and work processes of horticulturists. During the visits four different points of the Doce River were chosen to collect water for ecotoxicological tests and survey of physico-chemical parameters (dissolved oxygen, pH, chloride, turbidity, conductivity and temperature), which were measured in the field using Multiparameter Probe (TROLL 9500). The adverse effects of pesticide use in the lower course of the Doce River is a major problem for both the environmental and human health, since many of the substances and active principles that enter in the composition of the products are synthesized molecules whose effects can only be evaluated through different studies on their actions and behavior at short, medium or long term

Monitoramento geoambiental do estuário do Rio Paraíba do Norte - PB por meio da cartografia temática digital e de produtos de sensoriamento remoto

The North Paraíba River Estuary, located in the eastern portion of the Paraíba State, Northeast Brazil, on coordinates 34º50 00 -34º57 30 S and 6º55 00 -7º7 30 W, constitutes a fluvio-marine plain formed by the North Paraíba River and its tributaries Sanhauá, Paroeira, Mandacaru, Tiriri, Tambiá, Ribeira and Guia. This estuary comprises an area of about 260 km2. Increasing human demands on the estuary area and inadequate environment managing have generated conflicts. The present work main purpose is to evaluate the geodynamic evolution of the North Paraíba River Estuary in the period from 1969 to 2001, using digital image processing techniques, thematic digital cartography and multitemporal data integration, combined to geological-geophysical field surveys. The SUDENE cartographic database, converted to digital format were, used to obtain occupation and topographic maps from 1969 and to generate a Digital Elevation Model (DEM). Digital Landsat 7 ETM+ and Spot HRVIR-PAN satellite images interpretation allowed the environmental characterization of the estuary. The most important digital processing results were achieved color composites RGB 5-4-3, 5-3-1, 5-2-NDWI and band ratio 7/4-5/3-4/2, 5/7-3/1-5/4). In addition the fusion image technique RGBI was used by the inclusion of the Spot HRVRI and Landsat 7 ETM+ panchromatic band on I layer with RGB triplets 5-4-3, 5-3-1 and 5/7-3/1-5/4. The DEM and digital images integration allowed the identification of seven geomorphological units: coastal tableland, flowing tray, tide plain, fluvial terrace, submerged dune, beach plain and beach). Both Side Scan Sonar and Echosound were used to analyse underwater surface and bedforms of the estuarine channel, sand predominance (fine to very fine) and 2D dune features 5 m wide and 0.5 m height. This investigation characterized the estuary as an environment dominated by regimen of average flow. The channel depth varies between 1 m and 11 m, being this last quota reached in the area of Porto de Cabedelo. The chanel estuary is relatively shallow, with erosion evidences mainly on its superior portion, attested by sand banks exposed during the low tide. Multitemporal digital maps from 1969 and 2001 integration were obtained through geoprocessing techniques, resulting the geodynamic evolution of the estuary based on landuse, DEM geomorphology and bathymetric maps

Aqui, desde sempre

Este livro traz novos artigos publicados n’O Jornal de Hoje, depois daqueles publicados em Mais Notícias Genealógicas do Rio Grande do Norte. Acrescento outros artigos que postei no meu blog e outros mais que compus especialmente para esta edição. Devido ao espaço limitado que tenho no jornal, complementei alguns artigos, quando necessário, com algum comentário. Também eliminei informações que só eram necessárias para a publicação no referido jornal. As principais fontes desses artigos foram os documentos da Cúria, das Casas Paroquiais do Assú, de Angicos e de Macau, do Instituto Histórico e Geográfico do Rio Grande do Norte, do Instituto Arqueológico, Geográfico e Histórico de Pernambuco, dos Fóruns de Assú e de Macau, do Museu José Elviro, da Hemeroteca Nacional e dos documentos digitalizados da UNB. Além disso, algumas informações vieram de colegas pesquisadores.

Palmyra Wanderley e a educação da mulher no cenário Norte-rio-grandense (1914 -1920)

The present work has the intention to analyze the contribution of the writer and journalist Palmyra Guimarães Wanderley to the education, throughout her writings in the period between 1914 to 1920. I search through her journalist writings produced in the feminine magazine Via Láctea (1914-1915) her idealization, and as in the newspaper A República e Diário de Natal, in the decade of 1920 establishing relationships with education, mostly because of her production in the pages of the paper articles regarding feminine education and women condition. At the same time I sketch the biographic profile of Palmyra Wanderley relating her to the historical moment that she lived. To achieve the proposed goals I begin with a documental research within the available archives and use other sources like pictures and interviews with her relatives. The results of the research show that the worry of Palmira Wanderley with the education in our state, goes beyond her published writings in magazines and newspapers. She has been ahead of Escola de Comércio Feminino and Aliança Feminina, she has also done a conference in the House of the Young Single Ladies' Protection (Casa de Proteção às Moças Solteiras), institution of the Aliança s responsibility that offered shelter, food, formal and religious education to the workers of the Fabric Factory of Natal (Fábrica Tecidos de Natal). Her involvement evidences her contribution to the historiography of the education in Rio Grande do Norte, specially the history of women education ensuring her presence in the day by day history

História das mulheres idosas do Grupo Aurora da Vida Campina Grande-PB (1940-1950)

La recherche intitulée l Histoire des femmes agées du group Aurore de La Vie: Campina Grande-PB (1940-1950) a surgit comme consequence de mon observation sur les interêts de femmes en retrouner à l école aprés qu elles étaient arrivées aux soixante ans, um moment de la vie que malgré son importance est encore considerée par trop de gens comme des moments d être seul jusqu à la fin de la vie. Alors, nous avons formulé la question la plus importante de ce travail: Quel est l histoire de l éducation des femmes agées du group Aurore de La Vie, dans le période de son education d enfant? Un group de 25 femmes qui ont étudié le projet Digna, on a fait une seletion de treize agées, entre 65 et 80 ans, qui s appellent: Perpétua, Florinda, Benta, Ambrósia, Celestine, Cordélia, Circe, Filomena, Desdêmona, Dorotéia, Ofelia, Martítius e Nausica. Beaucoup d intelectuels nous ont aidé avec la base theórico-methodologique et nous ont presenté l histoire des excludées comment une histoire en construction. Parmis ces intelectuelles on rencontre Chartier, Halbwachs, Elias, Perrot, Bosi, Bezerra, Morais et Machado. Pendant notre recherche nous avons employés des narrations, des entrevues, des questions ouvertes ou les femmes puissent parler sur l histoire de leur vie. Nous avons regardé aussi le fiche des agées, le arquive de La Secretarie Municipale de Assistence Social (SEMAS) du Hôtel de Ville de Campina Grande-PB. Nous avons aussi étudié sur la legislation relié à la tematique de la Constituition Brésilienne dans l estatute et dans la Politique Nacional de l age. Notre étude nous a donné des analises sur les themas: pauvresse, travail, sourvenirs, jeux e aussi punitions scolaires. Nous sommes arrivés à la conclusion qu à l époque de son enfance, l éducation formale était déjá determinée pour le mariage, la pró-création la famille. Enfim toujours dédans de la maison excludées du reste du monde. Nous avons compris que pesquiser cet object d étude est un contribut avec l histoire des excludées en cassant le silence des femmes lesqueles on été ignorées par presque toute la prodution historiographique

O papel do turismo nos conflitos urbanos da cidade do Natal/RN: a história que ninguém quer contar

La présente étude a comme objectif comprendre la relation entre l implantation et le développement du Tourisme à Natal et les conflits urbains établits entre 2006 et 2010 et publiés par les médias imprimés, élaborant ses impacts dans le quotidien des résidents. Tandis qu une relecture partielle de la méthode régressive-progressive développée par le philosophe français Henri Lefebvre, cherche à recouper du présent, des contradictions qui promeuvent des réactions dans le quotidien de la ville; ainsi qu identifier des moments du passé qui puissent contribuer à sa compréhension. Aujourd hui, nous avons les médias, comme principale source pour observer la perception locale des problèmes causés par l espace conçu, à partir des actions de l État référentes à l activité. Par rapport au passé, ces situations sont recherchées dans des sources secondaires, mettant en évidence le dialogue avec le Relatório Conflitos Urbanos (Rapport Conflits Urbains) à Natal-1976-1986 (ANDRADE et al.,1986), qui présente les conflits existants à des moments qui ont précédé ou ont acompagné le début du développement de l activité au RN, spécialement à Natal. Alors que dans la contribution à la compréhension du rôle du Tourisme dans l apparition de conflits urbains de la ville sont aussi inclues nos coupures vécues, des actions de l État par rapport à la consolidation, ainsi comme pour les conflits qui se sont plus demarqués ou qui ont conduit à la réaction de la population de la ville pendant les périodes analysées. Au final, on cherche à démontrer les limites de la responsabilité de l activité touristique dans l urgence des principaux conflits urbains dans la ville. L analyse des données de la recherche, avec l identification des conflits urbains de Natal et sa relation avec le Tourisme; la présentation des conflits par rapport à la localisation, fréquence et son encadrement dans les catégories de l analyse adoptée; l identification des agents intéressés et la relation entre eux; ont amené à la confirmation de l hypothèse proposée. De cette façon, en prenant en compte les coupures temporelles et spatiales, la source de recherche et la méthodologie adoptées, nous arrivons à la conclusion que l activité touristique à Natal n est pas directement responsable de l apparition des conflits urbains de la ville

Hidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos em sedimentos de fundo do estuário do rio Potengi, região da grande Natal (RN): implicações ambientais

Estuaries are environments prone to the input of chemical pollutants of various kinds and origins, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Anthropogenic PAHs may have two possible sources: pyrolytic (with four or more aromatic rings and low degree of alkylation) and petrogenic (with two and three aromatic rings and high degree of alkylation). This study aimed to evaluate the levels, distribution and possible sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the estuary of the Potengi river, Natal, Brazil. Samples of bottom sediments were collected in the final 12 km of the estuary until its mouth to the sea, where the urbanization of the Great Natal is more concentrated. Sampling was performed on 12 cross sections, with three stations each, totaling 36 samples, identified as T1 to T36. The non alkylated and alkylated PAHs were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC / MS). PAHs were detected in all 36 stations with total concentration on each varying 174-109407 ng g-1. These values are comparable to those of several estuarine regions worldwide with high anthropogenic influence, suggesting the record of diffuse contamination installed in the estuary. PAHs profiles were similar for most stations. In 32 of the 36 stations, low molecular weight PAHs (with 2 and 3 ring: naphthalene, phenanthrene and their alkylated homologues) prevailed, which ranged from 54% to 100% of the total PAH, indicating that leaks, spills and combustion fuels are the dominant source of PAH pollution in the estuary. The level of contamination by PAHs in most stations suggests that there is potential risk of occasional adverse biological effects, but in some stations adverse impacts on the biota may occur frequently. The diagnostic ratios could differentiate sources of PAHs in sediments of the estuary, which were divided into three groups: petrogenic, pyrolytic and mixing of sources. The urban concentration of the Great Natal and the various industrial activities associated with it can be blamed as potential sources of PAHs in bottom sediments of the estuary studied. The data presented highlight the need to control the causes of existing pollution in the estuary