Phthalates are the most used plasticizers in industrial products, worldwide distributed in environments. Their presence is often used to indicate a region industrialization degree. Although their reported toxicity is low, phthalates are indicated for possible endocrine disrupting effects, specially in male reproductive system. In Brazil, there are few studies about the environmental occurrence and distribution of phthalates. This thesis studied the occurrence of those compounds in potable waters samples from residential areas of Rio de Janeiro and Niterói cities, and in samples from the ecosystem of Guanabara Bay (waters, sediments and mussels), which receives several industrial inputs. All the samples were collected, solid-phase extracted and the phthalate contents analyzed by gas chromatography with electron capture detection. The ones from the Bay were sampled during the dry and rainy seasons, in different years. All the extractions presented excellent repeatability and recoveries above 76%. The potable water samples from both cities presented phthalate values considerably lower than those reported for European and American cities. The results could be correlated with the water net distribution lengths for both cities. All results from the Bay ecosystem showed lower contamination when compared to other coastal environments. The controlled transplant proved quick and efficient phthalate depuration of contaminated organisms from Guanabara Bay.