Suspended particulate organic matter (POM) present between Guanabara Bay and the coastal ocean was characterized by elemental composition (C and N), isotopic ratios (delta13C and delta15N) and molecular markers (sterols, n-alcohols and fatty acids) in two periods (summer and fall) along a transect and a fixed station. Elemental (C/N of 5 to 23) and isotopic (delta13C= -27.7 to -16.2 per thousand and delta15N = 2.4 to 11.2 per thousand) signatures were typical for the predominance of planktonic organic matter. Fatty acids (totals of 12.08 ± 7.78 microgram L–1 in summer and 22.06 ± 1.75 microgram L–1 in the fall for the transect, and 13.47 ± 5.15 microgram L–1 in summer and 15.84 ± 3.61 microgram L–1 in the fall for the fixed station) were presente as short-chain, monoand poly-unsaturated compounds. Total sterol concentrations ranged from 0.04 to 7.32 microgram L–1, with the predominance of cholesterol and phytosterols. n-alcohols were a minor component (0.01 to 5.67 microgram L–1 ). The multi-proxy approach revealed an overwhelming contribution of autochthonous POM sources, reflecting the influence of the Guanabara Bay outflow on ecological processes in the transition zone considered herein. Fecal contribution to POM was also identified, albeit as a less significant component, possibly due to dilution caused by autochthonus sources or degradation of fecal markers. Moreover, the terrestriallyderived POM was not exported from the bay and, therefore, must experience an accumulation process in the inner bay sediments. This supports the need to quantify such continental contribution to better establish the carbon balance in the bay.