The contamination of bottom sediments in the Southern Baltic with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)

Abstract

The study involved a comparative analysis of PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) concentrations in the bottom sediments of the southern part of the Baltic Sea. It was determined that the contamination of sediments with PAHs is considerable (>500 ng/g), with the predominance of pyrogenic PAHs. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons become deposited mainly in anaerobic or extremely anaerobic areas, with a large proportion of the <0.063 mm fraction and a sizeable content of organic matter. In thestudied regions, the contamination of sediments was the consequence of anthropogenic activity.