Levels and toxicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in marine sediments

The occurrence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the marine environment has attracted the attention of thescientific community, as these compounds are frequently detected in seawater and sediments at increasing levels and can haveadverse health effects on marine organisms and humans. Several PAHs are potential human carcinogens and are included in thepriority list of the European Union s Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC). Research regarding their environmental levelsrequires their determination by gas-chromatography and liquid-chromatography techniques, which have been developed andoptimized, especially for marine-sediment samples. Results of sample analyses reveal the increasing occurrence of many speciesof PAHs worldwide, especially in marine sediments, where they finally accumulate, mostly in areas near intense industrialactivities. In parallel, research on the toxicity of PAHs and their mixtures is continuing and is aiming to provide more insight intothe health risks associated with the levels of PAHs in the environment.