Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, phthalates and organotins in northern Atlantic Spain's coastal marine sediments
Abstract
Surface sediment samples (0–10 cm) from ten shallow marine sediments affected by industry and shipping traffic on the northern Atlantic Spanish coast were analysed to determine prevailing concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), phthalates and organotins. PAHs were detected at eight of the study areas (1.4 to 4.9 µg g−1), while PCBs were detected only at four of the study areas (2.9 to 37 ng g−1). PAHs concentration rations indicated that PAHs were mainly of pyrogenic origin. PCB congener patterns in all of the sediment samples were the same, and contained the less volatile congeners