Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) atmospheric concentrations and deposition over the open Mediterranean and Black Seas

Abstract

The Mediterranean Sea is a region of special interest in terms of pollutants monitoring and research due to its nature of semi-enclosed environment surrounded by highly populated areas. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) which are ubiquitous in the environment, bioaccumulate and may cause a wide range of toxic effects in biota and humans1. Very limited information is available on ambient levels, occurrence and deposition of PAH in marine environments and in particular in the Mediterranean Sea far from the shore line (open seas). Existing data have been mainly acquired from coastal areas. The incorporation of PAH to marine open waters and possible toxic effects is driven by atmospheric deposition processes2. It is therefore important to understand what the current ambient levels in the Mediterranean Sea airshed are in order to have a realistic idea of the potential inputs to this marine environment.

The overall objectives of this work were: (1) to obtain PAH ambient air concentrations and congener patterns along the open Mediterranean Sea and in the Black Sea; (2) To investigate the atmosphere occurrence of PAHs in the open Mediterranean Sea and their day/night cycling in open waters; (3) to estimate the atmospheric deposition of PAHs in the Mediterranean and Black Seas.