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Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface sediments of the outer Jade Bay, southern North Sea

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Abstract

A total of 58 surface sediment samples were taken in 1998 in the outer Jade Bay, southern North Sea, and analysed for grain size distribution, total organic carbon (TOC) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). The latter were positively related to TOC and mud content (<63 µm). Total PAH contents ranged from 6 to 821 ng/g dry sediment. With few exceptions both total PAH and individual compound contents were in the range of natural background values. Based on fluoranthene/pyrene and phenanthrene/anthracene ratios only two samples showed an origin related to oil indicating that oil shipping and other industrial activities in the Jade Bay have no effect on the PAH content of surface sediments. Combustion sources of PAH were dominant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Forschungszentrum Terramare, Schleusenstraße 1, 26382, Wilhelmshaven

    Eva Rinne & Gerd Liebezeit

  2. Institut für Reine und Angewandte Chemie, Carl von Ossietzky-Universität, Postfach 2503, 26111, Oldenburg, Germany

    Eva Rinne & Gerd Liebezeit

  3. Faculty of Science, HSF College, P.O. Box 133, N-6851, Sogndal, Norway

    Elisabeth Rygg, Liv Senneset & Matthias Paetzel

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  1. Eva Rinne
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  2. Elisabeth Rygg
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  3. Liv Senneset
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Rinne, E., Rygg, E., Senneset, L. et al. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface sediments of the outer Jade Bay, southern North Sea. Senckenbergiana maritima 35, 221–233 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03043687

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