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Title: Distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH's) in marsh sediments, Iraq

Journal Article · · Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology; (USA)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01702057· OSTI ID:6628165

Recently there has been a growing concern in the release of harmful organics into the environment. Carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH's) are a class of compounds of interset due to their possible harmful effects to man as well as organisms. Anthropogenic PAH's may reach aquatic environment as a result of both industrial and domestic effluents, deposition of airborne particles, surface runoff and oil spillage. Having a relatively low water solubility and high affinity to sorb to the suspended particulate matter, most of the PAH's introduced to the aquatic environment tend to accumulate in bottom sediments. Sedimentary PAH's may thus provide a record of the input and history of these pollutants. Consequently, the distribution of PAH's in aquatic sediments have received considerable attention. The purpose of the present work was to establish the distribution of PAH's in the sediments of the marsh region located in southern Iraq.

OSTI ID:
6628165
Journal Information:
Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology; (USA), Vol. 43:6; ISSN 0007-4861
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English