Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

PAH

Group of organic compounds with at least three condensed six-membered rings

PAH (Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) denominates a class of several hundreds of compounds which share a common structure of at least three condensed aromatic rings. The number of rings strongly influences the physico-chemical properties of the respective PAH. Increasing ring numbers are associated with decreasing volatility and solubility whereas toxicity mostly increases.
PAH almost always occur as mixtures. The composition of these mixtures depends on the respective generation process.
PAH occur naturally in crude oil, peat, lignite, and coal. Moreover, they are formed by heating or combustion of organic material under anoxic conditions. They can be found in fried or grilled meat and tobacco smoke as well as in tar- and pitch-containing adhesives and coatings, in bitumen compounds and asphalt.

PAH are ubiquitous in the environment. In the atmosphere, compounds with 3 aromatic rings are mostly found in the gaseous phase whereas PAH with 4 and more rings adhere to particles. They enter waters and soils by wet and dry deposition.
In air and water, PAH can undergo photodegradation when exposed to ultraviolet light. Microbial degradation in soil and sediment is much slower.

They are of environmental concern due to their persistence and bioaccumulation potential. Many of the compounds are toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic and reproductive toxic.

The U.S. EPA included 16 PAH in the so called EPA-list of Priority Pollutants. These 16 ‘EPA-PAH’ are frequently used as representatives of the whole class of PAH. The EU has included 16 partly different compounds in its list of PAH recommended for analysis (EU-list).

Substances

  • Phenanthrene
    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon with three connected six-membered rings
  • Anthracen (DE)
     

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  • Fluoranthene
    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon with three six-membered rings and one five-membered ring
  • Pyrene
    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon with four connected six-membered rings
  • Benzo[b]naphtho[2,1-d]thiophene
    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon with three six-membered rings and one five-membered ring with a single sulphur atom
  • Benzo[c]phenanthren (DE)
     

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  • Benzo[ghi]fluoranthen (DE)
     

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  • Benz[a]anthracene
    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon with four connected six-membered rings
  • Chrysene + Triphenylene
    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon with four connected six-membered rings
  • Benzofluoranthene [sum b+j+k]
    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with four six-membered rings and one five-membered ring
  • Benzo[e]pyrene
    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon with five connected six-membered rings
  • Benzo[a]pyrene
    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon with five connected six-membered rings
  • Indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene
    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon with five six-membered rings and one five-membered ring
  • Benzo[ghi]perylene
    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon with six connected six-membered rings
  • Coronene
    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon with seven connected six-membered rings
  • Pyrene and Metabolites
     

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  • Phenanthrene and Metabolites
     

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  • Naphthalene
    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon with two connected six-membered rings
  • Benzo[a]pyrene and metabolites
     

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Specimen

  • Zebra mussel
    Common mussel species as invasive animal in rivers and lakes with high information level for water pollution

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  • Suspended particulate matter
    Fine insoluble mineral or organic particles in the water phase

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  • Blue mussel
    One of the most important edible mussel species common in the North and Baltic Sea

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  • Common spruce
    A major primary producer in semi-natural and anthropogenic affected ecosystems.

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  • Pine
    A major primary producer in semi-natural and anthropogenic affected ecosystems.

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  • Lombardy poplar
    A deciduous tree typical of ecosystems close to dense conurbations and an indicator for the characterisation of the immission situation during the vegetation period.

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  • Beech
    As the most dominant deciduous tree species in Central Europe, it plays a significant role in most nearly natural and also anthropogenically influenced forest ecosystems up to an altitude of 1100 m.

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  • Earthworm (Aporrectodea longa)
    As an organism living at ground level, it is a major driver of the decomposition of organic material (e.g. plant litter).

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  • Earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris)
    As an organism living at ground level, it is a major driver of the decomposition of organic material (e.g. plant litter).

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  • Soil
    Soil is livelihood and biosphere for humans, animals, plants and soil organisms. All the substances brought in are transported, transformed and/or accumulated in the soil.

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  • Students
    Student groups with an even number of female and male students at the age of 20 to 29.

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Sampling area

Sampling period

1985 - 2023

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