title: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in bottom sediments: identification of sources.
abstract: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) can enter the environment from various sources. They are synthetic chemicals and as such are present in the environment mainly as mixtures containing various amounts of PCB congeners. It is therefore difficult to pinpoint the source of PCB emissions into the environment and the pathways along which they migrate there. The situation is different where locating the emission sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is concerned. There is much information in the literature on the molecular markers that can be used to identify the sources of PAH emissions into the environment. Environmental samples like soil or bottom sediments are usually analysed for their contents of both groups of compounds. Therefore, with data on the origins of PAHs to hand, and seeking and comparing mutual correlations, one can attempt to define the probable sources of emission of PCBs. The purpose of this work was to identify the probable PCBs emission sources in bottom sediments using available data, that is polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon diagnostic ratios. The numerical ratios of pairs of compounds such as fluoranthene/pyrene, phenanthrene/anthracene, fluoranthene/(fluoranthene+pyrene) and chrysene/benzo[a]anthracene are generally used as a tool for identifying and assessing pollution emission sources.
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Chemical Faculty, Gdansk University of Technology (GUT), 11/12 G. Narutowicz Str., 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland; Department of Environmental Toxicology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Gdańsk, 23 Dębowa Str., 80-204 Gdańsk, Poland.
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wolska
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Chemical Faculty, Gdansk University of Technology (GUT), 11/12 G. Narutowicz Str., 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland. Electronic address: agatamech@wp.pl.
authors.forename: Agata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mechlińska
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Chemical Faculty, Gdansk University of Technology (GUT), 11/12 G. Narutowicz Str., 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland; Department of Environmental Toxicology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Gdańsk, 23 Dębowa Str., 80-204 Gdańsk, Poland.
authors.forename: Justyna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rogowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Chemical Faculty, Gdansk University of Technology (GUT), 11/12 G. Narutowicz Str., 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland.
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Namieśnik
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D017745:Incineration; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D059392:Petroleum Pollution; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
keywords: Emission sources; Migration pathways; Polychlorinated biphenyls; Sediment