title: Vertical distribution and source identification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in southwest of the Caspian Sea: most petrogenic events during the late Little Ice Age.
abstract: In this study, 75 samples of two (210)Pb-dated cores from the southwest of the Caspian Sea were analysed for 30 compounds of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The TPAH29 flux of the last six centuries ranged from 16.3 to 177.3 and 22.3 to 426.2 ng cm(-2)y(-1) in the Rezvanshahr and Anzali core sediments, respectively. Prior to 1840, four distinct maxima in PAH fluxes (61-426.2 ng cm(-2)y(-1)) with a low weathered petrogenic pattern were found in each of the core sediments. Simultaneity of distinct peaks of PAH fluxes before 1840 and Caspian Sea level high-stands during the Little Ice Age (LIA), revealed the high importance of this phenomenon in washing and transport of land-based oil pollution into the Caspian Sea. An overall increase in some diagnostic ratios (Flu/202, IP/276 and BaA/228), especially after 1940, indicated increase of pyrogenic PAHs as a result of industrial development in the catchment area.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Natural Resources and Marine Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, PO Box 64414-356, Noor, Mazandaran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Nemati
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Varnosfaderany
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Natural Resources and Marine Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, PO Box 64414-356, Noor, Mazandaran, Iran. Electronic address: riahi@modares.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Alireza Riyahi
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Bakhtiari
authors.affiliation: Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Science, No. 19 Beitucheng West Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Zhaoyan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Science, No. 19 Beitucheng West Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Guoqiang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chu
mesh_terms: D002586:Cesium / Q000737:chemistry; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D007854:Lead / Q000737:chemistry; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D059392:Petroleum Pollution / Q000032:analysis* / Q000266:history; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002586:Cesium; D007854:Lead
keywords: CSL; Caspian Sea; LIA; PAHs; Petrogenic