Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds in the Greenland Marine Environment

Abstract

Information on levels of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) in the marine environment from pristine areas of the world are still sparse. In this study, PACs were analyzed in sediments and various organisms from the area of Qeqertarsuaq/Disko in the western part of Greenland. PAC levels were measured in sediments, blue mussels (Mytilus edulis), liver of shorthorn sculpins (Myoxocephalus scorpius), and blubber of ringed seals (Phoca hispida). The average levels of PAC in the four sample types were 359 µg/kg, 497 µg/kg, 2762 µg/kg, and 101 µg/kg dry weight respectively. Principal component analyses (PCA) revealed variations in PAC composition between the different samples that could be related toThis project was part of the international Arctic Monitoring Assessment Program (AMAP) which is funded by the Danish Environmental Protection Agency as part of the environmental support program Danish Cooperation for Environment in the Arctic (Dancea).

Biomonitoring of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Deposition in Greenland Using Historical Moss Herbarium Specimens Shows a Decrease in Pollution During the 20th Century

“…To our knowledge, this study is the first study to investigate the use of mosses to measure PAHs in Greenland, but also the first to analyze plants from Greenland. Other studies carried out in Greenland have investigated U.S. EPA 16 PAHs [the 16 PAH compounds designated as priority, by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, see Keith (2015)] in the marine environment including mussels, with ∑PAH of 50-280 ng g -1 dry weight (Jörrundsdotir et al, 2014); fish with ∑PAH of 11-19 ng g -1 wet weight measured in fish liver (Vives et al, 2004); sediments with an average ∑PAH of 359 ng g -1 dry weight (Pećseli et al, 2002); and PAH deposition on snow with ∑PAH of 3,130-21,083 pg kg -1 water. Pećseli et al (2002) also compared the average ∑PAH in different sample types (497 ng g -1 dry weight in mussels, 2,762 ng g -1 dry weight in fish livers and 101 ng g -1 dry weight in the blubber of seals).…”