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A Threat to the Baltic Sea? Long-term development of pollution by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Investigating the toxicological risk posed by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to the Baltic Sea: IOW researcher Marion Kanwischer
Marion Kanwischer and her team studied the long-term development of PAH pollution in the Baltic Sea and, despite declining levels, found, that the toxicological risk still remains. (Photo: J. Myrrhe)

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widespread, highly toxic and often carcinogenic environmental pollutants. Marion Kanwischer from the IOW and her team have studied the long-term development of PAH pollution in the Baltic Sea using sediment and water samples and compared pre-industrial concentrations with the development of PAH pollution after the onset of Industrialisation. Although the overall contamination has eased in recent years, PAHs still pose a toxicological threat to the Baltic Sea. Traffic emissions are a major contributor to the current PAH pollution.

Read the full press release; for a larger view of the photo, click on it:

application/pdf 20211021_press_Baltic_Sea_PAC_Pollution_MKanwischer_en.pdf (122.2 KiB)

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