Analysis of the distribution of some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments and suspended matter in the River Seine (France)

✍ Scribed by D. Ollivon; B. Garban; A. Chesterikoff

• Publisher: Springer Netherlands
• Year: 1995
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 868 KB
• Volume: 81
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0049-6979
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00477261

✦ Synopsis

Sixteen EPA chosen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were studied in the sediments and the suspended matter of the River Seine to determine existing pollution. Analyses were carded out by HPLC with coupled fluorimetric and UV detectors. PAH contents were found to be highly variable depending on many factors such as anthropogenic activities, weather and flow rate of the river, and occasionally they rose to alarming levels. Contents of 16 PAH ranged from 1.5 to 7.4 #g g-i in the sediments, but a peak at 60.7 #g g-i. In the suspended matter the contents were usually below 10 #g g-1. From these results and taking into account the mean content of suspended matter in the river downstream from Paris, the total adsorbed PAH concentration in the fiver Seine should be about 60 ng 1-1. Evidence has been established that storm drain discharges are a major source of pollution.