ABSTRACT
PAHs are natural constituents of petrochemical products and can be produced during the incomplete combustion of organic materials. PAHs enter the aquatic environment via natural oil seeps, oil spills, atmospheric deposition, industrial effl uents, runoff in storm events, and other means (ATSDR 1995) where they can cause potentially harmful effects to humans and wildlife (US EPA 2010). Some PAHs are designated as priority pollutants by the US EPA and the EU due to high toxicity and suspected carcinogenicity (i.e. BaP) and have regulated limits as low as 0.2 µg/l in drinking water (ATSDR 1995; US EPA 2009).
