BADANIA MONITORINGOWE OSADÓW JEZIORNYCH W POLSCE: WIELOPIERŚCIENIOWE WĘGLOWODORY AROMATYCZNE

Abstract

MONITORING STUDIES OF LAKE SEDIMENTS IN POLAND: POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS

Abstract. Contents of 17 PAHs were determined using a GC-MSD method in 150 samples of lake sediments taken from lake profundal zones. The average PAH content in the sediments was 4424 μg/kg, the geometric mean – 2687 μg/kg, and the median – 3150 μg/kg. The PAH spectrum is dominated by fluoranthene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, and pyrene. Exceeded permissible levels of PAHs, according to the Regulations of the Ministry of the Environment, were recorded in 12 lakes (Rozporządzenie, 2002). The content of PAHs in lake sediments shows a high correlation with the contents of trace elements: cadmium, mercury, lead and zinc. There is also a significant correlation between the contents of phosphorus and sulphur. Among the testedPAHcompounds, there is a positive correlation of the perylene content with the iron and organic carbon contents, and a negative correlation of this compound with the calcium content. Regional differences were found in the occurrence of PAHs. The sediments of the Łęczna–Włodawa lakes are characterized by significantly lower contents of these compounds compared to lakes from other lake districts, especially the Pomeranian Lakeland.