GEOGRAPHICAL-DISTRIBUTION OF CHLORINATED BIPHENYLS (CBS) AND POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC-HYDROCARBONS (PAHS) IN SURFACE SEDIMENTS FROM THE HUMBER PLUME, NORTH-SEA

Concentration distributions of chlorinated biphenyls (CBs) and polycyc lic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined in the <63 mum grain size fraction of surface sediments of the Humber plume, North Sea. Con centration ranges of SIGMACB and SIGMAPAH were 2.92-19.07 mug kg-1 and 0.70-2.70 mg kg-1, respectively. The general distribution pattern of CBs and PAHs followed the general path of the Humber plume, with littl e influence from the Wash. The pattern of lower chlorinated CBs sugges ted a possible source of these compounds north of the region studied; PAH patterns and PAH-compound ratios demonstrated the influence of urb an pollution on offshore sediments. On average, Humber plume sediments had lower CB concentrations than sediments in other areas of the Nort h Sea, while PAH levels were similar or, for some compounds, higher. C oncentrations of CBs and PAHs in the Humber mouth, however, showed inc reased levels.