THE DISTRIBUTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL RELATIONSHIPS OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC-HYDROCARBONS (PAHS) IN SEDIMENTS FROM NORWEGIAN SMELTER-AFFECTED FJORDS

PAH distribution was examined in 119 surface sediment samples collecte d in connection with monitoring surveys in four Norwegian fjords affec ted by aluminium and manganese alloy smelters. Regression, principal c omponent analysis (PCA) and redundancy analysis (RDA) were used to ide ntify common patterns and possible correlations with explanatory varia bles (distance, depth, grain size, TOC, CM-ratio, metals). The best-fi tting variables corresponded to the deposition of PAY expressed either as a function of distance from source or as the amount of PAH-bearing material. This supports the assumption that particulate, combustion-d erived PAHs are resistant to transformation during transport and incor poration into surface sediments. Compound-specific processes leading t o minor, but systematic and strikingly similar profile variations in t he fjords could not be adequately explained by the environmental varia bles. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.