Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Lake Waters and Associated Sediments: Analytical Determination by Gas Chromatography—Mass Spectrometry

Marine and fresh water sediments exhibit a wide variety of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. These range from the two-ringed biphenyl and naphthalene species to the seven-ringed coronene member, and include a variety of intermediate aromatics exhibiting isomeric differences as well as alkylated derivatives. Analytical methods were developed for this spectrum of aromatics involving extraction and purification techniques followed by a gas chromatographic separation combined with mass spectrometry for identification. In this manner, a total of 27 polycyclic aromatics were detected in Great Lakes sediments along with three aromatics and three dicarboxylic acid esters in waters of the Great Lakes. Limits of detection for aromatics were: 1 ng/liter in water, based on 30-liter water samples and 2 ng/g of dry sediment when extracted from 100 g of wet sediment.