Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments from the Saguenay Fjord, Canada

Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are ubiquitous environmental pollutants that pose a potential hazard not only to human life, but to other forms of life as well. Some PAH's, namely benzo(a)pyrene (BAP) and dibenzo(a,h) anthracene, are highly potent carcinogens, which have been associated to the etiology of some human cancers. The purpose of this study is to determine the spatial distribution of PAH concentrations in the Saguenay Fjord surface sediments and to study the behavior of these compounds in this marine environment.