The Presence of Petrogenic PAHs in the Aquatic Environment, a Focus on Monitoring Studies

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Due to their toxic properties and their carcinogenic potential, petrogenic PAHs are routinely monitored in environmental surveys and following accidental events such as oil spills, boat accidents, and accidental discharges. Measurements of PAH concentrations in water and sediment can give an estimation of their abundance, but this does not reveal the real environmental risk. Bioaccumulation in biota and further biological effects of these compounds on various organisms needs to be evaluated to establish the risk posed to the aquatic environment by their presence. In this chapter, monitoring activities of petrogenic PAHs in the aquatic environment are described, including specific cases as examples. Due to the increased knowledge and technological improvements in recent years, new monitoring strategies are also proposed.