Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water [including drinking water] of Lodz

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are more dangerous xenobiotics, very car­ci­no­genic for animals and humans. They are found in air, water, sediments, and plant and animal tissues. most PAHs in the environment are derived during incomplete combustion of organic substances at temperatures lower than 700o C. total emission of all PAHs is very difficult to estimate but the global emission of benzo[a]pyrene is estimated at about 8600 tons/year. Most PAHs are li­po­philic com­pounds that can be bioaccumulated to high levels. Microbial biodegradation and sun­light de­com­po­sition are the main mechanisms for PAH removal from sediments and water. In the present paper the authors will try to de­ter­mine concentrations of 16 PAHs from the US EPA list in river water and drinking water of the ód area to be compared with bibliographic data ob­tained by other chro­mato­graphic methods.