Fluorescence techniques for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in marine environment: an overview

PAHs are a class of organic compounds, which are included in the wider family of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs). These compounds have shown carcinogenic and/or mutagenic activity in laboratory experiments with animals. PACs are generally formed during incomplete combustion or pyrolysis of organic matter occurring in a variety of natural processes or human activities. Consequently, PAHs are ubiquitous pollutants, which are present in all environmental components. Specifically, the presence of PAHs has been reported in marine environment: sea water [5-9, 29-33], sediments [2,3,35-51], and plankton, seaweed and filter feeding organisms [52-71].