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A Threat to the Baltic Sea? Long-term development of pollution by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
![Investigating the toxicological risk posed by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to the Baltic Sea: IOW researcher Marion Kanwischer](assets/images/1/Marion_Kanwischer_Presse_JMyrrhe_DSC_0090-fa54d8b7.jpg)
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widespread, highly toxic and often carcinogenic environmental pollutants. Marion Kanwischer from the IOW and her team have studied the long-term development of PAH pollution in the Baltic Sea using sediment and water samples and compared pre-industrial concentrations with the development of PAH pollution after the onset of Industrialisation. Although the overall contamination has eased in recent years, PAHs still pose a toxicological threat to the Baltic Sea. Traffic emissions are a major contributor to the current PAH pollution.
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