Pre- and post-industrial levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments from the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence (eastern Canada)

Abstract

Highlights• The PAH contents are similar to those in other well-urbanized estuarine systems.• The PAH contents between 1937 and 1943 CE are 2.5 times higher than modern values.• PAHs mainly originate from pyrogenic sources with little petrogenic influence.• A few urbanized sector samples exhibit a possible ecological risk to organisms.