Sediment aquatic, fossil fuel hydrocarbons

T5 iogeochemical studies of fossil fuel hydrocarbons provide information on inputs, routes, and rates of transfers and reaction, and reservoirs of accumulation of these compounds in aquatic environments. Such research is necessary in conjunction with research on the lethal and sublethal effects of fossil fuel compounds on aquatic ecosystems. They tell us where and for how long organisms will be in contact with these compounds and what the form of the compound will be (e.g., dissolved, colloidal, particulate, adsorbed on sediment). 

Up to this point I have been talking mainly about hydrocarbons in sediments. One of the advantages of sediment analyses, as already noted, is that within some limits they can give an indication of the history of the inputs of fossil fuel compounds to aquatic ecosystems and assist in... 

The effect of these compounds on human health has been a major cause of concern. Toxicity to humans depends on exact structure, but exposure is ubiquitous and involves a mixture of compounds, from fossil fuel and natural and anthropogenic burning and from food, mainly grilled or barbecued meat. In the broader environment, PAHs are endocrine disruptors and bind to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor. They have been shown to depress immune function in some wildlife. They may be responsible for reproductive disorders in aquatic organisms, especially in shellfish and sediment dwellers. 

---