Priority Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Bottom Sediments of Freshwater Ecosystems: Levels, Sources, Behavior and Standardization (a Review)

Current concepts of the state of bottom sediments in freshwater ecosystems based on the concentrations of priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are reviewed. Anthropogenic and natural sources of PAHs in the environment are examined. The paper describes the mechanisms and pathways by which these compounds enter water bodies and watercourses, as well as their migration, degradation, and redistribution among components of the aquatic environment. The abundance of PAHs in the bottom sediments of the world’s largest rivers and lakes are discussed. Data on the environmental and sanitary–hygienic normalization of PAH concentrations in bottom sediments of freshwater ecosystems are systematized.