Improvements in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contamination in the Japan Sea: An interannual survey from 2008 to 2014.

The concentrations and distributions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were examined from 2008 to 2014 in the surface waters of the Japan Sea region. PAH concentrations decreased in the Japan Sea and Tsushima Strait; consistent with improvements in atmospheric pollution from Japan. There were no changes in the Korean Strait, suggesting a continual influx of contamination separate from the Japan Sea.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Surface Water of the Southeastern Japan Sea.

Surface water samples were collected at 15 sampling sites in the southeastern Japan Sea along the Japanese Archipelago for analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Water samples were fractionated by filtration through a glass fiber membrane (pore size 0.5 µm) and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.