Dissolved PAHs and Organic Carbon in River Wyre Water Samples

Twenty water samples collected from five sites along the River Wyre in northwest England measure dissolved polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Data includes concentrations of freely dissolved PAHs, total dissolved PAHs, estimated DOC-associated fractions, and calculated DOC-water partition coefficients. Samples were gathered from August 2010 to June 2011.

Use Cases

• Analyze the relationship between dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content and the fraction of PAHs associated with DOC across sampling sites.
• Model environmental partitioning using calculated DOC-water partition coefficients for different PAH compounds.
• Compare concentrations of freely dissolved PAHs versus total dissolved PAHs to assess pollutant bioavailability.
• Examine spatial trends in PAH and DOC levels from upland headwaters at Marshaw Wyre to downstream at Garstang.

Strengths

• Data includes 20 water samples collected from five distinct geographic sites.
• Measurements cover a 10-month temporal range from August 2010 to June 2011.
• Provides derived metrics like DOC-associated PAH fractions and partition coefficients.

Limitations

• Small sample size of 20 observations limits statistical power for broad inference.
• Temporal coverage is limited to less than one year, missing seasonal cycles.
• Geographic scope is restricted to a single river system in northwest England.

Provenance

Source

Environmental Information Data Centre

Collection Method

Field collection of water samples with laboratory analysis for PAH and DOC concentrations.

Time Range

August 2010 to June 2011

Freshness

Data last updated March 2026, but underlying measurements are from 2010-2011.

Geography

River Wyre, northwest England, from Marshaw Wyre to Garstang at five sites.