Institute of Marine Research has analysed approximately 1600 samples from sediment cores from 63 places in the MAREANO area, sampled in south-western Barents Sea and off the coast of Lofoten islands in 2006-2009.
Sedimentological data obtained by Norwegian Geological Survey for sediments from the same area was combined with the measurements of hydrocarbons (PAH and total hydrocarbon content, THC). Low levels of hydrocarbons are found at all the locations, corresponding to KLIF classes I and II for PAH16, witb an increase
in combustion-related PAH in modern sediment layers at coastal and southernmost locations. An increase in oilrelated PAH in deep sediments found a few places near known oil- and gas-fields is attributed to natural sources
