Figure 2 | Scientific Reports

Figure 2

From: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) source identification and a maternal transfer case study in threatened killer whales (Orcinus orca) of British Columbia, Canada

Figure 2

Log-scale distribution of low molecular weight (LMW; 2–3 rings) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), high molecular weight (HMW; 4–6 rings) PAHs, and the ratio of ∑LMW/HMW for liver or skeletal muscle (SM) samples (n = 14) of stranded Bigg’s killer whales (O. orca) and Southern Resident killer whales (SRKW) reported in ng/g wet weight (ww). The dashed line indicates where those ∑LMW/HMW ratios equal one, ∑LMW/HMW < 1 indicates a pyrogenic source while ∑LMW/HMW > 1 indicates a petrogenic source. ∑LMW: sum of 1-methylnaphthalene, 2-methylfluorene, 2-methylnaphthalene, 2,3,5-trimethylnaphthalene, 2,3,6-trimethylnaphthalene, 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene, acenaphthene, acenaphthylene, anthracene, biphenyl, C1-biphenyls, C1-fluorenes, C2-dibenzothiophenes, C2-fluorenes, C2-naphthalenes, C3-dibenzothiophenes, C3-fluorenes, C3-naphthalenes, C4-dibenzothiophenes, C4-naphthalenes, dibenzothiophene, fluorene, naphthalene, phenanthrene. ∑HMW: sum of benz[a]anthracene, chrysene, fluoranthene, pyrene.

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