Table 2 Literature-derived diagnostic ratios used for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to assess and infer pollution sources38,42,43,44 using PAH concentrations detected in liver and skeletal muscle of Southern Resident killer whales (SRKWs; O. orca) and Bigg’s killer whales stranded in British Columbia, Canada.

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

PAHs

Diagnostic Ratio

Sources

∑LMW/HMW

 < 1

Pyrogenic

 > 1

Petrogenic

Ant/(Ant + Phe)

 < 0.1

Petroleum

 > 0.1

Pyrogenic/Combustion

Flu/(Flu + Pyr)

 < 0.4

Petroleum

0.4–0.5

Liquid fossil fuel combustion

 > 0.4

Coal, wood or grass combustion

BaA/(BaA + Chr)

 < 0.2

Petroleum

0.2–0.35

Coal, wood, or grass combustion

 > 0.35

Pyrogenic/Combustion

  1. Ant anthracene, Phe phenanthrene, Flu fluoranthene, Pyr pyrene, BaA benz[a]anthracene, Chr chrysene.
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