Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds, 22:689–702, 2002 Copyright c  2002 Taylor & Francis 1040-6638/02 $12.00 + .00 DOI: 10.1080/10406630290103843 POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC COMPOUNDS IN THE GREENLAND MARINE ENVIRONMENT Maria P´ ecseli Gunnar Pritzl Marianne Thomsen National Environmental Research Institute, Department of Environmental Chemistry, Roskilde, Denmark Gert Asmund National Environmental Research Institute, Department of Arctic Environment, Roskilde, Denmark Jens Tang Christensen National Environmental Research Institute, Department of Marine Ecology, University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark Information on levels of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) in the marine environment from pristine areas of the world are still sparse. In this study, PACs were analyzed in sediments and various organisms from the area of Qeqertarsuaq/Disko in the western part of Greenland. PAC levels were measured in sediments, blue mussels (Mytilus edulis), liver of shorthorn sculpins (Myoxocephalus scorpius), and blubber of ringed seals (Phoca hispida). The average levels of 6PAC in the four sample types were 359 μg/kg, 497 μg/kg, 2762 μg/kg, and 101 μg/kg dry weight respectively. Principal component analyses (PCA) revealed variations in PAC composition between the different samples that could be related to This project was part of the international Arctic Monitoring Assessment Program (AMAP) which is funded by the Danish Environmental Protection Agency as part of the environmental support program Danish Cooperation for Environment in the Arctic (Dancea). Address correspondence to Maria P´ ecseli, National Environmental Research Institute (NERI), Department of Environmental Chemistry, P.O. Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark. E-mail: PEC@dmu.dk 689