Selected groups of organic contaminants (hydrocarbons - 48 PAH, THC, brominated flame retardants – 26 PBDE, chlorinated contaminants – 9 PCB and 9 chlorinated pesticides, contaminants of emerging concern - 20 PFAS, 3 siloxanes, 3 chlorinated paraffins, 21 PFR, 7 dechloranes, 6 alkylphenols and alkylphenol ethoxylates and bisphenol A), 8 inorganic composition pollutants, barium, radioactive cesium-137, microplastic and physical properties are measured in surface and near-surface sediments from the Norwegian continental shelf in the Barents, Norwegian Seas and the North Sea since 2006. Several sampling cruises each year deliver on average 10-20 new locations for investigation annually. The results included in the dataset are further available as maps as well as detailed reports on www.mareano.no (updated by the end of each year). The Geological Survey of Norway (NGU) is responsible for the analysis of the inorganic chemical composition pollutants (heavy metals) and of physical parameters, while IMR is responsible for the analysis of the organic compounds. Dating of selected sediment cores, based on radioisotopes Pb-210 and Cs-137, provides information on rates of sedimentation and accumulation of contaminants. In some selected cores C-14 is also used for dating. In addition, the dataset contains data for sediment samples collected by IMR in 2003-2004 and by the Marine Coastal Basemap project since 2020.

Selected groups of organic contaminants (hydrocarbons - 48 PAH, THC, brominated flame retardants – 26 PBDE, chlorinated contaminants – 9 PCB and 9 chlorinated pesticides, contaminants of emerging concern - 20 PFAS, 3 siloxanes, 3 chlorinated paraffins, 21 PFR, 7 dechloranes, 6 alkylphenols and alkylphenol ethoxylates and bisphenol A), are measured in surface and near-surface sediments from the Norwegian continental shelf in the Barents, Norwegian Seas and the North Sea between 2006 and 2022 for the Mareano project.

Selected groups of organic contaminants (hydrocarbons - THC and PAH, brominated flame retardants – PBDE, chlorinated contaminants – PCB and chlorinated pesticides, contaminants of emerging concern - PFAS), are measured in surface and near-surface sediments from Norwegian fjord and coastal areas in the Norwegian Sea and the North Sea in 2020 and 2021 for the Marine Coastal Basemaps project. The data are also available in The Marine Chemistry database for Norwegian waters (MarChem), found at https://marchem.hi.no/.

Selected groups of organic contaminants (hydrocarbons - THC and PAH, brominated flame retardants – PBDE, chlorinated contaminants – PCB and chlorinated pesticides, contaminants of emerging concern - PFAS), are measured in surface and near-surface sediments from Norwegian fjord and coastal areas in the North Sea in 2023 for the Marine Coastal Basemaps project. The data are also available in The Marine Chemistry database for Norwegian waters (MarChem), found at https://marchem.hi.no/.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are common environmental contaminants which can be derived from anthropogenic sources, such as combustion and discharges from extraction and transport, and natural processes, including leakage and erosion of fossil carbon. Natural PAH sources contribute, along with biological activities and terrestrial run-off, to the organic carbon content in sediments.The Barents Sea region is far from many anthropogenic sources of PAH, but production and trans-shipment of hydrocarbons is increasing. We present data for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations in bottom sediments from 510 stations in the Barents and White Seas, and along the northern coast of Norway.