Occurrence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in seawater from the Western Taiwan Strait, China

► Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in dissolved phase and particulate phase of seawater were analyzed in the Western Taiwan Strait (WTS). ► PAHs contamination shows a low-middle level in China seas. ► Min-Zhe coastal current might influence the spatial variability of PAHs in WTS. ► PAHs input sources may be attributed to land-based atmospheric deposition.