Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in marine sediments from the Rijeka Bay area, Northern Adriatic, Croatia, 1998-2006

► PAHs in marine sediments from the Rijeka Bay, Northern Adriatic area were examined. ► Higher PAHs loading were found in repair shipyard than petroleum refinery area. ► There was a dominance of pyrogenic over petrogenic PAHs. ► Decline in PAHs loadings and potential ecotoxicity observed in the period 1998-2006.