This study utilizes suspended particles and seafloor sediments collected from the northern Gulf of Mexico (GOM) continental margin to study the fate, transport, residence times and accumulation rates of particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Total particulate-PAHs and particulate organic carbon (POC) varied between 0.9 and 7.0 ng/L, and 4–131 μg/L, respectively. Particulate-PAHs were positively correlated with POC, while both particulate-PAHs and POC were negatively correlated with salinity (P-value < 0.05). These results show that the river-derived particle influx and associated POC are important vectors for transport and fate of particulate-PAHs in the river-dominated northern GOM continental ecosystems. The composition of underlying seafloor sediment-PAHs were not correlated to the water column particulate-PAHs, which is attributed to re-mineralization, sediment resuspension/redistribution and different timescales of comparison. The 210Pb-derived residence time of particles and associated particulate-PAHs in water column varied between 2 and 39 days. Residence times of particulate-PAHs were significantly correlated with seafloor sediment-PAHs accumulation rates, shorter water column residence times leading to higher PAHs accumulation rates. Display omitted •First estimates of 210Pb-based residence time of particulate-PAHs in the northern GOM.•Concentration of particulate-PAHs and POC varied between 0.9 –7.0 ng/L, and 4–131 µg/L, respectively.•Total and individual PAHs in suspended particles had strong positive correlation with POC.•The Mississippi River-derived particles play a major role in transport and fate of particulate-PAHs in the northern GOM.•210Pb-derived residence time of particles in the northern GOM varies between 2-39 days.