Organochlorine Pesticides and Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in Sediments and Biota From Four US Arctic Lakes
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-1-1997
Description
Organochlorine (OC) concentrations in surface sediment, snails (Lymnea sp.), and two freshwater fish species (grayling, Thymallus arcticus; and lake trout, Salvelinus namaycush) from four lakes in the US Arctic were determined. In surface sediment, chlorinated benzenes (including hexachlorobenzene, HCB), and p,p'-DDT were the primary analytes detected (max = 0.7 ng/g dry wt), while individual polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners were always below 0.1 ng/g. A wider range of compounds and higher concentrations were found in lake trout, the top predatory fish species in the same lakes. The concentration ranges for hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), chlordane-related compounds (CHLORs), DDTs, and PCBs in lake trout and grayling were similar to those reported for other arctic freshwater fish (1- 100 ng/g wet wt), but one to two orders of magnitude lower than Great Lakes salmonids. Nitrogen isotope analysis confirmed that differences in OC concentrations between grayling and lake trout are explained partly by differences in food web position.
Citation Information
Allen-Gil, S. M.; Gubala, C. P.; Wilson, R.; Landers, D. H.; Wade, T. L.; Sericano, J. L.; and Curtis, L. R.. 1997. Organochlorine Pesticides and Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in Sediments and Biota From Four US Arctic Lakes. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. Vol.33(4). 378-387. https://doi.org/10.1007/s002449900267 PMID: 9419256 ISSN: 0090-4341