Occurrence and biomagnification of polychlorinated naphthalenes and non- and mono-ortho PCBs in Lake Ontario sediment and biota.
Biota and surface sediments collected from Lake Ontario were analyzed for polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) and non- and mono-ortho-substituted polychlorinated biphenyls (n/ m-o-PCBs) to compare bioaccumulation behavior of these classes of dioxin-like chemicals in a food web from the Great Lakes. Mean sigmaPCN concentrations (tri-octaCN) ranged from 14 +/- 9 pg/g in plankton to 3500 +/- 3200 pg/g (wet weight) in lake trout while sediments contained from 21 to 38 ng/g (dry weight). Principal components analysis of PCN congener patterns indicated that chlorine substitution determined which congeners favored accumulation (e.g., CN-42, -52, -60, -66, -67, and -73), while others may be subject to metabolism. The bioaccumulative congeners exhibited similar trophic magnification factors (TMFs; 1.23-1.42) and biomagnification factors (BMFs; 5.5-8.6) to the n/m-o-PCBs for the trout/weighted diet relation, although BMFs for a benthic feeding relationship (slimy sculpin/Diporeia) indicated that the n/m-o-PCBs were more bioavailablethroughthe benthic pathway. PCNs contribute significantly to the burden of dioxin-like compounds in Lake Ontario biota, contributing between 12 and 22% of total PCN + PCB TEQ in lake trout and up to 69% in benthic organisms.
Helm
Paul A
PA
Environmental Monitoring and Reporting Branch, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, 125 Resources Road, Toronto, Ontario M9P 3V6, Canada. paul.helm@ontario.ca
Gewurtz
Sarah B
SB
Whittle
D Michael
DM
Marvin
Chris H
CH
Fisk
Aaron T
AT
Tomy
Gregg T
GT
D000818:Animals; D005399:Fishes; D005618:Fresh Water; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000032:analysis*; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000032:analysis*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D009281:Naphthalenes; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C031721:naphthalene; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls