Accelerated delivery of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in recent sediments near a large seabird colony in Arctic Canada.
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were measured in sediment cores from ponds located near a large seabird colony at Cape Vera, Devon Island, Arctic Canada. Surface sediment PCB concentrations were approximately 5x greater in seabird-affected sites relative to a nearby control pond and were correlated with independent indicators of seabird activity including, sedimentary delta(15)N and lakewater chlorophyll a and cadmium concentrations. PCB fluxes were amongst the highest recorded from the High Arctic, ranging from 290 to 2400 ng m(-2) yr(-1). Despite a widespread ban of PCBs in the mid-1970s, PCB accumulation rates in our cores increased, with the highest values recorded in the most recent sediments. Possible mechanisms for the recent PCB increases include a vertical flux step driven by seabird-delivered nutrients and/or delayed loading of PCBs from the catchment into the ponds. The high PCB levels recorded in the seabird-affected sites suggest that seabird colonies are exposing coastal ecosystems to elevated levels of contaminants.
Michelutti
Neal
N
Paleoecological Environmental Assessment and Research Laboratory, Department of Biology, Queen's University, 116 Barrie St., Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada. nm37@queensu.ca
Liu
Huijun
H
Smol
John P
JP
Kimpe
Lynda E
LE
Keatley
Bronwyn E
BE
Mallory
Mark
M
Macdonald
Robie W
RW
Douglas
Marianne S V
MS
Blais
Jules M
JM
D000818:Animals; D001110:Arctic Regions; D001717:Birds / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D002170:Canada; D017753:Ecosystem; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis*; D012623:Seawater / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls