Historical Input and Degradation of Toxaphene in Lake Ontario Sediment

• Published in: Environmental science & technology Vol. 30; no. 1; pp. 220 - 224
• Main Authors: Howdeshell, Michael J, Hites, Ronald A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 01.01.1996
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Chemistry; Contamination; Exact sciences and technology; Ferries; Freshwater; Lakes; Pesticides; Pollution; Pollution sources. Measurement results; Scientific imaging; Sediments; Soil and sediments pollution; Great Lakes of America; North America; America; Lake Ontario; North America, Ontario L; Degradation; Insecticide; Pollutant behavior; Chlorocarbon; Content; Camphechlor; Lake sediments; Soil pollution; Case history; Concentration distribution
• ISSN: 0013-936X; 1520-5851
• DOI: 10.1021/es950257a

The historical input of toxaphene to Lake Ontario has been determined. We analyzed total toxaphene concentrations in eight Lake Ontario sediment cores by electron capture gas chromatographic mass spectrometry and found that toxaphene maximizes in 1973 ± 6 yr with a horizon date of 1945 ± 6 yr. The maximum toxaphene flux to Lake Ontario sediment was 22 ± 8 μg/m2 yr in about 1973, and the total toxaphene load in the lake is 10 ± 3 t. By comparing the toxaphene burdens for the cores, we conclude that toxaphene is deposited to Lake Ontario sediment from both the Niagara River and from the atmosphere. We also found that toxaphene is slowly dechlorinated after deposition in Lake Ontario sediment.