Occurrence and Biomagnification of Polychlorinated Naphthalenes and Non- and Mono-ortho PCBs in Lake Ontario Sediment and Biota

• Published in: Environmental science & technology Vol. 42; no. 4; pp. 1024 - 1031
• Main Authors: Helm, Paul A, Gewurtz, Sarah B, Whittle, D. Michael, Marvin, Chris H, Fisk, Aaron T, Tomy, Gregg T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 15.02.2008
• Subjects: Animals; Applied sciences; Characterization of Natural and Affected Environments; Diporeia; Exact sciences and technology; Fishes; Fresh Water; Freshwater; Geologic Sediments - chemistry; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated - analysis; Naphthalenes - analysis; Pollution; Polychlorinated Biphenyls - analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Great Lakes of America; Lake Ontario; North America; America; North America, Great Lakes; North America, Ontario L; Benthic organism; Dioxin derivatives; Chlorine; Toxicity; Polychlorobiphenyls; Lake sediments; Metabolism; Persistent organic pollutant; Trophic chain; Plankton; Toxic equivalency factor; Biological accumulation; Organic compounds; Principal component analysis
• ISSN: 0013-936X; 1520-5851
• DOI: 10.1021/es071819g

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 ΣPCN 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 bioavailable through the 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.