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RECORD NUMBER: 24 OF 38

Main Title Horizontal and Vertical Distribution of PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls) in Southern Lake Michigan Sediments and the Effect of Waukegan Harbor as a Point Source.
Author Swackhamer, D. L. ; Armstrong, D. E. ;
CORP Author Wisconsin Univ.-Madison.;Environmental Research Lab.-Duluth, MN.;JRB Associates, Inc., McLean, VA.;National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Rockville, MD. Office of Sea Grant and Extramural Programs.
Publisher c1988
Year Published 1988
Report Number EPA/600/J-88/462;
Stock Number PB90-147687
Additional Subjects Sediments ; Spatial distribution ; Lake Michigan ; Concentration(Composition) ; Sites ; Waukegan Harbor ; Sedimentation ; Reprints ; Polychlorinated biphenyls ; Water pollution sampling ; Point sources ; Sediment water interfaces ; Aroclor ; Organic matter
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Status
NTIS  PB90-147687 Some EPA libraries have a fiche copy filed under the call number shown. 07/26/2022
Collation 15p
Abstract
The spatial distribution of PCBs in southern Lake Michigan sediments was obtained from the analysis of 66 box cores and 8 grab samples. PCB concentrations in surficial sediments were closely related to the sedimentation zone and to the oxidizable organic matter content of the sediments. Average surficial sediment concentrations ranged from 81 micrograms/g in depositional zones to 7.2 micrograms/g in non-depositional zones. The vertical distribution of PCBs was determined at several sites and was used to estimate the areal burden and flux of PCBs in each of the southern sedimentation zones. The total sediment PCB burden in the southern portion of the lake was estimated to be 5,900 kg. Southern Lake Michigan has received PCBs since approximately 1930 at an average flux of 7.1 micrograms/sq m/yr. The effect of Waukegan Harbor as a point source of PCBs to Lake Michigan was evaluated by comparing the PCB distribution and Aroclor composition of harbor sediments to those of sediments of decreasing distances from the harbor. Significant differences in total PCB concentration between non-depositional zones near the harbor and those in other areas of the basin indicate that Waukegan Harbor has influenced the PCB burden of Lake Michigan.