Abstract |
Fish from western Lake Superior (1972-73) contained DDT and PCB residues at concentrations greater than 0.1 ppm. The most predominant PCB's were those containing 3 to 6 chlorine atoms per molecule, and GLC data indicated that the mixtures were most like the commercial product Aroclor (R). Other chlorinated contaminants identified by GC/MS analyses and occurring at concentrations less than 0.1 ppm were hexachlorobenzene (C6C16), chlordane, nonaclor, and dieldrin. Lindane which has been previously reported in Lake Superior, was below the detection limit of approximately 0.01 ppm. The relationship between the size of lake trout and the concentration of total DDT in the fish was compared to measurements reported in previous studies. The comparison suggests that DDT residues have declined since 1968. |