Contamination of the Bay of Fundy-Gulf of Maine Area with Polychlorinated Biphenyls, Polychlorinated Terphenyls, Chlorinated Dibenzodioxins, and Dibenzofurans

Abstract

The procedure used to determine polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated terphenyls (PCTs), chlorinated dibenzodioxins, and chlorinated dibenzofurans is outlined in Table 1. It is based on the cleanup-chromatography of Holden and Marsden (1), modified as described (2). Most PCBs are eluted in fraction I. Fraction II contains some PCBs, p , p'-DDE, and PCTs, whereas heptachlor exposide, dieldrin, endrin, p,p'-DDD, and p , p'-DDT are eluted in fraction III. Fractions I and II are further chromatographed on alumina, essentially according to Porter and Burke (3), to determine chlorinated dibenzodioxins and dibenzofurans. PCTs, hexaand octachlorodibenzodioxin, and octachlorodibenzofuran were quantified by gas chromatography on 3% OV-210 on Chromosorb WAW 60/80 in a 6 ft X 4 mm column at 200°C. A 4% SE-30 column was used to quantify PCBs, chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides, 2,3,7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzodioxin, di-, tri-, and tetrachlorodibenzofuran. Recovery of PCBs and chlorinated hydrocarbon

Chemistry of PCBs and PBBs

“…However, it appears (22,23) that the peak patterns from gas chromatography found in environmental samples representing the biosphere most closely resemble the higher chlorinated commercial mixture, Aroclor 1254. This suggests a selective accumulation of the more highly chlorinated components of the commercial mixtures in biological material.…”

“…However, these findings may be the result of both higher accumulation rates and lower elimination rates for the higher chlorinated biphenyls. It may be of interest to note that fish from lower and intermediate levels of the food web have been found (22) to contain lower amounts of hexachloro and higher amounts of tetrachloro and pentachloro compounds than higher trophic level white and silky sharks and aquatic birds. This suggests that selectivity in bioaccumulation is also a function of biospecies.…”

General Summary and Conclusions

“…A typical PCB residue from fish resembles the Aroclor 1254 mixture more closely than it does other Aroclors (3,4). Considering the major components of Aroclor 1254 (5), it appears that penta-, hexa-, and heptachlorinated biphenyls tend to concentrate at this trophic level in the biosphere.…”

Chemistry of PCBs and PBBs

“…It may be of interest to note that fish from lower and intermediate levels of the food web have been found (22) to contain lower amounts of hexachloro and higher amounts of tetrachloro and pentachloro compounds than higher trophic level white and silky sharks and aquatic birds. However, it appears (22, 23) that the peak patterns from gas chromatography found in environmental samples representing the biosphere most closely resemble the higher chlorinated commercial mixture, Aroclor 1254.…”