On the Rate of Decline of Persistent Organic Contaminants in Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush) from the Great Lakes, 1970−2003

Abstract

Thirty-four years of data from the Great Lakes Fish Monitoring Program (GLFMP) show significant changes in the behavior of most contaminants in lake trout over time consistent with changes in contaminant inputs following regulation and remediation. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) show positive apparent first-order rate constants falling to near zero. Dieldrin shows relatively unchanging half-lives of around 10 years except in Lake Superior (approximately 25 years). Mirex, consistently detected only in Lake Ontario fish, shows a slow decrease until the 1990s, when remediation of a source site occurred, after which half-lives are 2-3 years. Half-lives of oxychlordane, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and dichloro-diphenyl-trichlorethane (DDT) and its metabolites were typically 3-6 years until the mid 1980s; since then, the newest data confirm half-lives are usually around 15-30 years. For PCBs, an increasing half-life is found in other media as well. Changes in food web structure, fishery dynamics, and climate undoubtedly affect concentrations but cannot explain observed long-term trends across several media. Concentrations of legacy contaminants in the Great Lakes are likely to continue to decline only slowly and pose a health concern for decades without identifying and containing remaining sources.

Production of Persistent Organic Pollutants from Cement Plants

“…Lindane was found in many areas of France, even in regions without agricultural use (Villanneau et al, 2009). Similar observations and results can be found in the literature (Carlson et al, 2010), dealing with diverse situations, such as latitude and population, all around the world (Liu et. Al, 2009;Kurt-Karakus et al, 2006;Shuthirasingh, et.…”

Dynamic modeling predicts continued bioaccumulation of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomiu) post phase-out due to invasive prey and shifts in predation

“…The increase in the PBDE load of smallmouth bass indicates the importance of the benthic-pelagic link created by the invasion of non-native species. Smallmouth bass has previously been observed to accumulate higher levels of persistent organohalogen compounds and mercury than other organisms due to trophic position (Kwon et al, 2006;Sethajintanin et al, 2004), but only recently has the importance of the direct link between benthic uptake and predatory fish been observed (Carlson et al, 2010;Hogan et al, 2007). Prior to the invasion of the round goby, the lack of a benthic link allowed for the sequestration of such persistent compounds to benthic organisms (Moermond et al, 2004).…”

“…Recent analyses of temporal trends have reported system-wide decreases in PBDE concentrations for many piscivorous species including salmonids and esocids (Batterman et al, 2007;Carlson et al, 2010;Crimmins et al, 2012;Ismail et al, 2009). Despite apparent trends in the other Great Lakes, no trend in biotic PBDE load can be discerned for Lake Erie (Crimmins et al, 2012).…”

Examination of temporal DDT trends in Lake Erie fish communities using dynamic linear modeling

“…Within North America, the Great Lakes system has been particularly susceptible to inputs of persistent contaminants, given the long hydraulic residence times (DeVault et al, 1996). DDT and its degradation compounds DDE and DDD were detected early on in fish and wildlife of the region (Carlson et al, 2010). Lakes Michigan, Ontario and Huron have historically exhibited the highest fish DDT levels, due to the increased loading from the surrounding agricultural and industrial areas (Hickey et al, 2006).…”