Polychlorinated dibenzofurans and polychlorinated dibenzo‐p‐dioxins in great lakes fish: A baseline and interlake comparison

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Abstract
Fish from each of the Great Lakes and Lake St. Clair were analyzed for 10 congeners of polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and 8 congeners of polychlorinated dibenzo‐p‐dioxins (PCDDs). PCDFs and PCDDs were identified above detection limits in samples from each lake. Concentrations of PCDFs, principally 2,3,7,8‐TCDF, were highest (102.4 ng/kg) in Lake Michigan lake trout and lowest in late trout from Lake Superior (20.9 ng/kg). Total PCDD concentrations ranged from 7.2 ng/kg in Lake Superior lake trout in 64.5 ng/kg in Lake Ontario lake trout. Concentrations of 2,3,7,8‐TCDD ranged from 1.0 ng/kg in Lake Superior lake trout to 48.9 ng/kg in lake trout from Lake Ontario.While the upper lakes were somewhat similar in the absolute concentration and composition of PCDFs and PCDDs, principle components analysis identified statistically significant inter‐ and in‐tralake differences in the composition of total PCDF and total PCDD. These differences suggest differences in the sources of these compounds to each of the Great Lakes.