POLYCHLORINATED-BIPHENYLS AND OTHER ORGANIC-CHEMICAL RESIDUES IN FISH FROM MAJOR UNITED-STATES WATERSHEDS NEAR THE GREAT-LAKES, 1978

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 15  (1) , 1-8
Abstract
Composite samples (26) of fish were collected during 1978 from USA watersheds near the Great Lakes and analyzed for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and related organic chemicals. PCB mixtures resembling Aroclor 1254 were found in all samples, and mixtures resembling Aroclor 1242 (or 1016) were found in 77% of the samples. Total PCB concentrations in the whole-fish composite samples ranged from 0.13-14.6 ppm; 65% of the samples contained > 2 ppm PCB. DDT and its metabolites were also found in all samples. .SIGMA.DDT concentration was 1.66 ppm and 81% of the samples contained < 1.0 ppm .SIGMA.DDT. Chlordane ranged from < 0.001-2.57 ppm in 38% of the samples. Hexachlorobenzene was found in 65% of the samples, raning from < 0.005-0.447 ppm. Other chemicals identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry included petroleum hydrocarbons and chlorobenzenes, chlorostyrenes, chlorophenols and chlorinated aliphatic compounds. Fish from the Ashtabula River (Ohio), Rocky River (Ohio) and Wabash River (Indiana) [USA] contained complex residues of chlorinated and other organic chemicals.