Bioaccumulation of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran and extractable organic chlorine at a bleached-kraft mill site in a northern Canadian river system

Journal Article · Tue Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5620130219· OSTI ID:5106190

Owens, J W ^[1]; Swanson, S M ^[2]; Birkholz, D A ^[3]

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1. Procter and Gamble, Cincinnati, OH (United States)
2. Golder Associates Ltd., Calgary, Alberta (Canada)
3. Envirotest Labs., Edmonton, Alberta (Canada)

Abiotic and biotic environmental compartments in a northern Canadian river system have been analyzed for poly-chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and extractable organochlorines (EOCl) down-stream of a bleached-kraft mill. The water column, deposited and suspended sediments, invertebrates, and tissues from several fish species were analyzed. The data indicate that (a) conversion of the mill bleaching process to 100% chlorine dioxide virtually eliminated the discharge of PCDDs and PCDFs; (b) PCDD, PCDF, and EOCl transport occurred primarily in suspended sediments; and (c) the food choice of filter-feeding insects by specific fish species such as the mountain whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni) was an important determinant in the food-chain transfer of the principal compounds, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran (TCDF). Relative to mountain whitefish, TCDD and TCDF levels in another bottom feeding species, longnose sucker (Catostomus catostomus), were at least an order of magnitude lower. Food-chain biomagnification of TCDD and TCDF was not observed in omnivorous and predatory species, burbot (Lota lota) and walleye (Stizostedium vitreum), for which lipid-adjusted levels were similar to those in the longnose sucker. These data indicate that organism lipid levels alone are not sufficient to predict species-specific bioaccumulation of these hydrophobic compounds, and that site-specific transport and species food choice parameters should be included in bioaccumulation models for hydrophobic compounds such as PCDDs and PCDFs.

• OSTI ID: 5106190
• Journal Information: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States) Vol. 13:2; ISSN ETOCDK; ISSN 0730-7268
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BENZOFURANS
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
CANADA
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DIOXIN
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
FURANS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
RIVERS
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
WATER POLLUTION