Distribution and characterization of PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) in Lake Michigan water

Technical Report · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6969344

Swackhamer, D L; Armstrong, D E

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were measured in the water column of Lake Michigan at 28 stations. Distributions between dissolved and particulate phases were used to evaluate the partitioning behavior of PCBs. The average PCB concentration in Lake Michigan was 1.8 ng/l, corresponding to a total PCB burden of 8,900 kg. The average PCB concentration was significantly lower in open lake (1.2 ng/l) than in nearshore zone samples (3.2 ng/l). Concentrations in Green Bay were elevated compared to the rest of the lake. Variations in concentration with depth were small. The average log of the water-particle partition coefficient (Kp) was 5.9. Little dependence of Kp on particulate organic carbon was observed. A relationship was found between log Kp and log SPM (suspended particulate matter) concentration, perhaps reflecting association of a non-filterable fraction of the SPM with the aqueous phase.

• Research Organization: Wisconsin Univ., Madison, WI (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6969344
• Report Number(s): PB-90-142852/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AROMATICS
CHEMISTRY
CHLORINATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
GREAT LAKES
HALOGENATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
LAKE MICHIGAN
LAKES
MONITORING
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
SURFACE WATERS
WATER CHEMISTRY
WATER POLLUTION