Organic Substances in the Rainfall of Lake Superior: 1983
Strachan WJ. 1983. Organic Substances in the Rainfall of Lake Superior: 1983. Burlington, ON
In 1983, sampling for organic substances in rainfall was undertaken at two, open-lake locations at opposite ends of Lake Superior - Isle Royale and Caribou Island. Triplicate samples averaging 22 litres were collected for each time period (approximately six weeks) and these were analysed for alpha-BHC, lindane, heptachlor epoxide, dieldrin, endrin, DDT residuues, methoxychlor, PCBs and HCB. Alpha- and gamma-chlordane, mirex and toxaphene were also investigated but were not found in any of the samples. Concentrations of these compounds ranged from 65 ng/L to 0.01 ng/L. The east side of the lake received considerably lower concentrations in rainfall (on average roughly 65% less) and the levels of most of the observed substances were higher at both locations in the spring/early summer. Estimates of direct loadings to the lake were made using volume weighted concentrations. The highest was for alpha-BHC at 860 kg/annum and the lowest for HCB at 3.7 kg/annum; the loading estimate for PCBs was 300 kg/annum.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Strachan, William
- Date of Issue
- 1983
- Units
- ISRO
- Keywords
- Aquatic Sciences, Atmosphere, Atmospheric Sciences, bhc, Lake Superior, Loading, methoxychlor, Organochlorine, PCB, Pesticide, Precipitation, Rain, toxaphene