PBDEs and PCBs in the sediments of the Great Lakes: Distributions, trends, influencing factors, and implications

CINF 91

An Li, anli@uic.edu1, Karl Rockne, krockne@uic.edu2, Neil C. Sturchio3, Wenlu Song1, Justin C. Ford1, Dave R. Buckley4, and William J. Mills1. (1) School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, 2121 W Taylor St, MC 922, Chicago, IL 60612, (2) Department of Civil and Materials Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, (3) Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, (4) Department of Civil and Materials Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607
The spatial distribution and temporal trends of PBDEs and PCBs in the sediments of the Great Lakes were investigated through retrieving sedimentary records. The accumulation of the 9 tri- through hepta-PBDEs (Σ9BDEs), BDE209, and the sum of 11 PCBs were 5.2±1.1, 92±13, and 69±10 tonnes, respectively, around year 2002. The inventories of both PBDEs and PCBs show strong dependence on the latitude, and to a lesser extent on the longitude, of the sampling sites. From the 1970s to 2002, the increases in PBDE input flux were exponential at all locations. In the same time period, PCB fluxes were dramatically decreased or leveled off depending on locations. The year of deposition, latitude, and organic matter content of the sediments account for about 70% of the variations in PBDEs. For PCBs, changes in congener patterns with sediment depth differ among lakes, and evidence of in situ dechlorination was observed in Lake Ontario.
 

Great Lakes Research: Environmental Issues for a Freshwater Ecosystem
1:25 PM-4:40 PM, Wednesday, March 28, 2007 McCormick Place North -- Room N134, Level 1, Oral

Division of Chemical Information

The 233rd ACS National Meeting, Chicago, IL, March 25-29, 2007