Contaminants and Trends in Fall Run Coho Salmon

David S. DeVault, J. Milton Clark, Garet Lahvis, Joseph Weishaar

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

36 Scopus citations

Abstract

Fillets of fall run coho salmon from each of the Great Lakes were analyzed for pesticides and industrial compounds. PCBs were the dominant contaminant in all samples ranging from trace concentrations in Lake Superior to 1.74 μg/kg in Lake Ontario. Compounds which have been banned or restricted were detected in most samples. These include PCB, DDT, chlordane, dieldrin, toxaphene, endrin, lindane, and heptachlor-epoxide. The herbicide, dacthal, was detected in samples from Lakes Michigan, Huron, and Erie. Comparison of 1984 coho salmon with those collected in 1980 through 1983 indicates that concentrations of PCB and DDT in coho from Lakes Erie and Michigan have declined, following first order loss kinetics. Dieldrin concentrations in Lake Michigan coho have also declined following first order loss kinetics.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)23-33
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Great Lakes Research
Volume14
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1988
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Polychlorinated biphenyls
  • herbicides
  • pesticides
  • toxaphene
  • toxic substances

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Aquatic Science
  • Ecology

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