Les organochlorés et les hydrocarbures aromatiques polycycliques dans le fleuve Saint-Laurent, à la hauteur de l'Ile Wolfe, 1982 à 1984

Abstract

Whole water and suspended sediment samples were collected monthly at Wolfe Island on the St. Lawrence River from April 1982 to December 1984. Samples were analyzed for organochlorines and polyaromatic hydrocarbons. α- and γ-BHC and dieldrin were found in more than 40% of the whole water samples. α-BHC, dieldrin, PCBs, and tDDT occurred in more than 50% of the suspended sediment samples, and mirex, α-chlordane, and β-endosulfan were measured 20% to 35% of the time. Higher chlorinated chlorobenzenes such as hexa, penta, 1,2,3,4-tetra, and 1,2,4-tri were also detected in more than 50% of the suspended sediment samples. Rough estimates of the loading budget for PCBs, tDDT, and tBHC for Lake Ontario suggest that these compounds remain in the lake or are volatilized. Recommendations for future monitoring programs are discussed.