Biological Monitoring of Organochlorine Contaminants in the St. Clair and Detroit Rivers Using Introduced Clams, Elliptio Complanatus

Abstract

Introduced clams (in cages) were effective biomonitors in determining the distribution, biological availability, and source areas of a number of chlorinated organic contaminants in the St. Clair River-Detroit River corridor during 1982 and 1983. In the St. Clair River, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), octachlorostyrene (OCS), pentachlorobenzene (QCB), hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD), 2,3,6-trichlorotoluene (TCT), and alpha-BHC were most frequently identified in tissues after 3 weeks’ exposure. When compared to other locations in the St. Clair and Detroit rivers, significantly (p<0.05) higher levels of QCB, HCB, OCS, and HCBD were found in clams exposed along the Sarnia to Corunna, Ontario, shoreline. Elevated concentrations of HCB and OCS were also detected in water samples from this section of the river. TCT was found in clams from most locations, at low levels, with no obvious source area. Low levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were restricted to clams from the Sarnia area. In the Detroit River, PCBs, HCB, and OCS were most frequently detected in clams. PCB levels were significantly (p<0.05) higher along the Michigan shore and the highest concentrations were found in the Rouge River area. PCBs were also detected in some water samples from urbanized areas of the river. HCB and OCS were found at near-detection levels in clams from most stations. Contaminant levels in clams from around Fighting Island were low or non-detectable, indicating an absence of biologically available organochlorine contaminants in this area of the river. In the St. Clair River, p,p-DDE was only detected in the Sarnia area, whereas it was found in clams from both sides of the Detroit River, also at low levels. Aldrin, chlordane, and DDT were only sporadically detected in both rivers.