Spatial distributions of polychlorinated biphenyls, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, tetrabromobisphenol A and bisphenol A in Lake Erie sediment

Abstract

Forty-seven polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 9 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and its mono-, di- and tri-bromo-analogs, and bisphenol A (BPA) were investigated in sediments (56 samples; collected in spring 2004) from the western, central and eastern basins of Lake Erie. Surficial (0–10 cm) sediment from the western basin contained significantly greater (p < 0.05) concentrations of ΣPCBs, ΣPBDEs and BPA than the other two basins. Σ47PCBs were 144 ± 141, 33 ± 34, and 13 ± 15 ng/g (mean ± standard deviation (SD); dry weight, d.w.) in the western, central, and eastern basins respectively. For two of the surveyed sites, the Σ47PCBs in sediment exceeded the Canadian sediment quality probable effect level of exposure guideline (PEL, 277 ng/g) for aquatic biota, indicating a risk to biota health in 2004. Σ8PBDE concentrations (BDE-28, -47, -99, -100, -138, -153, -154 and -183) were 1.33 ± 2.54, 0.17 ± 0.11, and 0.30 ± 0.38 ng/g (mean ± SD; d.w.) in the western, central, and eastern basins, respectively. BDE-209 was the predominant PBDE congener in sediment samples, and was quantifiable in 56% of the samples with a concentration range of < 0.3 to 12 ng/g (d.w.). BPA concentrations up to 6.1 ng/g (d.w.) were detected in 65% of the samples. For these chemicals, the Detroit River outflow is strongly suggested to be the major source/vector for Lake Erie. TBBPA was detectable in one sample (0.5 ng/g d.w.) from a site near the Detroit River, suggesting degradation and/or a low level deposition of polybrominated-BPAs to Lake Erie.