| PCBs in sediments and the coastal food web near a local contaminant source in Saglek Bay, Labrador. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 16085280 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were measured in marine sediments and the coastal food web in Saglek Bay, Labrador, to investigate the influence of a local PCB source. Saglek Bay has been the site of a military radar station since the late 1950s and there was PCB-contaminated soil at a beach prior to cleanup in 1997-1999. PCB concentrations in marine sediments during 1997-1999 ranged from 0.24 to 62000 ng/g (dry weight) and decreased exponentially with distance from the contaminated beach. Given this gradient, spatial trends of PCBs in the food web were examined over four zones, according to distance from the contaminated beach: within 1.5 km--zone one, 1.5-4.5 km--zone two, 4.5-7.5 km--zone three, and greater than 7.5 km--zone four. PCB concentrations in a bottom-feeding fish (shorthorn sculpin, Myoxocephalus scorpius), decreased significantly from zone one to zone two, three, four, and distant Labrador reference sites. PCB concentrations in the eggs of a diving seabird (black guillemot, Cepphus grylle) were as high as 48000 ng/g during 1997-1999 and average concentrations in zones one and two were 84 and 13 times higher than in zone four. Marine invertebrates closely reflected the concentrations of PCBs in the associated sediment. In contrast to the benthic-based food web, anadromous arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) showed no evidence of PCB accumulation from the contaminated sediments. Relatively high PCB concentrations were discovered in some great black-backed gulls (Larus marinus) and ringed seals (Phoca hispida) but appear to relate more to their high trophic level than sampling location. Those species that fed on or near the seabed and had limited foraging ranges were strongly influenced by the local contamination. Total PCB concentrations in the benthic-based food web were significantly higher than background levels for a distance of at least 7.5 km from the contaminated beach. This area is small in the context of widely distributed contamination from long-range transport but the area's high concentrations are comparable to levels associated with adverse effects elsewhere. Our findings should be useful to better assess the environmental impacts of PCB contamination at other coastal sites in the Arctic. |
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Authors:
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Z A Kuzyk; J P Stow; N M Burgess; S M Solomon; K J Reimer |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Date: 2005-08-08 |
Journal Detail:
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Title: The Science of the total environment Volume: 351-352 ISSN: 0048-9697 ISO Abbreviation: Sci. Total Environ. Publication Date: 2005 Dec |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2005-11-30 Completed Date: 2006-02-03 Revised Date: 2007-11-15 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 0330500 Medline TA: Sci Total Environ Country: Netherlands |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 264-84 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Environmental Sciences Group, Royal Military College of Canada, P.O. Box 17000 Stn Forces, Kingston ON, Canada, K7K 7B4. kuzyk-z@rmc.ca |
Export Citation:
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APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Adipose Tissue
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chemistry Animals Birds Environmental Monitoring Fishes Food Chain* Geologic Sediments / analysis* Invertebrates Liver / chemistry Male Muscles / chemistry Newfoundland and Labrador Ovum / chemistry Phoca Polychlorinated Biphenyls / analysis* Water Pollutants, Chemical / analysis* |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
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0/Polychlorinated Biphenyls; 0/Water Pollutants, Chemical |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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