Polychlorinated Biphenyl Congeners and Selected Organochlorines in Lake Superior Fish, Usa

Abstract

Abstract-Walleye, whitefish and whitefish livers, lake trout, and siscowet lake trout were collected from the Apostle Islands Region of Lake Superior. Carp were obtained from a Lake Michigan tributary near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA. Each fish species was analyzed for 89 polychlorinated biphenyl congeners, 12 selected organochlorines, and total lipids. Congener profiles varied greatly between the fish species. Carp and whitefish contained tri-and tetra-chlorobiphenyl congeners, such as 28ϩ31, 63, and 66ϩ95 in the highest concentrations. Siscowet trout contained the more heavily chlorinated penta-, hexa-, and hepta-chlorobiphenyl congeners such as 153, 89, 138ϩ163, 180, 182ϩ187, and 170. In addition to the highly chlorinated PCB congeners routinely examined in Great Lakes fish, many lower chlorinated, ortho-substituted PCB congeners are also commonly found. These lower chlorinated congeners have known effects in laboratory animals but may be overlooked by analytical techniques in which Aroclor standards or mixtures of selected congeners are used for quantitation. A congener-specific approach including both the lower chlorinated ortho-substituted PCB congeners and the more highly chlorinated congeners should be implemented to better assess the interactions and toxicities of individual congeners and other persistent compounds.

PCB Congener Patterns in Rats Consuming Diets Containing Great Lakes Salmon: Analysis of Fish, Diets, and Adipose Tissue

“…Other research has shown that this pattern of coplanar PCB concentration occurs in a wide variety of species such as lake trout from Lake Michigan, killer whale, and Baltic herring (summarized in Patterson et al, 1994). Gerstenberger et al (1997) analyzed PCB congeners in Lake Superior walleye, pink salmon, siscowet trout, carp, and whitefish. The PCB congener pattern in walleye and siscowet was similar to the chinook salmon from the current study with congeners 138 and 153 predominating.…”

Organochlorine Chemical Residues in Fish from the Mississippi River Basin, 1995

“…In addition, there are profound differences among taxa with respect to the uptake and metabolism of PCB congeners. Carp (especially) accumulate lower-chlorinated congeners that may exhibit thyroid-, neuro-, or endocrine-mediated toxicity (Gerstenberger et al 1997). Therefore, the ecological risk represented by PCB residues in the 1995 fish samples is unknown.…”

Stepping Backward to Improve Assessment of PCB Congener Toxicities

“…bAbreviated structures in format commonly presented. Tables 8 and 9 and references (146)(147)(148)(149)(150)(151)(152)(153)(154). "Mainly from Table 5.…”