TRANSPORT OF TOXIC SUBSTANCES INTO LAKE SUPERIOR BY SUSPENDED SOLIDS

Abstract

A primary threat to Great Lakes sport and commercial fisheries arises from contamination problems due to the introduction of certain xenobiotic chemicals in aquatic environments. Of particular concern are hydrophobic organic chemicals and heavy metals which bioaccumulate in aquatic animals. Fish bioaccumulation of toxic and/or carcinogenic substances can occur from water, suspended particles, sediments and through food chains (Byran, 1979). The threat of toxic substance contamination is likely to continue in the foreseeable future because of serious hazardous wastes disposal problems in the Great Lakes Basin (IJC, 1979) and the widespread dispersion of pollutants via the atmosphere (Eisenreich, 1981).