Organochlorine Concentrations in the Plankton of Lakes in Southern Ontario and Their Relationship to Plankton Biomass

Abstract

Hydrophobic organochlorine contaminants were surveyed in net plankton from 33 lakes in southern Ontario. Organochlorines were detected in all lakes. The relative concentrations of 12 common organochlorines were generally similar, suggesting that they derive from a common source, probably atmospheric transport. Variability in relative abundances of these contaminants increased with contaminant concentration, while contaminant concentration was related to plankton biomass, total phosphorus, and conductivity. Lakes with low plankton biomass had high organochlorine concentrations in that biomass, indicating that a large portion of the variation among lakes in the concentration of contaminants in plankton can be ascribed to variable planktonic biomass. This negative relationship with plankton biomass, or biomass dilution effect, was strongest for the more hydrophobic and refractory compounds.