Distribution and burdens of bioaccumulative contaminants in the Lake Erie food web: A review

Abstract

The bioaccumulation of organic contaminants in the Lake Erie food web is reviewed in context of the numerous changes experienced by the system. In the late 1960s, internal lake processes, related to the eutrophic status of the lake, minimized contaminant bioaccumulation despite high contaminant loadings. From the 1970s to 1980s contaminant concentrations decreased at different rates in many species of different trophic levels, coincident with decreased loadings to the lake. Since the early 1980s contaminant concentrations in biota have not changed consistently. Several factors have been proposed to account for these patterns, including reduced nutrient loadings and productivity, and the invasion of several exotic species such as zebra mussels. These factors have altered the food web structure and the internal distribution of contaminants in the lake. Emerging and continuing issues, such as climate change, invasions of additional exotic species, new chemical contaminants of concern, and algal toxins will likely impact contaminant dynamics in the future.Key words: Lake Erie, bioaccumulative contaminants, food web.