Factors Affecting the Behavior of Five Chlorinated Hydrocarbons in Two Natural Waters and their Sediments

Abstract

Water samples from the Fraser River and Georgia Strait, British Columbia were treated with different chlorinated hydrocarbons and incubated for up to 12 weeks at 13 C. 1) In the presence of bottom sediments from the same locations as the waters, no residues were found to escape into the atmosphere. 2) With the exception of lindane in ocean water, all detectable residues had moved into the sediments after 6 weeks. 3) Most of the lindane was metabolized. 4). Sterilization of the waters and sediments prevented the metabolism of lindane but had little effect on DDT and DDD. 5) Agitation of water samples containing γ-chlordane, incubated without sediment, had no effect on its disappearance, but the presence of 0.01% of a nonionic surfactant retarded this almost completely.