Ronald
A. Hites
Distinguished Professor Environmental and
Analytical Chemistry
Center for Environmental Science ResearchSchool of Public and Environmental Affairs
Indiana University
Bloomington, IN 47405
Abstract
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The Integrated Atmospheric Deposition Network (IADN) has been measuring chlorinated pesticides (OCs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the Great Lakes' atmosphere for over 10 years every 12 days. The data collected during this time have allowed us to investigate temporal trends of these pollutants. Previous studies of IADN data through 1995 and 1997 showed that the concentrations of PCBs were decreasing in air sampled near Lakes Erie and Michigan, but we could not detect a trend near Lake Superior. Our most recent analysis, which includes data through 2000, indicates that PCB concentrations have also been decreasing at the Lake Superior site. These trends are compatible with PCB trends from fish monitoring studies. Toxaphene (DDT’s replacement) concentrations in air and atmospheric transport will also be discussed.
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