Mussel Watching in the Buffalo River, Times Beach and Lake Erie

摘要

Mussels, Elliptio dilatata, were collected from a pristine lake and exposed in the Buffalo River, Lake Erie and a confined disposal site, Times Beach, Buffalo, New York. The mussels were exposed in a natural way, allowing them to burrow in the sediment or between stones. After a period of about 35 days the mussels were recollected and analyzed for PCBs, DDE and HCB. The Buffalo River was found to contain bioavailable PCBs and pesticides in three stretches only: 1) The two main branches, before they merge into the navigable stretch; 2) A stretch passing through several industrial estates downstream of Cazenovia Creek. This stretch is probably affected by an industrial discharge of a mixture comparable to Aroclor 1260; and 3) The mouth of the Buffalo River between the Marina and the Coast Guard Station. In Lake Erie, indications were found for a gradient in PCB concentration. Mussels exposed in Times Beach, were found to accumulate large amounts of lower chlorinated PCBs and pesticides. Remarkably, they did not accumulate any significant amounts higher chlorinated PCBs (hexa- and heptachloro-biphenyls). The gamut of PCB congeners in mussels exposed on either side of the endikement enclosing Times Beach revealed no evidence of bioavailable PCBs being transported form Times Beach into Lake Erie.