Document YreZrb0QMEw8yowe6Oo66DnRK

Chlorobiphenyle (FCBs) In Wisconsin Natural Waters Cllaan 0. Vslth Wstsr Chsalstry Program Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering University of Wisconsin Madison, Wisconsin 53706 ABSTRACT ThB sslsure of fish froa lake Michigan bscauss of ths presence of chlorinated peeticides and FCBs at aoncentratlona which are greater than that regarded as safe for huaan coneuaptlon has deaonstrated that the continuous Input of trace quantities of these ohealcals aay jeopardize aajor food resources for aan. Recent evidence has Indicated that the ratio of the FCB concentration in fish to that In the water near the site of oapture Is on the order of 100,000, although the ratio aay vary by are than an order of aegnitude. The aagnltude of this ratio suggests that the concentration of FCBs in fleh froa water containing greater than 0,05 USA FOBS aay exceed the 5 Ug/ga action Halt established for fish. _ ' Investigations by the Water Cheaistry Prograa and the Wisconsin Departaent of Natural Resources have shown the FCBs aro present in the wastes froa all aunicipalltlea examined. The concentration of FCBs in the re ceiving waters for sanitary wastes alone seldom exceeded 0.10 pg/l, whereas the discharge of industrial wastes containing FCBs either directly or in aunlclpal waste effluents resulted in concentrations greater than 2 pg/l (as Aroclor 1248). Bfforts to determine the aajor sources and current levels of FCBs in the Green Bay area of Lake Mlohigan have shown that the concentrations of FCBe varied froa below the determinable limit of approximately 0.01 ug/l (20 liter water sample) in rivers such as the Big Suamlco which drain agricultural and forested areas and reeelve no aunlclpal wastes to O.hj pg/l (as Aroclor 1254) in the receiving streams for industrial and aunlclpal wastes. The mixtures of FCBs in aunlclpal wastes generally reeeabled Aroclor 1248 or 1258 although the earlier eluting ieoaers of Aroclor 1242 wore often observed. The concentration of FCB mixtures resembling Aroclor 1254 in the Festigo and Oconto Rivers were 0.31 and 0.45 pg/l, respectively, In Noveaber, 1970I 0.38 and 0.16 ug/l, respectively, in April, 19711 but decreased to near or below ths detectable limit during the sumaer of 1971. Ths concentration in lower Creen Bay water varied froa 0.04 ug/l at Sturgeon Bay to 0.07 ug/l near Longtail Point. Further study is required to deter mine if the restricted use of PCBe in industry will lead to a pronounced decrease of the concentration of the ohealcals in waste effluents and in nearshore environments such as Green Bay. M0NS 045959