CHLORINATED ORGANIC CONTAMINANTS ON SUSPENDED SEDIMENT IN LAKE ST. CLAIR.

Sediment traps were used to study the presence and fate of chlorinated organics on suspended material in Lake St. Clair. The bulk of the material caught by the traps was resuspended bottom sediment. The highest concentrations of organics were usually found in the center of the lake while the lowest concentrations were found in the southeast area near the Thames River outlet. Organic contaminants were distributed throughout the lake on suspended material. Some results suggest that lateral mixing of contaminants in the St. Clair River results in transboundary pollution. Evidence of sporadic loadings of PCB was found. Inter-contaminant ratios were fairly consistent throughout the St. Clair-Detroit system indicating eventual transport of industrial contaminants from the St. Clair River to Lake Erie.