US EPA

660246 

Journal Article 

Review 

Presence and implications of chemical contaminants in the freshwaters of the Canadian Arctic 

Lockhart, WL; Wagemann, R; Tracey, B; Sutherland, D; Thomas, DJ 

1992 

1 

Science of the Total Environment
ISSN: 0048-9697
EISSN: 1879-1026 

122 

1-2 

165-243 

English 

1514104 

10.1016/0048-9697(92)90248-Q 

WOS:A1992JF54900004 

https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0026616264&doi=10.1016%2f0048-9697%2892%2990248-Q&partnerID=40&md5=c399c47ff651486be239b5fc0a265d1f
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Hydrocarbons, stable aorganochlorines, metals and radionuclides are widespread in the freshwaters of the Canadian Arctic. Petroleum-associated hydrocarbon sources include natural seepage, wastes and effluents from exploration, production and refining at Norman Wells and spills. Hydrocarbons also originate from combustion of carbon-based fuels, generally at lower latitudes and then reach the Arctic with air movements. Organochlorine compounds also move throughout the hemisphere by aerial pathways and have become distributed widely in Arctic fish. The organochlorine at highest concentration in Arctic freshwater is α-HCH, while those generally at highest concentrations in the fish are toxaphene, PCBs and chlordane. Metals are ubiquitous in Arctic freshwaters, with inputs of several metals by precipitation superimposed on natural geologic backgrounds. Mercury is found in muscle of fish from Arctic freshwaters at concentrations up to about 0.5 ppm. Radionuclides are also widespread at levels below those acceptable in food, with some local elevations near former mines. The implications of these contaminants for the northern ecosystems and the people dependent upon them are still not clear. Preliminary studies of inducible enzymes in fish suggest that the thresholds for biological damage have not been reached. 

Radiation effects; Radiation protection; Ecology; Fresh water; Biochemistry; Minerals; metabolism; Minerals metabolism; Food additives poisoning; Food additives toxicity; Food contamination; Food poisoning; Food preservatives poisoning; Food preservatives toxicity; Environmental pollutants poisoning; Occupational diseases; Air pollution; Soil pollutants; Water pollution; Radiation dosage; Fishes; Hominidae; 43178-22-9; 41903-57-5; 41699-04-1; 39765-80-5; 33213-65-9; 31632-62-9; 29062-98-4; 27577-90-8; 25167-89-9; 16984-48-8; 14255-04-0; 13982-63-3; 11097-69-1; 10045-97-3; 10028-17-8; 8002-05-9; 8001-35-2; 8001-30-7; 7782-49-2; 7647-14-5; 7440-66-6; 7440-62-2; 7440-50-8; 7440-47-3; 7440-43-9; 7440-41-7; 7440-38-2; 7440-36-0; 7440-31-5; 7440-29-1; 7440-22-4; 7440-02-0; 7439-97-6; 7439-96-5; 7439-92-1; 7439-89-6; 7429-90-5; 5566-34-7; 5103-71-9; 1336-36-3; 1024-57-3; 959-98-8; 789-02-6; 634-90-2; 634-66-2; 608-93-5; 541-73-1; 319-84-6; 309-00-2; 218-01-9; 217-59-4; 215-58-7; 213-46-7; 208-96-8; 207-08-9; 205-99-2; 205-82-3; 203-12-3; 198-55-0; 193-39-5; 192-97-2; 191-24-2; 191-07-1; 129-00-0; 120-82-1; 120-12-7; 118-74-1; 108-90-7; 108-88-3; 108-70-3; 108-38-3; 106-46-7; 106-42-3; 100-41-4; 95-50-1; 95-47-6; 92-52-4; 91-20-3; 87-61-6; 86-73-7; 85-01-8; 83-32-9; 72-55-9; 72-54-8; 72-43-5; 72-20-8; 71-43-2; 60-57-1; 58-89-9; 56-55-3; 53-70-3; 50-32-8; 50-29-3; 50-06-6