Colloque

Chemical contamination of surface sediments and biota of the Saguenay Fjord

P.V. Hodson

R. McLeod

J. Hellou

B. Sainte-Marie

C. Couillard

J-M. Sevigny

E. Pelletier

Membre a labase

P.V. Hodson

Résumé du colloque

The Saguenay Fjord retains sediments containing heavy metals and organic compounds from industries upstream; fisheries were closed due to mercury contamination in the 1970s. Mercury in sediments and biota has since declined due to pollution control, but there are no data for chemicals such as chlorinated dioxins and furans. Therefore, metals (Hg, Pb, Cd, Ni), polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), PCBs, and chlorinated pesticides, phenols, dioxins and furans were measured in sediments, fish, and benthic invertebrates within the Fjord and at Baie des Anglais and Baie des Mille Vaches (Estuary). Levels of PAHs in sediments decreased with distance from their source in the Saguenay, are much higher than in the Estuary, and similar to those at Baie des Anglais. However, PAHs were only found in halibut, and were rarely detectable in other fish or invertebrate species. In contrast, chlorinated organics were found in all organisms at all sites, and dioxins and furans were highest in the Saguenay and least at Baie des Mille Vaches. Mercury still exceeds 0.5 ppm in most crabs taken from the Fjord.