The environment around the Laurentian Great Lakes region has been adversely affected by agricultural runoff, urban waste, industrial discharge, landfill leachate, and atmospheric deposition. Although there have been some improvements over the last 20 years, persistent toxic organic pollutants are now a serious problem. This book brings together what is known about the major classes of these pollutants in the Great Lakes. Each chapter reviews our knowledge of the extent of contamination of the various parts of the Great Lakes ecosystem (air, water, sediment, fishes, birds, etc.), what is known about the trends over time of this contamination, and knowledge about the mechanisms by which these pollutants are mobilized in the lakes. Detailed information is presented on polychlorinated biphenyls, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans, pesticides, toxaphene, polychlorinated naphthalenes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, brominated flame retardants, and perfluoroalkyl acids. These reviews make this volume an invaluable resource for all those involved in environmental research, measurements, and decision making.

Persistent toxic organic pollutants are now a serious problem also in the Great Lakes region Brings together what is known about the major classes of these pollutants in this area Each chapter reviews our knowledge of the contamination of the various parts of the Great Lakes ecosystems and respective trends. Detailed information is presented on the major classes of these compounds, e.g. PCBs, dioxins, PAHs, flame retardants, etc.

Autorentext
Ronald Hites ist Professor für Umweltchemie an der Indiana University in Bloomington (USA), wo er sich unter anderem mit der Spurenanlyse von Schadstoffen in Seeökosystemen befasst. Er gibt seit 1990 die international bekannte Zeitschrift "Environmental Science and Technology" heraus.

Inhalt

R.A. Hites: Persistent Organic Pollutants in the Great Lakes: An Overview.- K.C. Hornbuckle, D.L. Carlson, D.L. Swackhamer, J.E. Baker, S.J. Eisenreich: Polychlorinated Biphenyls in the Great Lakes.- R.J. Norstrom: Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxins and Dibenzofurans in the Great Lakes.- K. Kannan, J. Ridal, J.Struger: Pesticides in the Great Lakes.- D.C.G.Muir, D.L. Swackhamer, T.F. Bidleman, L.M. Jantunen: Toxaphene in the Great Lakes.- P.A. Helm, K. Kannan, T.F. Bidleman: Polychlorinated Naphthalenes in the Great Lakes.- M.F. Simcik, J.H.Offenberg: Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Great Lakes.- R.A. Hites: Brominated Flame Retardants in the Great Lakes.- J. P. Giesy, S. A. Mabury, J.W. Martin, K. Kannan, P.D. Jones, J.L. Newsted, K. Coady: Perfluorinated Compounds in the Great Lakes.