Atmospheric deposition of persistent pollutants governs uptake in freshwater zooplankton

• The atmospheric fallout of PCBs, ∑DDT and γ-HCH (lindane) to a pond in southern Sweden was studied in relation to uptake by freshwater Zooplankton. The extent of the atmospheric deposition of PCBs and lindane was reflected in the uptake by the Zooplankton; high deposition in the spring and autumn resulted in high uptake by the organisms while a lower uptake during summer was a result of lower deposition. The atmospheric deposition of ∑DDT was dominated by p,p-DDT, p,p-DDE and o,p-DDT, while p,p-DDE and p,p-DDD were dominant in Zooplankton. These differences in ∑DDT composition are probably attributed to microbial conversion; as a result, levels in the Zooplankton appeared not to be governed by atmospheric deposition. The availability of the previously airborne, persistent pollutants to Zooplankton was a function of the compounds chemical properties, e.g. water solubility, and the form of deposition. The results show that atmospheric deposition is an important route by which persistent pollutants are transported to Holarctic, aquatic ecosystems. 

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Ekologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Ecology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecology

Terrestrisk, limnisk och marin ekologi

Aquatic Ecology

Akvatisk ekologi

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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