| Abstract: | Analyses of fish and other environmental samples (clams, macrophytes, sediments and waters) from areas upstream and downstream from two alkyllead manufactures beside the St Lawrence and St Clair Rivers, Ontario, show a clear indication of elevated alkyllead levels in samples near the industries. Most species of fish contained alkyllead compounds with tetraethyllead and triethyllead as the predominant forms. Most fish from the contaminated areas contained 50–75% of total lead as alkylleads. Carp, yellow perch and white sucker were generally the most contaminated species while pike, alewife and rock bass were the least contaminated. Average alkyllead levels varied from year to year but declined steadily after 1981. For example, the geometric mean of alkyllead compounds in carp from the St Lawrence River decreased from 4207 μg kg?1 in 1981 to 2000 μg kg?1 in 1982 and to 49 μg kg?1 in 1987, reflecting the reduction of alkylleads in the effluents and the closure of one of the manufactures in 1985. Alkyllead levels were consistently lower in muscle and carcass samples in comparison with whole fish containing fatty intestines. However, muscle levels were generally equal to carcass levels. The concentrations of alkyllead compounds were generally low in clams, macrophytes, sediments and waters except from the immediate vicinity of the manufactures' final effluent discharges. |
