FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH PCB CONCENTRATIONS IN LAKE-MICHIGAN SALMONIDS

I examined 20 years of PCB concentration data from five species of Lak e Michigan fish. Species-aggregated plots of corrected PCB concentrati on Versus time indicate that PCB levels have remained fairly constant since the early 1980s. Species differences in PCB levels occur with la ke and brown trout exhibiting relatively high levels and rainbow trout exhibiting the lowest concentrations. PCB concentration differences w ith location were also discernible in all species. However, PCB concen tration data corrected for the effects time, length, location, and int erspecies variability show no relationship with percent lipid content, contrasting the results of previous researchers. These observed relat ionships provide potential tools for managers to exploit to effectivel y lower human PCB exposure from the consumption of Great Lakes fish.