Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls in the water column of the Laurentian Great Lakes: Spring 1993

PCB concentrations were measured in the Laurentian Great Lakes of North Ame rica in the Spring of 1993. Quality control criteria were met for 97% of th e dissolved phase samples and 90% of the particulate phase samples. Data ar e reported as total PCBs and as homolog groups for both of the operationall y-defined phases at a 0.7 mu M cutoff Detection limit estimates were 21 pg/ L for dissolved phase and 23 pg/L for particulate phase total PCBs, based o n a sample volume of 190 L. Total PCB concentrations ranged from 100 pg/L i n Lake Superior to 1.6 ng/L in the western basin of Lake Erie. Lakes Michig an and Ontario had the highest lakewide average total PCB concentrations, f ollowed by Lake Huron, and then Lake Superior. Lakewide averaging across th e three basins of Lake Erie was too variable to be useful.