Biomonitoring of Bioavailable PAH and PCB Water Concentrations in the Detroit River Using the Freshwater Mussel, Elliptio complanata

Bioavailable PAH and PCB water concentrations were evaluated along the Detroit River using the freshwater mussel, Elliptio complanata. Bioavailable concentrations ranged from 64.2 to 620.7 ng/L for ΣPAHs and 0.1 to 3.0 ng/L for ΣPCBs. A principal component analysis grouped contaminants primarily on the basis of hydrophobicity, indicating that physical-chemical properties regulate the relative concentrations and distributions of PAHs and PCBs among sites. Concentrations of the more hydrophobic PAHs and more water soluble PCBs were present at elevated concentrations at the Detroit Edison Generating Station, in the Trenton Channel. Elevated PAH levels were also detected at three other sites: West Windsor Sewage Treatment Plant, Grassy Island, and Ambassador Bridge, along the Detroit River. This study supports the conclusion that E. complanata is an effective biomonitor of water PAH and PCB concentrations in aquatic systems. In addition, the results indicate that areas of high contamination in the Detroit River are a result of continued loading of these chemicals into the Great Lakes system.