Project Title: Using passive samplers to detect legacy and emerging organic PBTs in Lake Superior, and their air-water exchange

Chemicals Studied: PAHs, PCBs, organochlorine pesticides, PBDEs, new chemicals of concern.

Geographic Areas: Lake Superior

Project Start Date: August 2010

Project Status: Completed

Synopsis: This project proposes to enhance the 2011 Coordinated Science and Monitoring Initiative's intensive field program in the Lake Superior watershed by deploying passive polyethylene samplers in the atmosphere and surface water along nine coastal stations and mid-lake to: (i) uniquely enhance measurements of the spatial variability of atmospheric concentrations of persistent bioaccumulative toxics (PBTs) around the lake; (ii) assess whether Lake Superior is volatilizing or absorbing gas-phase PBTs to derive fluxes and loading to the lake; and (iii) detect halogenated emerging contaminants of concern across the lake.

Potential Results and Implications: This project will improve understanding of the atmospheric fate and cycling of priority toxic chemicals and the sources and loadings of chemicals of emerging concern in the Great Lakes region. It will also provide better information needed when developing and implementing strategies to reduce the presence of priority toxic chemicals and chemicals of emerging concern in Great Lakes region.

Project Contact:
Rainer Lohmann, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island
Phone: (401) 874-6612
Email: lohmann@gso.uri.edu