Distribution of Chlorinated Hydrocarbon Pesticides and PCBs in the ...

4. RESULTS
Results are presented in the following sections for each
type of sample collected. Quantifiable concentrations of
organochlorines were found in all types of samples with the
exception of particulates from ice melt and sea water as a result
of the very low quantities of particulates in these samples.
Detailed data for all compounds monitored are given in ~ppendices
A - F.
4.1 Air
4.1.1 Va~our Phase
A summary of quantifiable or detectable organochlorines in
the vapour phase for all three sampling trips is given in Table
4.1 and detailed in Appendix A. The alpha and gamma isomers of
HCH and HCB were the most abundant compounds. Total HCH
concentrations were between 250 - 500 pg/m3. HCB concentrations
were 70 - 100 pg/m3 while all other compounds were at
concentrations of less than 10 pg/m3. Seasonally, concentrations
of alpha HCH, cis and trans chlordane and DDE were lowest in
August/September. Concentrations of other compounds did not
display any significant seasonal'variation. Ratios of alpha
and gamma HCH and trans and cis chlordane were variable.
Concentrations of gamma HCH (lindane) were significantly lower in
August/September. As a result, mean a1pha:gamma ratios were
increased to 16 from a value of 6 in May and 3.5 in June. The
ratio of trans:cis chlordane was 0.5 in June 1987, the only data
set where concentrations of trans and cis chlordane were
quantifiable in all samples. Data collected in August gave ratios
of less than 1 but trans chlordane levels were all below
detection. In May 1986, for the few samples with quantifiable
levels, trans chlordane concentrations were the same as in June
but the concentration of the cis isomer was 3 times lower giving
a trans:cis ratio of 1.5.