D10: Impact of Contaminants - Hydromod

Integrated Water Resource Management for Important Deep European Lakes and their Catchment Areas
EUROLAKES
D10: Impact of Contaminants
FP5_Contract No.: EVK1-CT1999-00004
Version: 4.0
Date: 25/07/01
File: D10-vers.4.0.doc
Page 75 of 136
regularly controls and investigations about the sources of these substances are necessary
[CIPEL 2000d].
Measurements and Investigation Programs Concerning Pollutants in Lake Geneva
DDT and metabolites: In twelve feeders of Lake Geneva the o,p'- and p,p'-isomers of
DDT, DDD and DDE have not been found in 1997. The detection limits of these substances
are between 0.05-0.1 µg/l. In a older study of 1979 the concentrations of DDT
and its metabolites (p,p'-isomers) were measured in the sediments of Lake Geneva.
The upper 2 cm of the sediment contained concentrations between 0.5 and 49 µg/kg
dry weight of DDT and metabolites. This load was mainly composed by p,p'-DDD and
p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDT was only found sporadically. In 1982/1983 samples from the estuaries
(Mündungsregionen) of the most important feeders and from sediments of Lake
Geneva were tested. In every sediment sample of Lake Geneva p,p'-DDT was found in
medium concentrations of 4.2 µg/kg dry weight and maximum values of 14.4 µg/kg. In
the sediments of the estuaries concentrations up to 22 µg/kg were detected. In the water
of Lake Geneva no isomers of DDT or its metabolites were measured at a detection
limit of 0.05-0.1 µg/l [BÄTSCHER et al. 1999]. Between 1984 and 1993 the concentrations
of p,p'-DDE in some fish species were proved and showed a decreasing tendency.
The existing data are insufficient to derive a general decreasing tendency from
that [BÄTSCHER et al. 1999].
PCB: Surface sediments from the estuaries of important feeders are investigated between
1982 and 1990 to their PCB-load. The total concentrations of most of the samples
were between 25 and 200 µg/l dry weight. A consistent temporal trend of the PCBload
could not be found. In 1978 the total load with PCB in the sediment of Lake Geneva
has a medium concentration of 43 ± 28 µg/kg dry weight and 1983 at 47 ± 24
µg/kg dry weight. In 1979 between 20 and 540 µg PCB/kg dry weight were found in 15
sediment samples. From a perennial measuring program PCB-data of Lake Geneva are
available permitting predications about the temporal trend (zeitlicher Verlauf) of the
load.1995 Dreissena polymorpha living in the estuary of 12 investigated feeders of Lake
Geneva were tested to their PCB-load. At 11 locations the total concentrations were
between 100 and 500 µg PCB/ kg dry weight. The highest values were measured with
approximately 2500 µg PCB/kg dry weight in mussels from the Venoge estuary
[BÄTSCHER et al. 1999].
Lindane, Endosulfan and Vinclozolin: Between 1992 and 1996 twelve feeders of
Lake Geneva have been explored but lindane (γ-HCH) was found in any flowing water
at a detection limit was 50 ng/l. Samples showed that no HCH (α, β, γ, δ) were detected
at detection limits of 50-100 ng/l [BÄTSCHER et al. 1999]. In 1995/1996 twelve feeders
of Lake Geneva have been explored but endosulfan was not measured at a detection
limit of 50 ng/l [BÄTSCHER et al. 1999]. Vinclozolin have never been detected in the
water of Lake Geneva during several measuring campaigns between 1992 and 1995.
The detection limit was 100 ng/l [BÄTSCHER et al. 1999].
Antifouling Compounds: Antifouling paints prevent or retard the growth of algae,
bacteria and shellfish on ships’ hulls. However, organotin compounds are among the