Non-Target and Post-Target Analysis of Organic Environmental Contaminants in Suspended River Sediments
The Niagara River is the primary inflow to Lake Ontario, connecting the lower Great Lakes, and historically receives significant inputs of chemical contaminants from Niagara Falls, NY; i.e., the Love Canal dumpsite. Environment Canada has been monitoring the occurrence of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), entering Lake Ontario via the Niagara River since
1984, upstream at Fort Erie and downstream at Niagara-on-the-Lake. 21 PAHs are monitored routinely, including two alkyl PAHs, as well as
several organochlorinated compounds, PCBs, and industrial byproducts. The objectives of this study were: (1) to screen for other POPs not monitored routinely, and (2) to minimize the need for wet chemistry clean-up prior to instrumental analysis.
1984, upstream at Fort Erie and downstream at Niagara-on-the-Lake. 21 PAHs are monitored routinely, including two alkyl PAHs, as well as
several organochlorinated compounds, PCBs, and industrial byproducts. The objectives of this study were: (1) to screen for other POPs not monitored routinely, and (2) to minimize the need for wet chemistry clean-up prior to instrumental analysis.
