New Contaminants in Sediment and Biota from Lake Erie & Detroit River: Doug Haffner’s Contributions
Robert Letcher, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Science and Technology Branch, Wildlife & Landscape Science, [email protected]
Ken Drouillard, University of Windsor, Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, [email protected]
Chris Marvin, Environment and Climate Change Canada, [email protected]
Zhe Lu, Environment and Climate Change Canada, [email protected]
Shaogang Chu, Environment and Climate Change Canada, [email protected]
G. Doug Haffner, Great Lakes Institute, Univ. of Windsor, [email protected]
Abstract
The Canada-United States (U.S.) International Joint Commission renewed the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) in September 2012, and called for more study efforts on chemicals of emerging and mutual concern (CECs) including in wildlife, aquatic biota, water and sediment. CECs include polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and replacement flame retardants (FRs) as a result of PBDE regulation. Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) isomers are FRs that have been produced and used. CEC degradation products include hydroxylated- (OH-) PCBs and PBDEs as well as other phenolic contaminants (e.g., anti-microbial triclosan). In 2004, Lake Erie was identified under the GLWQA for CEC studies. As will be discussed, Dr. Doug Haffner made important collaborative contributions in the early 2000s involving analytical methods, and characterization and spatial distribution of PBDEs (including BDE-209), TBBPA, BPA and HBCDDs in Lake Erie/Detroit River sediment and/or in pelagic and benthic fish. These results contributed to a better understanding of CECs and the ever increasing complexity of contaminants in the Great Lakes basin. These studies also spawned research on newer CECs (e.g. organophosphate esters, organosiloxanes, perfluorinated compounds/precursors, and highly brominated FRs) in aquatic biota and/or in aquatic-feeding wildlife (e.g. birds and reptiles) and also ecotoxicological effects and impacts.
1. Keyword
environmental contaminants
2. Keyword
priority pollutants
3. Keyword
Lake Erie