Levels of Bioaccumulative Chemicals of Concern in Air, Water, Sediment and Sentinel Species of the Rochester Embayment of Lake Ontario

Abstract

In the 1980s, the International Joint Commission (IJC) began the process of creating and implementing remedial action plans (RAPs) in 43 areas of concern (AOCs) throughout the Great Lakes Basin of Canada and the United States. An area identified as an AOC violated one or more of 14 “use impairments” listed by the IJC. For example, “fish and wildlife consumption advisories” due to the presence of bioaccumulative chemicals of concern (BCCs) is a use impairment identified for the Rochester, NY Embayment of Lake Ontario AOC.