Background Levels of Dissolved/Dispersed Petroleum Residues in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, 1970–79

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• Main Author: Levy, E. M.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1985
• Subjects: Aquatic Science; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Arctic; Canada; Cabot
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f85-072; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/f85-072

A 10-yr program of monitoring the incidence and distribution of dissolved/dispersed petroleum residues in the Gulf of St. Lawrence confirmed that the major source is the Atlantic water that enters through Cabot Strait and demonstrated that a substantial decline in the background levels occurred during the mid-1970's. The present level, about 0.4 μg/L, is similar to those of other unpolluted areas off the east coast of Canada and in the Arctic where it appears that the input from atmospheric deposition exceeds those from accidental spills, deliberate discharges, and other point sources.