The Distribution of PCB’s and Chlorinated Pesticides in Two Connected Himalayan Lakes

PCBs and organochlorine pesticides were determined in water, sediment and Zooplankton of two Himalayan lakes, located at different altitudes and connected to each other in such a way that Superior Lake acts as a sedimentation basin for Inferior Lake. Surficial sediments of both lakes show PCB contamination comparable to lakes of industrialised areas. Biota appear to be the main machanism responsible for micropollutant burial in the sediments of Inferior Lake, whereas inorganic particles are more relevant in Superior Lake. Physical and chemical properties of individual chemicals, particularly Henry’s law constant and K_ow values, seem to regulate distribution in different environmental compartments.