Testing The Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
For Toxic Levels of Toxaphene

Craig Doyle
School of Science and Natural Resources
Lake Superior State University
Sault Ste Marie, Michigan 49783 USA

October 8, 1996

Abstract. Toxaphene is a pesticide that was introduced by the Hercules Chemical
Company in 1947 It is known by a variety of other trade names such as Camphechlor,
Polychlorinated Camphene, Toxadust and Hercules 3956. Toxaphene was primarily used
in the south eastern United States on cotton fields to klll insects such as boll weevils, boll
worms and tobacco budworms. In Canada it's use was restricted in 1974 and the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States banned the use of the
chemical in 1982 allowing for the available stock to be used through l986. Like other
chlorinated hydrocarbons, toxaphene can remain stable in the environment for long
periods of time. Atmospheric deposition is known to be responsible for transporting the
chemical into the great lakes region From analysis conducted on Lake Trout from Lake
Superior by the Ministry ofEnvironment and Energy (MOEE) in 1995, toxaphene was
detected at concentrations of O.6 parts per million (ppm).
Chinook Salmon were harvested in Lake Huron and their flesh was analyzed for the
presence oftoxaphene with a method sjmiiar to (Journal of Chromatography, 471 1989:
161-171). A sample spiked with toxaphene to a level of 5.O ppm indicated that the
extraction and Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrum procedure used in the analysis of
these samples resulted in a 70% recovery. The test samples did not show any presence of
toxaphene suggesting that the levels oftoxaphene in these fish were below the Michigan
Department of Health (MDPH) safe eating guidelines of 5.0 ppm.

Selected References

Booreen, A. M., Zabik, M. E., Zabik, M. J. 1995. Pesticides and Total
Polychiorinated Biphenyl's in Chinook Salmon and Carp Haiwested from the Great
Lakes:	Effects of Skin-On and 5kin~OffProcessing and Selected Cooking
Methods. Journal ofAgriculture and Food Chemistry, 43: 993-1OO1.

Onuska, F. J., Terry, K.A. 1989. Quantitative High-Resolution Gas
Chromatography And Mass Spectrometry of Toxaphene Residues
in Fish Samples. Journal of Chromatography, 471 : 161-171.