Monitoring for 2,4-residues in fish species resident in treated lakes in east-central Ontario 1977-80.

Authorized use of 2,4-D by cottage owners in Buckhorn Lake for the years 1977 to 1980 ranged from 124 to 280 kg of active ingredient, annually. This would give predicted average water concentrations of 2 to 4 μg L(-1) during the June-July period. However, higher residues were observed in the Lake. Between 1977 and 1980, 353 individual fish, of eight species, were caught for analysis in Buckhorn and Chemong lakes. These fish belonged to eight edible species. Twelve percent of the fish caught during the pre-treatment period (i.e. May), had detectable residues of 2,4-D. Mean residues by species and year ranged from <5 to 30 μg kg(-1) 2,4-D. In the early post-treatment period (i.e. July), 69% of fish caught had mean residues by species which ranged from <5 to 136 μg kg(-1) 2,4-D. In the late post-treatment period (i.e. October), 19% of fish caught by year had detectable residues of 2,4-D. Mean residues by species during this period ranged from <5 to 60 μg kg(-1) 2,4-D. While 15 (i.e. 4%) of the 353 fish and fish composites had 2,4-D above the maximum residue limit of 100 μg kg(-1) only six were of edible size.