Date of Award
2026
Document Type
Open Access Master's Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Environmental Engineering (MS)
Administrative Home Department
Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering
Advisor 1
Noel R. Urban
Committee Member 1
Judith A. Perlinger
Committee Member 2
Carol A. MacLennan
Abstract
This study evaluates changes in dissolved polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations in Torch Lake, Michigan, an Area of Concern shaped by decades of legacy contamination and evolving restoration policy. Passive samplers deployed across sites and seasons (2024–2025) show total PCB concentrations ranging from below detection to 110 pg/L (mean = 16.8 pg/L), representing an approximate 90% decline since 2005. Comparisons with regional reference lakes indicate no statistically significant difference (p = 0.84), suggesting concentrations may approach background atmospheric levels despite continued variability. Congener profiles indicate a shift toward lower-chlorinated PCBs, though interpretation of higher-chlorinated congeners is limited by slow sorption kinetics. Despite substantial progress, ongoing sources and ecological lags highlight the long-term nature of remediation. This work provides an updated baseline of PCB concentrations in the water column of Torch Lake although improved sampling approaches are needed to better constrain low-level PCB contamination.
Recommended Citation
Bishop, Cailin B., "APPLICATION OF PASSIVE SAMPLERS FOR EXPLORING REMEDIAL PROGRESS IN THE TORCH LAKE AOC AND INTERLAKE VARIABILITY OF PCBS", Open Access Master's Thesis, Michigan Technological University, 2026.