Question: are there chemicals in lakes?
Answer: They include PCBs, dioxins, furans, hexachlorobenzene, benzo(a)pyrene (one of many polyaromatic hydrocarbons or PAHs), lead and mercury compounds and pesticides (toxaphene, mirex, aldrin/dieldrin, DDT). 3 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement Work Group Report on Chemicals of Emerging Concern, August 2009.